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Leader (1850-1860), 18th November 1854, Edition 2 of 2, Page 3

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      What Purported To Be Russian Versions Of...

      Hardly had the excitement consequent upon this news arisen , when the Times ( conspicuous for its had news ) terrified the town with a telegraph from "Vienna , asserting' that another battle was fought on the 6 th . The same paper on Thursday , with another Vienna telegraph , announced a fourth battle on the 11 th . Of course these were blunders : the telegraphs all referred to the same affair on the 5 th . These are the telegraphs which appeared in the first edition of the morning papers of yesterday : — Tienna , Thursday , Nov . 16 . Advices received via Odessa , of the 11 th of November , state that nothing important occurred at Sebastopol on the 6 th ' , 7 th , and 8 th . The allies continued the construction of their siege works , especially fortifying their right wing .

      The Hussians were "busy repairing the damage done to the fortifications . A despatch of the 8 th . from Prince Menschikoff announces that the operations of the siege continued , and that the allies were intrenching themselves strongly on the left flank of their position . The French papers publish telegraphic news from Marseilles , brought there by the Sinai from Constantinople . The most important intelligence brought by this vessel is , however , the fact , that General Mayran ' s brigade , from Greece , and 2000 Zouaves from Africa , both corps destined for the Crimea , had been met at sea , and according to ail probability would have joined General Canrobert ' s army by the time the Sinai reached Marseilles . Berlin , Tuesday , Nov . 14 .

      The following summary of a Russian official despatch has been received here , dated St . Petersburg , 23 by . 13 : — Prince Meuschikoff attacked the north-east position of the enemy on the 5 th inst . The enemy -was prepared . The Russians stormed two positions , spiked eight guns in one battery , and penetrated into the English , camp . One division ( Russian ) arrived too late . The Russians retired to their previous positions . The enemy did not pursue . A simultaneous sortie was made near Bastion No . 6 . The . enemy ' s batteries opposite the cemetery were stormed , and the cannon were spiked .

      General Foret's division attacked the Bastion jSTo . 6 , but were repulsed . The Russian loss was considerable . The Grand Dukes Michael and Nicholas were present . General Liprandi only made a demonstration . Lieut-General Soimonoff was killed .

      November 18, 1854.] The Leader. 1083

      November 18 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 1083

      The Sinai Steamer, Arrived At Marseilles...

      The Sinai steamer , arrived at Marseilles this week , brought detailed news of what occurred u p to the 3 rd . It also brought news that the allies contemplated an assatut on the 5 th—the day that they were assaulted . The state of the town of Sebastopol was spoken of as being fearful . In the conflagration of the hospital , 2000 sick and wounded were burnt to cinders .

      By The Last Mail From Sebastopol, We Fin...

      By the last mail from Sebastopol , we find that the Duke of Newcastle wrote , on the 10 th of October , to Lord Haglan , communicating to him , and to the army , the Queen's " grncious approbation of the gallant conduct of the army at the battle of Alma . " The duke says : I lost no time in submitting to her Majesty your lordship ' s able and interesting description of this great conflict , and it is now my gratifying duty to express toyour lordship the scnso which the Queen entertains of the valuable service which y . ou havo rendered to this country , and to the cause of tho allies , find the high approbation which her Majesty has been pleased to express of tho brilliant gallantry of tho forces under your command , their discipline—worthy of veteran soldiersand their irresistible resolution , which no disadvantages of position could subdue .

      The Queen , commands mo to convey through your lordship her Majesty '* commendation and thanks to Iiieut ,-General Sir GcoTge Brown , tho other generals of divisions , and to all tho oflicors , non-commissioned officers , and privates of tho army , who have on thin occasion revived the recollection of tho ancient glories of British arms , and added fresh lustra to tho military fame of England . Her MajcHty feels additional ploamiro in tints recognising tho noble daring of her soldiorn , and sympathising in th « ir victory , when she reflects that that courage luia been evinced , and those triumphs won side hy nki « with

      tho troops of a nation whoso valour the British army lias in former thnca admired and ronpoctud in hootilo combat , but ; which it has now for tho drat time touted in Um generous rivalry of an intimate , brotherhood in anna . Her Majesty trusts Hint ; tho blood of tho two nutlouH ho profuMoly shed on tho l > anks of tho Alma—a mibjoot of dcop rogrot to herself and Ivor people—may conniMiruto an iilllanoo whicli hIuUI ondiira for tho bono / ll . of future rionnrntinna when tho remembrance of thin battle-Hold is rullo-wod by gratitudo for the consequences , us well an ho glories of victory . < Tho Dukoadds : — \ 0 n ono subject alouo you nro silent—your own d » ntJrculrthed Boivico . To Hum , however , others havo borne

      ¦ witness , and her Majesty is profoundly sensible that , if her army has shown itself worthy of its ancient renown , its Commander has proved himself able to uphold it , and has fulfilled the prediction written forty years ago by him under whom he learned the art of war , and whose loss we still mourn , that he would " become an honour to his country . " The same mail brings the " general orders" of thanks issued by Lord Raglan respecting the affairs of the 25 th and 26 th tilt .

      THE POSITION . An article appears in the Pays upon the position and the prospect . It conveys the views of the French Government : — It has been announced that Prince MenschikofT was again expecting numerous reinforcements . We believe that he has now all that he could reckon on ; and that letters from Odessa announce , in fact , that the convoys of troops towards the Crimea have ceased for some days . The Russian army is necessarily limited in the Crimea by the resources in provisions and ammunition which it can dispose of . It has not the sea by which to receive its stores ; it must receive everything from the continent by badly-kept roads , which will soon become

      absolutely impracticable . The soil of the Crimea is chalky and friable . The rains , which usually commence in November , soften it to such an extent as to destroy the communications . The roads become cut up and full of holes , and the pools of water no longer allow of any transports . The climate , therefore , menaces ver y seriously- the army of Prince Menschikoff , and if in a few days he does not obtain a marked success , he will be obliged , Tinder pain of exposing to the most frightful privations Ms army of 100 , 000 men , to take refuge at Perekop , to pass the winter there in the most complete inaction . Our army is in a far better condition . Close to the sea , it can incessantly obtain everything that it wants . It has at its disposal a powerful fleet , which is

      at the same time a military auxiliary , and a means of supplying stores . Without doubt , the Black Sea is renowned for its tempests and inhospitable climate ; but there are no more storms and contrary -winds for steamers , and we have 200 of these latter constantly plying from Balaklava to Constantinople ., ' and vice versa . On the other hand , there have been already accumulated at Balaklava upwards of six weeks' provisions and stores of every kind , and every day there arrive there new convoys of men , arms , and . provisions . If from these considerations connected with the weather and climate , and from these details of supplies , we pass to the physical appreciation of the two armies , we find them at least equal in strength . We see the allies full of enthusiasm and courage , still more excited by the numerous victories which they have already gained , on the Alma ,

      over General Liprandi , and now over the Grand Dukes Michael and Nicholas ; always ready for the combat , prepared to resist any attempt at surprise , and displaying in the face of danger that French gaiety which is one of the sources of strength of our army , or Britannic impassibilit 3 r , which makes our allies a living wall of brass . Whatever may be the means by which the courage of the Russians is fanaticised , it is impossible to make them believe that they are victorious when they retreat in disorder ; and it is impossible to conceal from them the disasters and ruins of Sobnstopol . And if that is the case , how can . it be admitted that the inevitable discouragement which seizes on every army that has been three times conquered should not creep into their ranks ,, ? The material situation , like the moral one , is therefore as good as could be hoped for .

      RUmFOllCEMKNTS . It hns been stated above that the French army before Sebastopol was receiving reinforcements from Athens , and , in addition , a largo force of Zouaves , tho very best troops ; and the Emperor of the French has further decided to send 50 , 000 men , some of whom havo already sailed , all of whom will havo left Toulon or Marseilles for the Crimea within the next ten days . A portion of tho expense of these troops is to bo borne by the British Government , What the English Government is itself doing is stated in tho Globe : —

      Within tho last month rcinforccmont . 3 havo boon ordered out for tho infantry , to tho number of ne arly 7000 men . Of that number 2 nd from Malta ; and further dutachmontH embarking this week comprise U officers nnd 790 men . Besides thoan roinfomtincnts , every mun of war that has departed for the Black Haa . him taken out reiuforcoinnnts to tho marines and artillery , which must in tho aggregate constitute a ciHiriitlurnblo addition to tho forco at the Bout of war .

      Such were the slupti taken boioru tlici recent , Htirring nmvH wuh received ; and it bus bfton our duty from time t , o tiiiut to report progress under tho lioad of our military iuU ' . Ui ^ itnco . But it Is not to bo . supposed that tlio activity <>! ' GuvomiMcnt would Htup at that point ., oven il tin ) reports of tho 2 fi ( , h of Outuhur and tho Gth instant bud not excited other people to clamour for the reinforcoments which wore lit part already on their way . Within tho laat two days the 90 th rogimont ; him beon ordered out from Dublin , aH woll us tho IMth and 71 si from Corfu , ui » d a battalion of Quanta from homo , Tho to till of the additional reinforcement thus

      obtained would be about 5000 men in infantry alone . The cavalry will be reinforced , not by fresh regiments , but by increasing the strength of the regiments already out , from a complement of 300 to 600 each regiment , and by making good the losses already incurred . We may reckon that this plan would involve , when completed , an effective increase of 5000 men . Considerable as these are , they constitute hy no means the whole . Nothing has been more conspicuous to the whole world , or more constantly confirmed in act , than the perfect accord and active co-operation of the French and English Governments , as well as the French and English forces ; we cannot , therefore , consider the subject of reinforcements apart .

      Letters from the Crimea say , of the Turkish reinforcements—" The Egyptian contingent of 12 , 000 men is beginning to arrive , as also French reinforcements , which are being conveyed almost daily to the Crimea . " The Egyptian troops are the most available to Turkey . The Peninsular and Oriental Company are supplying three steamers for the use of the French Government in the conveyance of troops . The Royal Mail Company sends the Thames on the same service . The Royal Albert ( the hero of the great launch at Woolwich some time ago ) goes immediately to Balaklava wit

      h 800 men . One hundred first class and second class boys were sent on board her yesterday from the Waterloo , all of whom have been trained in sword exercise and gun practice , under the superintendence of Commander John B . Marsh , of the Waterloo . A number of these boys are perfectly capable of doing their duty as gunners and gunners' mates , and such has been their training on board the Waterloo , under her indefatigable commander , that a number of them are appointed to instruct their junior messmates in great gun and sword exercise . They certainly possess the judgment , and only want muscular power . The boys receive money in lieu of grog .

      Assistant Engineers . —KTotice has been given that a number of assistant engineers will shortly be required to enter the Boyal Navy , and every encouragement will be given to young men qualified for that service , who may enter at Woolwich from the factory , or from private establishments .

      THE COMMISSARIAT . Another invitation to volunteer as assistants to the Commissariat in the East has been made to the weighers of the London Custom-house establishment , twenty young men being immediately requited . The Government guarantees to the volunteers their " present position in the Customs , and , moreover , the advance to which they would be entitled staying at home ; so that they incur no risk of losing ground whenever the termination of the war may enable the commissariat to dispense with their services . Numerous letters have been received from weighers who volunteered two months ago . The commissariat volunteers appear to have all the excitement of the war , and are well lodged at Balaklava .

      THE PRINCIPALITIES . Omar Pasha is said to bo contemplating a move on Bessarabia : — The most general belief i 3 that the Turks will attack the Russians , and , from the line of the Sereth upon which Sadyk Pasha is concentrating tho troops lately in Wallachia , march against Bessarabia , while another Turkish corpa will stand at his disposal in tho Dobrudscha , or on the coast of tho Black Sea . All the Turkish troops in Western Bulgaria are marching on Shumla . The Russians are making great preparations to defend tho Pruth 5 here and there whole villages have been cleared of their civil inhabitants for reasons of . strategy . From St . Petersburg Prince Gortschnkofl' has received orders to concentrate his forces for tho defence of Odessa and Akcrman , should Sebastopol fall , as it is expected that those places , would bo the next object /} of attune .

      Bip ^ oM / vcr . Tho end of tho diplomacy between Russia and Austria is , that The Emperor of Russia bos consented to withdraw his troops from the frontiers nominally because Austria desired it , but hi reality because he wanted to send his I 3 cssarabiun army to tho Crimea . Austria has obtained a respite of two or three montliB , but at tho expense oi tho Western Powers .

      Austria and Prussia havo been interchanging notes : Austria promising neutrality ; and Prusaia , consequently , promising that if Austria ia attacked by Russia , l ' russin , will aid Austria . A letter from Vienna states : — Prineo GortsuhakofT has officially announced to Count Ituol that Itussia is proparod to treat direct with Austria on tho bnHtH of tho four conditions . Thin in hero corisidorod n . jjuljmhlu attempt to cause diuuuion between Austria mid tho Western Powers .

      tii w nAi / rro fi-kimc . Tho English whipa uro laid up at Kiel ; and Sir C . Napier is lioniiiiiiK at Hamburg . It would appear that this raining of tho blockade is somewhat premature . Luttora havo boon received at Memcl from Bt . Petersburg , with strict orders to out merchants there not to ship any Russian produce for account of fcit .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 18, 1854, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_18111854/page/3/