OPERATIONS IN THE BLACK SEA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 343, 13 February 1856, Page 5

OPERATIONS IN THE BLACK SEA.

CAPTURE OF KINHUIIN.

The capture of Kinburn by the allies, and the blowing M |, of tjie fortifications of OtcbakofF, are among the most signal successes gained during the present campaign. A few weeks ago the fortresses by which Russia had guarded that entrance to her dominions were repiesented as being almost as strong as those of Sebastopol. A trial of theirstrength has proved what relinncr may be put on these reports. The fort of Kinburn was bombarded for two days—a specimen of the Sebiistopol feu d'enfer in little. The troops stationed on the road to Aleshki, the only line of retreat of the garrison, cutoff that retreat, and the garrison, seeing the hopelessness of their position, capitulated—leaving the fort, nearly 1500 prisoners and 174 gyms in the hands of the allies.

Marshal Pelissier has fovwarded to the Minister of War the following communication relating to the operations of the allied forces at Kinburn —

" Sehastopol, 21st October, 5 p.m. I have just received from General Baxaine liis report of the capture of Kinburn. The AnyloF tench division of the army has actively contribiited to the success of the allied squadrons. Having been landed on the Peninsular about 5 kilometres from the fortress, it took up its position, and on the nijrht of the 16ih opened tl-e trendies at 800 metres from the works. When the fleet commenced its heavy fire on the 17th, two companies of Chasseurs, under cover, at a distance of 4.'30 metres from the batteries, were able to keep up a fusilade on the Russian artillerymen at their guns. The field artillery also played an effective part in the operation. We have taken 1420 prisoners, including General Koianoviteh and 40 officers, with 174 pieces of cannon, and a quantity of ammunition mid stores. We are now in full occupation of an important position. Such are the results to the allies of this important position. The Russians have rendered this success complete by themselves blowing up the fortifications cf OtehakoiV on the lßth. I send you the standard, with the arms of Russia, which floated over the walls of Kinburn.'1 The telegraphic reports from Kinburn come down to the 22nd. " Nothing important " had been done according to the Russian bulletin. Some ships of thy aiiies had tried to sr pl np the Dnieper and the Bi'ir ; but had failed o\vin<r to the stones and the fragments of rock which the Russians l»a<l sunk i n the channel. In spite of these obstacles, however, jrrp.it njarui prevails •lest Nicolaieff should be attacked. A letter from there of the 10th, addressed lo the Militaresche Zi'ilnnir. says — '"The Grand Duke Constantino, the Grand Admiral of the fl<>< f, has onleivd th«; 'jivaii-r part of the inircnchmcnts to be demolished, it huvinir, brcn discovered that the direcuus of the wo/ks had grossly abused the confidence placed in them by their Imperial master. The Grand Duke has formed a Buihiiiiu Commission, at which he presides. All po>sibie energy is displayed, and thousands of hands are at wm-k. Ihe Grand Admiral himself inspects t.il the new wmks, which are m.ikiiiit rapid nvo^vt'ss. The former directors arc under examination; niid, in order to prevent such ahti'vs in i\uu!'. t'.u-y will bo most severely punishrii- Ailju'.aiit Gi'iioral Todicbeu, so ceU-bratcu f»v hi- ■>: i.-mv ol Sebastopol, has been summoiu'd to Nicola 5-ff. " i)i- STItUOTIOX Of TIIR Fo liTI VI C.\ !'I C. NS iF OtiIUKOFi'. — The 'orS'.iitMtinjiS en Oirhak ifl Pciut, at the tnoiilh "! il )( « Di'irit■••!•. b-.-'wi-j. attai'kcd by tmv mortar nssi'l.-, were blown u;> by the Hussi.tns theuiM-ivcs on liic IStii (it-'n'icr. A teU'UTuphic coininuuicarion fr->m S:v I). I.nouslo the Ad'.niraltv, roiaiive to this atlr.r, vims as follows : — " Oil the Mouth of the Dai.'i"1!-. 0.-u.bcr 18, IS"),"). " J'hi.s inoniiiig the enemy blew up bis lor-

tifications on Otchakoff Point, mounting guns, which were assaiWl by our mortar vessels. Maiicii of tiik Ai.mks, 40,000 strong, FROM EI,'I'AT.ORIA TOWARDS MoUI,AT.—The subjoined Russian despatch has been received in London from Berlin. "On the 22nd instant, the Allies marched from Eupatoria towards .Moulat 40,000 strong. "On the 23rd instant, having arrived at the heights of Actasia Djanin, they perceived our lancers on our left Hank, and returned behind Aktatschi. Nothing fresh has occurred between Kenbeer and NicolaiefT." Tiik War in Asia.—A communication from Trebizond, dated Bth October, states that the Russians are supposed to be preparing to attack Kars a»ain. A despatch from Berlin states that General iMouravifff's defeat at Kars has put an end to the idea of his supplanting Prince GortschakofF. Illness of the Czar.— A despatch from Berlin states, that " ths Emperor of Russia is confined to his room. Some persons assert that he had sprained his ancle ; while others, perhaps uu quite as good authority, state that he has gone mad, in consequence of the numerous disasters his fleet and arrnv have experienced, and the fear that Russia will be reduced to the condition of a second-rate power.' Goktschakoff's Refusal to Evacuate the Okimea. — The following is given on the authority of a Berlin despatch in the " Advertiser" : — Berlin, Friday. An order of the day from Prince Gortschakoff, dated October 1,3, declares that liewil! not evacuate the country confided to his defence, neither will he retreat befoie the invaders, but < will defend the Crimea at all hazards. The Crimean War.—'The latest despatches | mention that it is expected thai Prince Gorischakofi" will risk a battle with the allies. i Thk Fleet in the Dxikper.—Despatches from Petersburg, dated Friday, announce j that two line of battle ships, sixteen frigates, and some gunboats, have entered the Dnieper. j Battle of Kars.—The French Account. —The " Mouiteur" contains the loilowing. The favourable turn which the operations uf the allied armies in the Black Sea had recently taken, appeared to have determined General Mouravieft" to make another desperate eff-.rt. Two hums before sunrise, the Russian force, about 35,000 to 40,000 in number, and formed in several deep columns, attacked the works placed on the bills to the north of Kirs. Four times did the Russians gain possession of the redoubt, and wore driven out at the point of the bayonet by tiie Turkish soldiers, led on by General Kmeii. After a desperate contest, which lasted seven hours, the Russians were compelled to give way. H could not be said that' they made a retreat, for they retired in comparative disorder, followed by the. victorious Turks, who took 106 prisoners and one piece of artillery. The fatigue of the tiuiifj? «in<i ii,e want of cavalry, would not allow the puisuit being long kept up. It ouly a small furce of cavalry had been at hand, the Muu^hter timing tin- living Russians would have been iunneure. Such was the confusion amongst the eovmy, i that it look them live houis to collect their scattered Initiations into anything like order. On the oJth the Turks buried 400 uf ihe j llu>.*ians, whose bodies hud tilled tiie diu-livS, I and it is calculated that a* niar.y more in killed and w 'uiuiod were removed during tin 1 action. The. loss of tiie Turks is about 1,200 in knied and wounded, and amongst tiie forms-rare i several superior otiu-ei>. The hivjiiesi rraise I must be yivKii to the admirable arrangements made for iie.Unee. | W'iNrr.i: Dpkuation? ix thk C-i:lvi::\. — As i ih • question ot timber operations at tins -chmiii ' o! t>ie year in the Crimea naturally arisen, it is j w-Ttiis of ii'He i:i v many ot the it-i— ::m >ucj c.c—c* in that u.iiiiter i.i-u ccn'.nvv w <■; c o;j'..>i!ieit ; ill I V,V ''Vl!.t '!' >-t'l-i'!i. I ! iS H'Ci'XU'li l's ->:i^:> -> i llis!,.rical 3{">t-,i'-c'::e>" thai asiate :■< P •<•<.■ .isj !>,■ 17V'• S. Maisiial l.uV, an lii-.il CX.tf 10 l!:C ! U..iNNi.m S.-rviee. .u-:.icin i. wit': !,'i.(>vH> nit'i! I io the l'k:Miiie: in [>■'.-:■■<)' m, 1 r--. list' ii.i- ------! si,iii> f.'Uii'bt anvi gained ;t U'e-\t viel'-' ■• I").»n; in'.l.nniary loilo'.vi :!:-■ k : :'.- ih Beu- ! dor, wlu'iv ani'iiier >" ih<- i.ae_. lainily serv;.l wi'.h cviut I . ;;>/ iVtemkin' led his ai my ;d-;ii'i..-. ;:.. i urks and Tartars in the Crimea. sj iato us November, and gained several vn«

tuiies up to as hue as the 3rd of December. Marshal Francis Lacy, of Austria, also led the Austrian armies io several victories on the Danube and its tributaries. So late as the 17th of December, Oezakcff was stormed by General Maurice de Lacy. another Irish warrior. In the campaign of 1790 the several foils Kenia, Tulsea. Issavhia, and Isehatel, on the Danube and Black Sea. were stormed and taken between October aod the ISth of November. The great Ism lil, v the impregnable,'' was invested on th • iivst nf December, the batteries opened on the 20ill, and the fortress siov.ned on the 22nd, by General Maurice <le Lucy, who headed the lirst attacking party, and took it after four hours'carnage. During these operations the I urks wore masters of the Black Sea, Sea ufAzofF, and the Crimea. The nephew of that General, Cornet Pierse, also served in the war of iS2S. 0.

Resignatiox of Gkxekal Simpson.—The public wiil learn with little surprise tiiat General Simpson is about to return to England. His appointment to the chief command was, as we announced at the time, only provisional : and Her .Majesty's Government have now taken steps to gratifY General Simpson's desire, and to relieve him from the arduous position which he has hitherto tilled. The names of General Codnnnton ami of others have been mentioned as succeeding to the command of the army of tiie east, but, as the despatches conveying the appointment have only just, left town, it would he manifestly uiuuhisable to publish matters of so high and delicate a nature here before they are known to those they chiefly concern. The appointment will be announced as soon as the telegraph shall notify its receipt by the iiewcommauder in the Crimea.—'"Morning Post."'

The"' Morning Herald' 1 says that Lieutenant General Sir \\, J. Codrington is to connnaud the army in the Crimea.