The Press. — 1854-09-09 (London, England)

SATURDAY,  THE WAR.  THE CRIMEA EXPEDITION. Our latast news from Turkey reports facts which place the long-promised expedition against Sebastopol among the actualities of the war. Letters from Constantinople of the 31st ult. state that Marechal de St. Arnaud had issued an order of the day announcing the expedition to the Crimea, and ex• pressing his hope very soon to see the three standards of France, England, and Turkey floating on the walls of Sebastopol by the aid of the devotedness and courage of the allied troops. The expedition was to con-ist of 71,000 men, namely, 25,000 English, 26,000 French, and 20,000 Turks. The prospect of active service had created immense enthu• siasm ►unoug the troops ; and it was said that the Marines had obtained permission to take part in the assault. The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Napoleon had proceeded to join the expedition, against the advice of their physicians, as they were still suffering from fever. Cholera bad, however, happily disappeared almost, if not entirely, among the troops. Letters from Varna of the 29th state that the Guards and the 28th, 42nd, 44th, 79th, and 93rd Regiments had already embarked, and that the Light Division was under orders to embark. A great portion of the French force was to embark at Bourgas and Baltschik. Lord Cardigan's division was also under orders to embark at Varna. General Sir John Burgoyne had arrived. Lord Raglan was to embark at Varna in the Caradoc on the 2nd of September, and the expedition was to rendezvous at Baltschik. It was known by the Russians in .Bessarabia that a landing was to take place in that province or in the Crimea. An order has been issued that wherever the enemy appears the towns and villages " are to be reduced to ashes." In Odessa and Sebastopol a great number of prisoners taken from the fortresses are to serve the port batteries. In the last-mentioned place a gang of 200 convicts in irons will convey ammunition to the batteries. It is asserted that the Russians have destroyed all the tire-engines and other requisites for extinguishing a conflagration at Odessa, Reni, Brailow, Galatz, and Ismail, with the intention of setting fire to these important towns should they be forced to abandon them. The Fremden Blatt has advises from Galatz of the Ist, according to which a considerable number of French and English gun-boats entered the Sulina mouth of the Danube on the 31st of August. Another flotilla of gun-boats was to enter the Kilia mouth of the Danube, The Russian force at Odessa consists of 20,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, and 80 pieces of cannon. An eyewitness of the disasters of the French at Baldjick states that there were about 2,000 Zouaves under General Espinasse. They came in after a forced march of twenty hours' duration, "footsore and wearied." They drank greedily of the water from the wells, and in two or three hours were dying by scores. He never should forget the sight of Espinasse as he came from his tent and saw his men all lying in the attitude of sleep. The sky was beautifully clear, and all around was still as night. When he saw the truth his agony burst forth, and he wept like a child. It was reported that he had committed suicide. General Canrobert, when he knew it, swore that he would avenge their deaths. It is a very common belief among the French that the wells were poisoned, but, even if they were not, it was most imprudent to drink after being heated, in a hot climate.  Marshal de St. Arnaud, in order to encourage his forces under their sufferings from cholera and inaction, issued the following address. It is dated " Head• quarters at Varna, August 8 " : " In the midst of the painful trials which we have just passed through, I have found consolation in the acts of devotedness which the common peril has called forth, and in the moral vigour which has been exhibited during the epidemic both by those who obey and by those who command in this army. The first division, surprised during its march by the invasion of the scourge, was placed in a most afflicting situation ; but order, hope, and calm never ceased to prevail there, as at the very best of times, and it renewed in that respect the fine examples which 1M already been given by the garrison of Gallipoli. I praise, as they well deserve, and I thank most warmly, the officers and soldiers who have thus honoured themselves in the eyes of the army by struggling with an energy that nothing could overcome against the difficulties of a situation whack at certain moments, might have astonished the most tried courage. The regret which 1 give to such of our coninnley as we have lost, and who have expired so nobly at theif post of combat, is tempered by the satisfaction which I fedi at seeing myself surrounded by so many brave men, I know that I may expect everything from them, and I rt gard with the most complete security the efforts which I shall have to ask from them in order to bring our great enterprise to a successful issue. " A. DZ ST. AR.; ton, " Marshal, Commanderin•Chief."