RESULT OF THE CAMPAIGN OP 1855.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 369, 17 May 1856, Page 4

RESULT OF THE CAMPAIGN OP 1855.

The Debuts contains an article, written by its military critic, Colonel St. Ange, in which the numerous advantages obtained by the Allies in the past campaign are enumerated, whilst at the same time the colonel protests against the observations indulged in by the London Times, to the prejudice of Marshal Pellisier's military reputation. The campaign of 1555 (writes Colonel St. Ange) has certainly been active ami fruitful, and we will recall to our memory its principal features. The capture of Sebastopol and of an immense amount of materiel ,- the destruction of the Russian fleet to the extent of 127 ships, of which sixteen were vessels of the line, and seven large frigates; the occupation of Kertcb, Yeuikale, and of the Sea of Azoff; the destruction of the Russian military establishments and magazines in that sea; the installation at Eapatoria of a considerable force of cavalry, destined to act, if necessury, between Simpheropol and Perekop; at length the capture of Kinburn, the possession of which gives us a firm footing on the soil of Southern Russia, and ensures, moreover, the blockade of the Dnieper and the Bug, on which are situated the towns of Kherson and Nicolaieff. The campaign has thus had positive results. It has witnessed the realization of the principal aim of the Allies; namely, the conquest of Sebastopol, and the destruction of that Russian fleet, the existence of which was a standing menace to Constantinople. If the war is to continue, the Allied Governments will have to deliberate upon a plan of campaign for the coming year, and to select the points of attack on the Russian territory. If, however, the new plan has not been already secretly determined on by the two Cabinets. * * * It is not surprising if the allied armies have suspended their operations during the two last months of autumn, and have not undertaken in those distant climes, a winter campaign, after the sufferings already supported by the troops in the precediug winter. A little repose was necessary after so laborious a siege. This inaction is blamed by the impatient, and the Times denounces it with much bitterness and wrath, placing- the responsibility on the shoulders of Marshal Pelissier. [The Debate here reproduces the whole of the Times' article.] A similar diatribe, proceeding from a journal which has hitherto endeavoured to maintain a perfect harmony between the chiefs and soldiers of the two powers, has astunished everybody. We cannot accept the responsibility thus attached to Marshal Pelis- ier, who has "not, that we are aware of. been invested with the command in chief of the two armies. We will only see in the article of the English journal, rather too bitter, it must be admitted, an inconsequent caprice. What was lo have been performed ? Transport the army to the mouth of the Belbek and besiege the forts, or attempt the assault of the fortified lines of Mackenzie, at the risk of losing 10,C00 men ? The reconnaissances established the difficulty of turning th;U position without incurring the greatest dangers in the face of an uncertain success. Or, to please the Times, were we to besiege Ku;;a or Arabat, points of secondary importance, <>r adopt one of the many plans of campaign which at once present themselves to the imagination. The Times should also have given us its views on ihe subject. * * In order t« terminate our parsing quarrel with the Times on the subject of the inaction of the army of the East, we would submit that its presence was necessary to collect the profits of the victory. The construction of marls was, moreover, exten» fciv«', and is not yet concluded. It was required to <JUmomit the sieve batteries and withdraw 700 cannon ; to convey them to Kamiesch and Baiakiava; ai-o to assemble the 4000 cannon and the immense materiel abandoned by the Russians in their flight. The .soldiers had, moraiver, to destroy the basins and the fortificsiii'U:* of Sel;a^io']iol, as it does not appear inteti'ieij to proerve licit place next year. The army ii-fi ;sl-*'» to mike preparations for the terrtbiJ rigours of a Crimean winter.