The Sun. — 1855-07-07 (London, England)

THE HANG° AFFAIR.  The following is a translation from the French in the Journal de St. Petersbourg of the letter addressed by Admiral Dundas to the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian troops at Helsingfors : "On board her Majesty's ship Duke of Wellington, off Seskar, June 15.  " Sir,—l take advantage of the first opportunity to communicate with you respecting what I have just learnt from the commander of her Majesty's ship Cossack. He complains to me that the officers and crew of one of the Cossack's boats, while landing with a flag of truce with the intention of putting on shore some Russian subjects, whom we did not wish to retain prisoners, having captured them on board some coasting vessels which the cruisers under my orders had taken and destroyed, were cruelly put to death ou the 45th inst. at Hango-Udde by the troops stationed there.  " The Cossack arrived there with the said intention on the morning of the sth, and kept at a distance of from two to . three miles from tbe landing-place. The boat was sent from the vessel at that distance, and pulled for the shore with three officers and 13 other persons, besides the prisoners they wished to liberate. The flag of true was not hoisted on the prnw of the boat until she was within a mile of the coast. From the investigations I have made, I have every reason to beli3ve that care was taken that the flag should be distinctly visible. In such manner the officer in charge of the boat approached the shore. The troops on shore made no signal nor any objection until he neared the landing place. Finding no one there authorised to communicate with him, he thought he might land, never ceasii,g to display the flag of true, of which he himself was the bearer. The prisoners, who were to Le set at liberty commenced removing their things on shore ; in this they were assisted by some of the sailors, who landed for the purpose, but without arms. " I may add that all the arms of the crew were placed at the bottom of the boat. Thus situated they were suddenly surprised by a superior armed force, which rushed upon them from the houses in the neighbourhood, and attacked them indiscriminately. Our men did what they could to explain the object of their mission, and offered no resistance, tongue iaunrnsgsuspaecnsr question.iiresistance necelieeii.:s.k,,sn:ueondenwnieessrims.tseotygdosuohec,ilaihnfv etjcth) hboi:s..ecieutEniti nvnwaesgolbtlyali ;al htaelte:gslt elgVopgatnleisyaess:ioeo:cf calling tuahhniconecfigsßitthihlisseceattention to the flag of truce, which he refused to recognise, A fire of musketry was opened uppn the indict I've crew of the boat, and upon the prisoners we had come to set at liberty. Wound after wound was inflicted upon them in the most cruel and savage manner. The firin7 continued until all were killed, or supposed to be so. One man only, severely wounded, and who was thought dead, succeeded in making his escape on board the boat, when a few hours afterwards he was picked up by the vessel. Four of the crew were found dead in the bottom of the boat.  " Their wounds prove that they must have been fired at more than once, which fact is confirmed by the testimony of the survivor.  " I have only to add that the entire crew of the boat might have been made prisoners without difficulty, and that the murderous attack of which I complain was in no wise provoked, and not at all necessary. "In calling your attention to these facts I hope I shall not be making a vain appeal to your honour as an officer to give me such explanations as you may deem suitable under the actual circumstances, and I am happy to take advantage of this circumstance to afford you the means of defending the character of your flag. " It is to the parents only of the unhappy victims of this affair that any reparation can now be made, and it would be a certain consolation for them to know with certainty either that all arc dead, or that, if there are survivors, there is hope that they will recover from their wounds.  " I send you, therefore, annexed, a list of officers and sailors supposed to have been killed, and I shall feel grateful to you for any information you can give me respecting this unhappy affair.  " I have the honour to remain, &c., " R. DIINDAS, "Rear-Admiral, Commander-in-Chief of her Britannic Majesty's Squadron in the Baltic,"