Washington sentinel., 1855-03-16

Ing his Ground-so bsstopol-Peac Pros
Observation-Disclosures arket ts-Loc NJ and PO-
iiticaI Affairs.
New YORK, March IA, 1856.
The Pacific is in. She is week behind her
appointed time, and there was beginning to be
some anxiety concerning her. 1t turns out,
however, that she has suffered nothing more
than continued drawback of severe and heavy
weather. Her news is interesting.
By turning back to the files of the Sentinel,
two or three weeks ago, you will see in at least
two of the letters of your New York correspon-
dent, "Uncle SAM" his opinion recorded that
the next battle in the Crimea would be between
the Russians and Turks at Eupatoria, and the
military reasons Of a civilian for that opinion
Our prediction has been fulfilled, and we claim
no very great credit for it, except that atten-
ton to the movements Of the hostile forces at
the seat Of war necessary to an intelligent un.
derstanding Of the subject.
Our misgiving, however, that Omar Pacha
would be caught napping has not been fully
sustained. There was one branch of his de-
fences which we overlooked-the British ships
of war in the harbor, which, it appears, rem.
dered him the most important services in the
protection of both his fanks. This implies
that but for those ships of war, Omar Pacha
would have been surrounded by the Russians,
and probably cut to pieces. In our calcula-
tions of this battle, two or three weeks in ad-
vance of the news, we confess that the omis-
sion of the British feet was an oversight of
some magnitude. But here was the source Of
the mistake. We took it for granted that the
transfer of Omar Pacha's forty thousand men
from Varna across that arm of the Black Sea
to Eupatoria, was for the purpose Of On active
diversion against the Russians on the north
side of Sebastopol harbor, while the Allies
opened their bombardment on the south side
that Omar Pacha, after landing, would proceed,
with all dispatch, on his march southwark to-
wards Sebastopol; and that thus Menschikoff,
Librandi, or Osten Sacken, would be very apt
to surprise him at or near Eupatoria, with the
view of cutting him off from juncture with
the French and English before the beleaguered
city.
Now, it seems that Omar Pacha has been
stationed at Eupatoria, entrenched there forti-
fed there, you may say, and strengthened on
each flank by the British feet in the harbor.
OF course, his duty there is TO intercept supplies
and reinforcements to the Russians at Sebas-
topol, which, being cut off from access BY sea,
must 20 down through the peninsula, via Eu-
patoria, or farther back at very great disad-
vantage, from the marshes and mountains in that
direction. And mark this feature in the late
fight. The Russians after contest of four
hours retired; and we're not pursued by the
Turks. This proves the military shrewdness of
Omar Pacha. Had he pursued the retiring
Russians, they might have recoiled upon him
when beyond the reach of the British ships,
and destroyed him. This would have been the
fate of nine Turkish generals out Of ten but
Omar is the tenth.
Upon the whole, between the besiegers and
the besiged at Sebastopol they are like the
approach of two heavy storm clouds, the one
positively electrical, the other negatively. They
come within striking distance. A stream of
lightning issues from the one TO the other
they are intermingled, the earth is shrouded in |
darkness, the storm breaks forth, rain, hail, |
wind, thunder and lightning. There is q
general crashing Of fences, houses, and, for |
est trees all adrift in the air. We shrink |
back in dismay, and, if in place of safety, we |
await there the subsistence Of the tempest, be- |
fore venturing even to think Of the extent Of
its damage
So with Sebastopol. The Allies have 100000 |
men. The are resolved to take it. The Rus. |
slams have q circle Of the strongest forti6ca- |
tons, garnished with thousand pieces Of
heavy artillery, and q defensive force Of, per-
haps, 100000 men and they are resolved to
fight it out Of course all the predictions Of
the results Of the final collision Of these hos. |
tile elements are absurd; but from the i'm. |
proved condition of the allied camps, and the |
renewed confidence Of success among the
French and English, we may count at least
upon scene Of blood and carnage compared
with which the sieges and stormings Of the
Spanish peninsula will shrink into mere que
rilla skirmishes.
We may possibly hear Of the bombardment
BY the next steamer; or, if the Emperor Louis
Napoleon is really determined to make for
himself personal inspection Of Sebastopol,
the work may be delayed for fortnight be-
yond the appointed time. As matters now
stand, delay has ceased to be as advantageous to
the Allies as at first In fact, they rather gain
by it now, while the Russians have done all
that can be done to meet the assault.
As for the peace conference at Vienna, rely
upon it, it viii amount to nothing short of the
taking Of Sebastopol or the expulsion Of the
Allies. So we think it unworthy Of further at
tention for the present, piece Of diplomatic
mockery Of the most impudent and injudicious
character.