The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-06-23

ring to the files brought by the Asia. On the
9Th inst. the telegraph announced that the bonn
baIdment of Sebsstopol had begun again, and
about the same time we learned that General
Pelissier had taken the White Tower and the
Namelon. Hence arose in certain quarters nm
impression-whish we find reflected in few
country journals--that the Allies were about
assaulting the city, and carrying it by storm.
No mistake could be greater The works on
the Mamelon and the White Tower were parts
of counter approach thrown up by the Rus
slams in order to outHank and possibly to en-
filade the advanced French works. The former
is hill between the fourth parallel and the
curtain WALL from which, as far back as Febru-
airy last, Canrobert found it necessary to dis
lodge the Russians. Being exposed as it was to
the fire of some of the most powerful Russian
| batteries, the French could not hold it, but
! evacuated it the next day the Russians re-
| occupied it, and ever since have been extending
the line of which it may be considered the start
ing point. Had the Russians been allowed
to hold it and prosecute their work Of
counter approach, the French trenches. would
soon have been untenable; Pelissier only
yielded to necessity when he attacked it,
and carried it at a loss Of nearly 5000 men
| placed hors du combat. Having taken it, the
| French find themselves in the very same posi-
ton as they occupied in February; they can
not hold it unless the Russian batteries which
command it, and especially the formidable Ma
lakoff be silenced. Hence the renewed bonn
bardment, which, it may safely be taAen for
granted, is undertaken solely in the hope of 81
lencing the more formidable Russian batteries
and giving the French time to entrencb and
strengthen themselves as solidly as they can in
their captured work. If the feint succeeds, an
advantage will undoubtedly accrue to the
Allies, inasmuch as they will be possessed of
work considerably nearer to the Russian lines
than their nearest parallel; but the advantage
will be accompanied with q corresponding risk,
and will not hasten or facilitate the assault.
Indeed, whatever the British journals may
say, there never was time at which the cap.
ture of Sebastopol by assault appeared more
distant
In very short time we may expect to hear
of the cholera and fever breaking out in the
allied camp. No man, say topographers can
expose himself to the Crimean dews without
fatal results; yet the Allies must guard the
trenches. In July and August the heights of
CheIson are the seat of frightful and deadly
ophthalmia; of this scourge the troops must
take their share. The correspondent of the
London Times writes that the want of water has
been already felt; and complains bitterly that
the departments whose business it is to see after
this necessary of life have contented themselves
with scientific examination Of the locality;
which satisfying them that water ought to be
found there, they have paid no attention to the
fact that the cavalry horses were already on
| short allowance. Fever, cholera, opthalmia,
! and thirst are bad look out for the summer.
| But leaving Sebastopol OF whose capture no
| person of Judgment will expect to hear this
many day, what are the Allies to do else
where? We know, now, that for some reason
or other, the Russians had long ago decided to
abandon Kertch and Yeniksle Probably they
| had not men and means to defend them. Pos
sibly they forssaw that their capture would
entail no very serious consequences. At all
| events, whether these were. the causes, or whe-
Their the Russians were, as the English cay,
scared by the appearance of the armament
which turned Cape Takil Bouroune, the ports
were abandoned and small Russian feet cap
tured. Next, portion of the same squadron
did not capture, but bombarded and otherwise
molested, the Azoff ports of Genitchi and Ara
bat. Here, it is understood, quantity Of pro-
visions were taken "and destroyed" Why
destroyed? Have the Allies never lacked PRO
visions that they should gaily destroy six
millions of rations? 1t looks very much as
though the destruction had been intended to con-
ceal the quantity OF the articles destroyed Still
it is to be presumed that Genitchi will fall and
probably Arabat as well. Both are small places
unlikely to be able to resist the strong naval
force under Lyons and Bruat Then the Allies
will be masters of the sea Of Azoff WHAT next?
They may sail towards the mouth of the Don,
burn Taganrog, and plumber the country resi-
dences in the neighborhood; they may lombard
the few villages on the eastern bank of the
river; they may advance within sight of the
Delta, and gaze on the sunken boats and care
full bars which forbid their advance upon Tcher-
kask. Or on the other hand they may launch
their gunboats on the Sirwash, from Genitchi,
and pilot them towards Perekop. This is OBJ
viously the moet likely plan to be pursued. For
| the other could lead to none but fruItless
| triumphs.
Upon the result Of the attack upon Perekop
everything will obviously depend. If it can
be secured, and held, the fall Of Sebastopol
becomes mere matter Of time. But before it can
be attacked, the army Of Simpheropol must be
beaten, or it will be neither efectual to take nor
possible to hold Perekop. The plan Of the sum-
mer is therefore, as we understand it, nearly as
| follows
Twenty thousand men garrison the Straits of
Kertch and cut off the Crimea from supplies
from the Don. Three -tourths of the available