EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Wellington Independent.)
By the Caroline Hort we have received English news to the 22nd of April, brought to Melbourne by the White Star and the British Trident. The general belief, according to the intelligence brought by the White Star was, that the negotiations at Vienna had reached a critical point—that they would fall short of any pacific result; and that ultimately Austria will refuse to draw the sword against Russia. It is stated that great commercial distress prevails, and that want of confidence is increasing. The Emperor and Einpiess of the French had arrived in England. They were at Windsor, on a visit to Her Majesty. The Emperor was made a Knight of the Garter on the 18th. He had visited Guildhall instate, in company with the Queen and Prince Albert, and had been enthusiastically received there, as also on his landing- at Dover. The following summary is from the Melbourne Argus, of July 18th, with which we have been kindly furnished. THE WAR. News from the Crimea to the 12th April had reached Paris. Marseilles, Wednesday, April 18.—The Ganges, which left Constantinople on the 9th April, has arrived. Despatches for the Government left at 9 a.m. Balaclava, April 7.—The Russians made a sortie on the 6lh, and were repulsed with great loss by the English. Lieutenant Jones, 7th regiment, and two other officers were wounded, and thirty men put hors de combat. Captain Cambridge was killed, and Captain Armit wounded in the trenches on the 3rd. On the Bth April the bombardment of Sebastopol commenced, and was continued fiercely fov two days with great success to the allies. 500 guns and mortars opened their fire on the defences of Sebastopol. Three of the Russian batteries were dismounted, and a breach was made near the Quarantine Fort. Omar Pasha had landed at Kamiesh with 15,000 men in order to assist in the assault. The bombardment of the Malakoff Tower was kept up by the French. The Turks are fortifying Enpatoria strongly. Guns, sabres, and stores, are arriving daily, and also reinforcements, including cavalry from Varna. A skirmish took place between the Basbi Bazouks and a party of Cossacks. The latter fled with great loss. The health of the army is good, and medical camforts are supplied freely. The weather continues fine at Balaklava. Official intelligence had been received at Paris up to the 12th; on that day the fleets were drawn out in line of battle before the port of Sebastopol. By the Electric and International Telegraph. The Vienna Gazette of Wednesday publishes the following :— Crimea, April 14.—During the night of the 13th the left attack of the allies gained considerable advantage over the Russians. The Russians were twice dislodged from a strongly fortified position. The possession of tl»is position enabled the allies to fortify the summit of the ravine, which is of great importance. The Daily News says that private despatches from Paris announce that it was known officially there, that on the 12th, the fourth day of the siege, no decided advantage had been gained # by the besiegers. Constantinople, April 10. — A despatch from Mehined Ali announces that he has slain 1600 Kurds, taken 600 prisoners, and occupied their strongest position. Sinope and Rhodes are to be fortified. Paris, Tuesday.—lt is reported here that news has been received of the burning of Sebastopol. It is from the Presse : — The allies, on the 9th, made a breach in the bastion between the centre of the Russian works and the Quarantine Fort. Omar Pasha has landed at Kamiesch with 15,000 men, who will assist in the assault. Admiral Bruat has anchored in Streletzka Bay, and waits for fine we?'her to begin his operations. it is said that three Russian batteries have been dismounted. The allies say that their loss has been inconsiderable. These reports in the Presse must be received with caution. The Himalaya has sailed with important despatches from Lord Raglan for Omar Pasha. The weather is fine. j
A Fjsmale Spy.—The Sentinelle of Toulon, publishes the following as part of a letter from Kauiiesch :—" A rather strange adventure has occurred outside Sebastopoi. A young Russian woman was for some days seen walking about the Russian trendies, and sometimes at night also with a lantern. It was thought, as she was tall, and of a majestic appearance, that she was a man in disguise, and the General-in-chief ordered that she should be closely watched. At six o'clock in the morning of the 18th, she again appeared opposite our lines, and examined them with great attention ; she carried a notebook and pencil in her hand, and seemed to inscribe in it the results of her observations. Finding after a while that she was perceived, she hurried towards a species of ras-ine at the extremity of the French trenches. Two Zouaves were sent in pursuit of her, and succeeded in capturing her. Being found to be really a woman, she was taken before General Canrobert and questioned. She said that she had made observations of the French positions for the good of her country, and to avenge the death of her husband, Botninoff by name, who was killed at the battle of Alma. Her note-book was found to contain several details relative to the situation of our batteries, and the number of guns in them ; she had also in her pocket a double-barrelled pistol, and a letter addressed to Prince Menschikoff. She was placed in confinement under the surveillance of two sentinels, and it has been determined that she shall be sent to Malta. The Polish paper Czar states that all the bridges on the Lower Neva, which are built of granite, have been thrown down, and their materials cast into the stream, so as lo make it impassable for vessels of any depth. The Russian fleet is armed ready for battle, and well stocked with provisions : two divisions are in Cronstadt, and one at Sveaborg, and Revel. A flotilla of 300 row-boats carrying guns, was being fitted out with all diligence. Along that part of the Baltic coast where the approach to Gatschina is protected by only two petty fortresses, Narwa and Jamburg, there is an army of 120,000 men concentrated, consisting of a portion of the grenadier corps, and of the Ist armee corps, with their reserves, the reserves of the 6th armee corps, and of the infantry of the guard, and irregular cavalry ; these forces are stationed en echelon along the coast, and fortified camps are being erected at the most important points. The small-pox has broken out on board the St. Jean d'Acre, and she has been placed in quarantine. The Military Gazette of Vienna learns by Russian letters from the Crimea that Prince Gortschakoff has modified his original plan of operations. The centre of his army will be at Batchi-Serai and Simpheropol; the right wing will lean on Perekop ; the defence of Sebastopoi will be independent of the exterior operations, but it will be extended as far as the lines of the Tchornaya. Corps of observation will be established" in intrenched camps on the Katcha and Belbek. From Kertch the same journal ha? information that the Hetman Khomousoff is making considerable preparations for defence, and has sunk at the entrance of the straits forty small vessels laden with stones. The rumour of the Russians round the neighbourhood of Tchourgoum having received reinforcements, is, ife appears, strictly true. This morning, from the heights in our possession, on the extreme right, these troops were plainly visible. A number of their officers were on the Woronxow road, and appeared to be surveying our position with much care. Today two more 10-inch mortars were sent to the front, with about 50 or 60 tons of powder, 300 rounds of filled shell and 200 rounds of empty 10-inch. To-day, also, the greater part of the officers and crew of the Leander, 50, came on shore and joined the Naval Brigade at head-quarters. These men will be distributed at the heavy guns in the different new works. Each man was smartly dressed in blue, with his cutlass and revolver by his side. Two sailors—one with a fife, and the other with a fiddle—marched at their head, enlivening the way with "Jack's alive," " Cheer, boys, cheer," &c. At the same time that the sailors landed, 5000 Turks were sent up to head-quarters, each man carrying a jlong fascine. There are not less than 10,000 or 12,000 of these fascines already piled near Lord Raglan's house.
The following vvas the progress of tbe siege of Sevastopol up to the third of April. Mav.3l.-Last night orders were issued that one of the large mortars and three of our heaviest guns were to fire a round every half-hour at the Mamelon and ■ Maiakoff works, the French also kept two or three of their guns going, and altogether, with the reply of the enemy, there was a desultory cannonade throughout the night. The honibs appeared to inflict much mischief, especially when thrown on the parapet of the enemy's works. One went into the town and set fire to a house. ' Towards the middle of the night the Cossack battery on the north heights of Inkermann, commenced firing heavily, and continued to do so at intervals until this morning. The object of this display is quite a secret, as the great majority of the shots fell short, and in other respects quite harmless. To-day, except an occasional shot, all has been quiet and the business of getting up our shell goes steadily forward. The two last of the large mortars have also reached camp. Letters received at Constantinople state that everything indicates that the siege in the Crimea is drawing to its last stage. A supplementary supply of cartridges has been distributed to the soldiers, and they have been told to hold themselves in readiness for an approaching action. Three hundred new pieces of artillery are already placed ; they are in covered and masked batteries, which will open fire at the moment of the assault, principally in the direction of the Quarantine fort. Part of the army is to assist in the assault, whilst the other part, it is said, is^to march against the Russians. It is said that between the Tchernaya and jthe port the Russians have established 12 undermined batteries of a formidable kind; but it is hoped that they can be prevented from doing much injury. Orders were received at Balaklava to-daj to prepare ships for the reception of the wounded, and to the general hospital the same intimation to have beds ready were also given. Monday, April 2. —A great deal of activity has been "visible among the staff at camp today, and aides de camp have been riding to and fro in all directions. A council of war, also, was held at Lord Raglan's, which lasted about two hours, at the end of which Sir Colin Campbell was sent for, and the conference again resumed. From these movements and the general preparations visible on all sides, immediate operations are anticipated. Tuesday, April 3.—Last night we had some heavy firing between the allied and Russian batteries—the French advanced work against the Flagstaff, and our right attack against the Mamelon batteries. No particular results followed. From the advanced work in the middle ravine, coutiuued skirmishing went forward between our men, the French and the Russian rifle pits. The Russians maintained their ground ; and, indeed, beyond sharp shooting, there was no attempt to drive them from it. The enemy are evidently on the gui vive^ as large numbers of troops crowd their batteries now each night so as to be ready on the instant. The Zouaves, it is said, with a party of Tirailleurs d'Afrique and Chasseurs de Vincennes, are to storm the Malakoff the night after opening fire; and to the English has been allotted the Mamelon. Last night the Russian pickets were observed in the plain 'of Balaklava, much advanced from their usual position, apparently regarding our lines, which now by the full moon can be seen at night as clearly as in the day time. The weather still continues splendid, that is to say, clear, hard, frosty nights, with hot days ; just like November* nights and June days in England. The men are in splendid spirits, but fever makes great progress. THE BALTIC. ~>. Landscrona, April 3. —The advance squadron of the Baltic fleet arrived at Elsinore on the Ist of April, but owing to the masses of drift ice, and strong current, were unable to remain there. Three, the Arrogant, Tartar, and Cossack, having parted their anchors, they all got under weigh, and proceeded to this anchorage, where they were joined by the Amphion to-day, one of the " lame ducks." Another, the Archer, has not made her appearance. The Amphion got on shore near this anchorage through the ignorance of tbe pilot, bin it is" not supposed that she has injured lierself, as the mud appeared to be very soft. The Imperieuse and the Euryalus, being of too
much draught of water to pass through the Sound, parted company for Kiel, leaving the squadron under the command of Captain Yelverton, her Majesty's ship Arrogant. Some of the colliers sent out to supply the squadron with coals have fared but badly, one having foundered, and two or three others more or less injured, when trying to pass the Sound. This is a very snug little harbour, and is expected that the ships will remain here till the Sound is entirely clear from ice. We are all in want of'coals, having steamed the whole distance from the Downs in almost a perfect calm, with most delightful weather, smooth seas, and a cloudless sky.—Morning Herald. Hamburg, April 13.— Notwithstanding the difficulty of the passage through the ice in the Sound'and Belts, our advanced squadron has managed to push its way in part through both taking care that nothing shall pass it at either of those points of the entrance into the Baltic. The Arrogant, frigate, 47, Captain H.-R. Yelverton, which encountered very much floating ice in the Sound and lost an anchor near Elsinore, at the commencement of the month, in endeavouring to make her way through the Sound to Landscrona, has attained her object, and was, at last advices from that quarter, at anchor off the latter place, having the safeguard of the entire passage in her keeping—a feat that has created much surprise and admiration among the Swedish sailors and nautical men generally in that quarter. She had, however, in some instances, to use powder and shot to break up the large ice masses ■which were in her way and to secure her safety. It is thought that if the breaking up of the ice, even partially shall have been confirmed, and which is said to be the case now, these adventurous vessels will soon be seen at Gothland, and thence as speedily carry out a positive blockade of the Gulfs of Finland and Bothnia, and thus prevent the fleet of merchantmen which now await the breaking up of the ice passing from the Prussian and Russian ports in the Baltic to their places of destination with their very valuable cargoes. It is rumoured generally throughout Germany that the Russians have been laying in stores of provisions for a period of eighteen months in the fortresses of Sweaborg, Helsingfors, Oronstadt, Revel, Wilborg, and other places of defence along the sea coast, and sinking besides, vessels and other objects to prevent any hostile ships approaching them. Much apprehension is entertained of the Allies effecting a landing, and laying siege to some of these places; for otherwise they would hardly have found it necessary to impose on the already oppresssd Baltic provinces an army of 140,000 men. April 14.—The Flensburq Zeitung mentions that after a strong south-westerly wind, accompanied by continual rainy weather, the ice had nearly all disappeared from the Sound, and excepting a small portion between the Customhouse landing place and the Three Crown Battery, the harbour of Copenhagen may be said to he open and the navigation free again. It has been a very fine-sigh Uo view the arrival of such a fleetof merchant ships from Elsinore, anchoring outside the port, the like of which has neve°r been seen before;-there are also several British men-of-war. It is said that there are a number of RussoFinnish vessels now lying in Gottenburg and along the Swedish coast in general, which had come there after the raising of the Russian blockade, for the purpose of fetching salt, and had been surprised and kept there by the ice. They now run a fair chance of being surprised by our cruisers, whose early appearance seems to have created no small astonishment in those waters. When the arrival of the first four English vessels was signalled at Elsinore by the commander of the Cronborg, a general hail of "Hallo! hallo! lugaus!" (look out) was addressed by the'skippers in the roads to-the few Russian craft that were wearily threading their way through the drifting ice. PitcssiA. — Travellers just returned from Riga., state that 2,000 men, partly troops, are working most assiduously and uninterruptedly at the fortifications of the harbour ; new works are being added to those already in existence. Guns of heavy calibre are arriving every day for the armament of these works, and additional troops are to arrive very shortly. A number of vessels that had been freighted during the winter nt Dunamunde 'and Riga, in the hopes of their getting off early in the spring, are now being unloaded again, and their cargoes in process of being conveyed to the land frontier:
nevertheless, there are at least 45,000 bales of flax, each weighing four hundred weight, lying there waiting conveyance, for the most part of Courland and Esthland growth. There are still larger quantities of goods lying at St. Petersburgh, and in places further* removed, the conveyance of which to the frontier has been made all but impossible by the high prices of carriage ; it is intended, however, in the spring, to cause them to be conveyed inland, for the benefit of canal navigation. A letter from Copenhagen mentions that Mr. Buchanan, our minister, had applied to the Danish Government, with every success, to permit all English vessels of war, and any vessel bearing a pennant, to pass through the Danish waters without payment of harbor and bridge dues.
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Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 291, 15 August 1855, Page 3
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3,065EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE. Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 291, 15 August 1855, Page 3
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