European Intelligence.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XI, Issue 740, 1 August 1854, Page 3

European Intelligence.

How Russia is to be Effectually Crippled. (From the Economist.) If we do not intend the war to be both an endless and a fruitless one, we imist so conduct it as to leave Russia no longer formidable ; to rescue Germany from her influence, and to make it in future an effectual barrier against her ; to enable Turkey (we, her allies, having command of the Black Sea) to hold her own in future quarrels ; and at once to rescue from the danger of her assaults and intrigues both our Eastern Empire and our Western civilisation. To do anything short of this will be wasting blood and treasure to no purpose. To have entered upon war without being prepaied to do this, would imply a short sightedness, an imbecility, or a ieebleness and insincerity of will, of which our Ministers cannot be suspected. How, then* is this to be done ? Austria and Prussia, it is well known— even the Governments, much more the people,— desire earnestly the repression and diminution of the colossal Power which overawes and menaces them, though they dare not actively take part in the endeavour to realise this object. It would even be well worth their while to consent to the re-establishment of the Kingdom of Poland for that pui pose— for the purpose of erecting a barrier between them and Russia ; and Austria if said to be willing to surrender Gallicia in favour of such a scheme. \

B tM that urn as uncertain. How is Bus wa to be tfe uallvciipul d and disabled from future mischief j By depriving h r of her more recent and unassimilated conquests, anu restoring them to the Powers from which they have been torn. Georgia must be rescued and replaced, and Circassia maintained as an independent oarrior, to keep Russia tor ever on this side of the Caucasus. Ths Crimea must be taken a so, and Sebastopol stormed at any cost. And the navy sheltered there captured or destroyed. Bessarabia longs for the day ot her emancipation, and would most probably rise on the first thorough disaster that happened to the Russian arms, if assured of the faithful and permanent support 01 the allies The Danubian Principalities" must be freed from the curse of Russian occupation and of Russian protectorate for ever Finland must bs restored to Sweden, and the Isles of Aland mu^t be held either by Sweden ot E.iTland If these things are done, Russia will cease to b3 formidable ; and whether she accepts a peace or not wUI be a matter of no mom-nt whatever. She will have retrograded a century in power and influence. She will no longer be a serious peril to liberty and civilisation Austria, Prussia, and the smaller German States, deprived of her moral and material aid in their crusade a-a-nst freedom and enlightenment, must enter on a ne.v and more suitable and sagacious course. And Turkey, relieved from the awful incubus that has raralyscd her for so long, will have an opportunity of showing what amount of vitality and capacity for progress she possesses ; and if "he must fall from inherent feebleness and unimprovability, at least her fall ydl™* be to the profit or aggrandisement of a Power to the lull a. dark and brutal as herself. These are ably great achievements-difficult and costly. But if they lire at once necessary and possible-and we lm c conversed with few statesmen of any country who do not believe them to be both-all we have to consider is the best and promptest means of affecting them, it we creep out of the war without doing all this, we shall have been very culpable in rushing into it. It ye dream of doing all this by feeble efforts, by languid movements, by small armies, by temperate, hostilities we shal deserve discomature as certainly 'as we shall ensure it.

Entrance or Russians and Ajjstmvns into Sbuvia. Vienna, Monday. The Russians have violated the Servian territory. They have crossed the Danube at Radovitza above Widden. It is believed that they intend to gain the road to Sophia. _, - The Austrian Government has ordered Creneral Caronini to make a corresponding advance upon Belgrade. „,, The army of the Sonth consists of 200,000 men. The 9th infantry corps and a division are in Austrian Servia; the 12th infantry corps is in Transylvania. The 10th and 11th infantry corps are at Pesth, but are moving southwards. There is also a cavalry corps at Oedeiburff.

Military Convention- between Austria and Prussia. The Military convention which Baron Hess has been negotiating for the last fortnight with the Prussian Commissioners at Berlin* is just concluded. It establishes an offensive and defensive alliance. Although the Prussian government has striven to exclude from it* every stipulation which might bring it under an engagement to appear in arms against Russia, the convention contains provisions to which the force of circumstances may very soon give the character of obligations to fight against the common enemy. Turkish and Citumssivn Victories News reached "Vienna, that theTuiks in the Dobrudscha and Sehamyl in the Caucasus, had gained great victories over the Russians. The Black Sea Fleet.— - Dun-das'-; Signal.— • An extract of a letter from the fleets give us the following : —"Bay of Kavarna, March 26, 1854. You will have hoard of our departure from the Bosphorus. We have reached thus far towards, I suppose, Sebastopol. Here we shall wait the declaration of war. A finer fleet never swam. The best spirit and the best di«po ition prevail. The chiefs in good health, and much more happy than in the Bosphorus. The Russians crossed the Danube the other day, at Galatz, in great force (50,000) ; but they will not attempt to come down in that direction. You will see lam right. We get on splendidly with the French, and they have a fine fleet here." "Since the date of this letter the declaration of war has been received, and the following signal is reported as having b^en given to the fleet by the galh.nt vice-admiral : — " Take, burn, or destroy everything Russian." On the 28th March the steam frigates Saleb Scheirti, Lukler. Pursah, Mahbun, Saiar, Nile, Talain, Bahari, and Raif, left for Constantinople with 8800 troops, to strengthen the Turkish foi ces on the Donnbe. A le\ y of 30,000 men is ordered to be completed. The Turkish corps at the command of Mustapha Pacha who at last dates stood at Karrassa, consisted of 45,000 or 50,000 men. The English and French declaration of war against Russia was read to the troops at Kalnfat on the oth, and was received with tremendous applause. Palestine in the Hands or the Jews.— The Frank - furtur Journal informs us that the Sult?n, in consideration of a loan from the house of Rothschild, has made over to them Palestine, and the revenues deiivable therefrom, are security.— Bell's Messerger, Sprit 15. A telegraphic despatch from Vienna, of Monday evening, states that the Russians have bombarded Silistria, which, on the 14th, was on fire. The fortress, hoAvever, was unhurt. The Russians have got possession of the entire province of Dobrudscha, the fortresses of Hirsova, Matschin, and Isaktscha. having fallen into their hands, by fair means or by foul, between the 26th and 28th of March. Other accounts state that the Ottoman force was falling back, according to orders, upon Trajan's Wall, which is well fortified, and where the Russians will have to encounter about 60,000 Turks. The Russians are reported to have destroyed their smaller forts on the Circassian coast. The larger, such as Anapa and Sukhem Kale, have received reinforcements. A letter from Constantinople, dated March 27, contains the following important announcement :—: — " The possessions of the Mosques are to be declared the property of the State. The refusal of the Sheik-al-Islam to consent to this arrangement has led to his deposition. All the military posts in the city have be.n reinforced, and strong guards patrol the streets." Advices from Constantinople of the 27th state that the Sultan has resolved to expel all the subjects of King Otho from the Sultan's dominion-'. Account from Circassia, of the Isfc, state that the insurrection is becoming general among all the warl.ke tribes of the Caucasus. The presence of the fleets in the Black Sea, followed as it has been by the enforced abandonments of positions long occupied by the Russians on the coast, has made a deep impression upon those tribes who had to a certain extent acquiesced in the Muscovite usurpation, under the idea that Russian power in the East was supreme. Warrlois are offering themselves on all subs. Schamjl h?s acquired an immense accession of influence am ng oth jr tribes than his own ; his agents are everywhere inciting attacks on the Russian ports ; and it is hoped that as soon as the season shall permit of the movement of large masses of men, he will in a position to attack the Russian detached army of the Caucasus in its head quarters at Tiflis. The loss of the free use of the Black Sea will be felt especially bv this army, which hj>s been accustomed to receive reinforcements and supplies by way of Redout Kale. The 'Lloyd,' contains information, extracted from St. Petersburg letters of the 14th. The Russians appear to be fumly cominced that, even if things go well with the allies, only a part of the fleet will be fit for service by the time it gets up to Cronstadt. The sandbanks are numberless, and, in addition to th. s \ the ships will have to contend aa ith the Scheeren flotilla, Avhich. is likely to be very destructive to single A-essela. The flotilla is stationed behind the Scheeren (fie archlpalago of islets, and reefs or ridges of rocks Avhich Lne the coast on both sides of the Baltic is < o called), Avhere there is not sufficient depth of Avater for larger a esse3a. It is supposed that in the operations against Sweaborg, Ocscl, and Revel, the allies Avill suffer severely. The greater part of the Rustim fleet is at Cronstadt, "Avhich. is being fortified sj as to bid defiance to all attacks." The island is connected Avith the continent by means of nn urtifu ial d mi, which is covered with batteries. Tha strand batteries Avhich command the channel lead.ng up to the harbour have been doubled, and before Cronstadt can be attacked these batteiies Avhich contain bod guns of the largest calibre, must be destroyed. There are three artillery parks in reserve. A private letter of the loth, from Stockholm, also speaks of the fearful preparations of the Russians for defence. The Grand Duke Constantine had been a Avhole fortnight at Helsingfors superintending the Avorks. It is generally brlieved the first hostile collision will take place at the island of Oesel, which may be considered as the advanced post to Revel. Sweaborg is so protected by sand-banks, reefs, and strand batteries, that an attack s almi st impossible. "The Russian fleet is perfectly secure at SAveaborg, and it may render good servii c igainst the allies AA'h»n they return." All the lamps iave been removed from the lighthouses, and the buoA s ;aken up, so that the most experienced Russian pUct» vouid be at a loss to fiud their way up to Cronatadt,

Letters from tub Baltic Flebt. \ A private letter from the Baltic fleet gives the folowing description of the manner in which the declaration of war was received by the sailors :—: — "4th April. At noon to-day the Old Duke looked as if she was dressed for a holiday— she was covered with flags, forming a general signal to the fleet which had anything but a holiday signification— it was the com-ttunder-m-chief s declaration of war. "Lads ! War is declared, with a bold and numerous enemy to meet. Should they offer us battle, you will know what to do with them. Success depends on the precision and quickness of your fire. Also, lads ! Sharpen your cutlasses, and the day is your own.' "The Blenheim, Capt. the Hon. T. F. Pelham, immediately answered, Ready and willing ;' the Neptnne, Capt.'Smith, 'Ready ;' and every ship manned her rigging and gave three such cheers as are seldom heard in those waters. Ourselves and all the ship's company were then called upon deck, and Commodore Seymour read the signal to us ; and the men were beginning to f jllow the example of the other ships, when the old admiral came forward, and leaning over the poop railing, sad :—: — "Now, my lads ! You have just heard what the commodore has said to you, and all I have to say is, you must be cool and collected— don't throw your shot away. A shot fired in the air of water is of no use. Make every one of them tell; we have quite a different system now to what we had in the last Avar. I have no doubt some of you have "been in. action before, but it will be different to what you have been accustomed to ; but Admiral Chads showed you the other day that a shell bursting between decks is not so dangerous as you imagine, and if one comes on your deck, you must lie down, and it won't hurt you more than the common splinters of an ordinary action. Should we meet the Russian fleets at sea, as I dare say we shall, you well know how to dispose of them. We will now man the rigging, and give three cheers for the Queen, God bless her !' "The men rushed to the rigging and gave three times three for the Queen and one cheer more, and three for ■ the commander-in-chief. This was followed by the rest of the fleet, and peal after peal came floating over the waters, until the most distant sounded like the echo of the other. Hands were piped down — men under punishment were forgiven, and an extra glass of grog given each man at supper time. The flying squadron of paddle wheels, under Admiral Plumridge, left us immediately after for the edge of the ice. They are gone to ■watch the movements of the enemy, and to look after some ships laden with sulphur and lead, which are in a 'fix' in the ice. They will be prizes worth taking, if they turn up." The War. — Germany. — The Eastern question has entered a new phase. To the opposition offered to Russia by the Western Powers is added, we rejoice to say, the complete assent of Germany. By a protocol, signed, we believe we are not incorrect in stating, yesterday, or to-day at farthest, Austria and Prussia have placed formally on record the identity of their opinion, with that of the Western Powers as to the stipulations, sine qua non, on which peace may "be restored. The evacation of the Danubian Principalities of Turkey is held to be an indispensable preliminary, and the principles of the territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire, and the independence of the Government of the Sultan, are recognised as the objects to be definitely ensured. The precise ways and means of securing this are left for the future settlement of diplomatists, who are to be entrusted, when the belligerents may see iit to negotiate, with the task of bringing the integrity and independence of the Ottoman Empire into closer union connected with a general balance of power. We are glad to think that we may safely rely on the accuracy of the telegraphic despatch, which further informs us that the representatives of Austria and Prussia have signed a military convention for the purpose of mutual -safety and support, and with a view, we believe, to ultimate action, in order to carry ojit the provisions of this last Vienna protocol, which insists on the evacuation of the Turkish territory by the Russian troops. The signature of these documents", to which it is impossible to attach too much importance, amounts very nearly to a declaration of war against Russia by the German Powers, who by their present act have, since the declaration of war by England and France, be it remarked, pledged themselves to the same views and the same objects as those Powers. Throughout the anxious negotiations which have led to this happy result, the Austrian Cabinet and the young Emperor Francis Joseph, have acted in an independant and honourable manner, whilst the Court of Prussia may well be congratulated that it has at last seen fit to yield to the pressure of popular opinion, as expressed in the press and in the Chambers. Now that the German Powers, therefore, have, as our neighbours would say, accepted the 'solidarity' of the undertakings of England and France, we may hope that a very great impression may be produced on the mind of the Czar, who may, perhaps, doubt whether he can withstand the arms of united Europe for so long a period as he disregarded its opinion. Already we learn that the state of affairs at St. Petersburg borders on panic, and that in the highest circles the means of obtaining peace are a subject of constant discussion. Prussia..— Berlin, April 27th,— The resignation of Chevaliar Bunsen was accepted yesterday. Count Bernstorf, at present Prussian Minister at Naples, succeeds him. The accounts from Germany, north and south, show that the feeling against Russia is, by its strength, drawing the governments themselves into its current. Count Boul is said to be furious at the Russians hai ing crossed the Danvibe, which, in the opinion, of the Austrian minister, not only renders arrangement impossible, but ■obliges the German Powers to take up a decided attitude for their own protection. Movements of troops continued, but it is denied that the Austrians were moving on Belgrade. An alliance, offensive and defensive, including the minor German states, is said to be -on the tapis. Austria & Prussia.— The ' Chronicle ' correspondent at Paris writes—" The following has just been communicated to me as the principal causes of the treaty recently entered into between Austria and Prussia:— The treaty lays down that the operations of war undertaken by Austria must be concerted beforehand with Prussia, whose consent will be a necessity. This is the general rule ; "but an excepton is made in the following case : — Austria is to have liberty of action, as far as may be considered advisable, in the Danubian provinces ; that is to say, that the Emperor of Austria is so far master that he is empowered without the consent of Prussia, to take the only way that he is really likely to take in the present state of affairs, and certainly the only one that France and England could wish 'him to undertake ; and that, as respects Prussia, he is only to be bound to deliberate with that Power with respect to ulterior operations, of which the bearing or necessity cannot at present be calculated. For this latter event, should the necessity arise, Austria is to provide an army of 150,000 men, and Prussia is to support her with 100,000 men." Vienna, April, 21. A correspondence from the Lower Danube, in the 'Presse,' dated April 13th, says — "A great battle has been fought beetwem Paschgagiez and Kostelli, in the Dobrutscha. The Russians were defeated, with a loss of 3,000. The Turks lost 1,500. The combined fleets off Kostendje rendered material assistance to the Turks by engaging the left flank of the Russians." The Duke of Cambridge has arrived. Austria energetically protests agaiast any movement in Montenegro, and the export of arms from Austria to Montenegro is prohibited. The Russians are 125 English miles from Varna. Count Nesselrode's circular to the Russian diplomatic agents is favourable to the Greek insurrection. Holland. — The king has issued an order, that "to observe a strict neutrality in the war which, has just broken out, no privateers having commissions or letters or marque, either alone or with any prizes which they may have made, shall be admitted to enter our ports or the mouth of our rivers, except in case of actual stress of weather;" The inhabitants of the kingdom are also warned against accepting letters of marque from any of the belligerents. From Bucharest, of the 14th April, we hear that Fokshau, the most important frontier and stratagic station in Wallachia, and a great trading place, too, has be«ome, with the exception of six houses, a mere mass of flame — in a word, it is wholly and totally destroyed by fire. All the Russian stores and magazines of provisions, arms, uniforms, harness, and gunpowder, as well as the Russian military hospitals, are but one heap of smoking ashes and blazing ruins. — Prince Paskiewitsch was expected positively on the following day (15th). The ' Wanderer ' has a communication from Bucharest also of the 14th, which states that the Russians were in possession of Kostendje, and that they had entered it in the very sight of the English and French vessels, which i^Vrere at anchor on'the coast. Something was also said of excesses practised on the Christian population, who had probably shown symptoms of disaffection to the Turkish authorities. Sebastopol is now being fortified on the land side. The place is considered perfectly impregnable if only attacked by sea, as hostile ships would be exposed to a raking long before they could get near the innsr fortifications of the port. " About 30,000 men are now assembled in an entrenched camp behind Bcbastopol.