PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Taranaki Herald, Volume III, Issue 112, 20 September 1854, Page 3

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Since our last Russm has certainly not improved her position, Every new dispatch sneaks of new defeats— new Josses, Upwards of 8,000 Russians — (n meie trifle certainly to the Cz*r, who may count his subjecta by millions) — have perished since the beginning of May ; and the number is dally inorcasing of tho victims to Turkish valour and marsh fever.

Sir Charles Napier has not yet easud his mind with a battle; but the old lion is lashing bin tail, and the fight must soon happen. In tho meantime, we have good hope that Sweden will im« provo the hour and make common cau6o with us ; the people cry for the alliance, and the Court wUI prove too weak against the popular impulse. The policy of Denmark resnnin9 in a fog.

We bave but little news from the Baltic ; and it would appear that Sir Charles, if he ever intended to mnkc a decisive attack upon Hango, had abandoned thnt intention j for the latest accounts of the fleet stntc Ihot (he main body in reported to have left H.ingo for Holsingfors on the 26th May. Tho squadron of A. Corry was in the gulf, und it was thought that something serious would immediately take place, The fort of Riga was said to be blocked.

■Notwithstanding' the assumed impregnability of Cronstodt, tho czar is wisely taking precautions in case it should fall into the hands of the allied fleets. In the event of fuch an occurrence, the minister of police has ordered that women, children and old men arc immediately to leave the capita), The troops nre to be removed from the hou-es, the strefts ate to he unpaved, and the bells of the holy churches and the images of the saints arc to lie removed to Moscow. Notwithstanding all these precautions tho order expresses the assurance that the enemy's fleet will perish on the rocks, and under the cannon oi Cronstadt. All measures nccesnitatcd by a long and energetic war arc being taken. Both sides of the mouth of the Neva aro being protected with strong defensive works. These, measures somewhat astonish tho inhabitants of the city, who know little or nothing of what is going on In tho world ; and the official reports of the state of the war have been hitherto so favouraWo that the St. Pelcrsburghers fully expected, long ere this to have received intelligence of the Russian army of occupation baing At Adrianoplc. The Cznr had been to-Cronstadt. with his eon, the Grand Duke Constantine, and after having passed in review the 12,000 men of the Impeiial Guard, aent to reinforce the gorrison, the Empaor ordered a representation of a defenco on the part of the forts Constantine, Alexander, Peter I, and Cron. stadt, which commimd tho entrance to that port. Thoy fi cd for an hour, but did not, it appe a , 8 , give much satisfaction to the Grand Duke, who is considered a good judge In such matters. The Cznr then went to «co a new apparatus for «b» structm* the passage into the port, and which was invented by an American engineer, coniisting of a square wooden framework, filled with enormous stones, and prcfccntiog sharp stakes sticking out and coming to ncnrly tho level of tho water. It is s id that llic immersion of these machines is n difficult matter, and they do not answer. The Emperor seemed out of spirits during his visit to Cronstadl— tbnt circumstance did not tend to remove tho dhquio'udc of the population ; ond the next day great terror was excited by Iho fae.t of the guiicial and the colonel charged with the direction of tho artillery, as well os the colonel of engineers being sent off to the Caucasus, to serve in their prudes, but at the bottom of the list for each. Every pei son had been forbidden to quit Cronstadt for fenr of augmenting the public dirquietudc.

Great preparations are being made by ihe Cznr In Poland, where tioops and stores are constantly seen on tho public roads, and the garrisons arc lie. ing every where reinforced. The inference to be drawn from this in, that Russia is preparing (or a rupture with Austria, as, after the troops had been withdrawn from nearly every port of Poland, tuddenly orders to place the south cajjern frontier of that kingdom in a state of defence. The Russian journals, which had not at first spoken of this chango, now declare that thcro arc 250,000 Russians in Poland This is evidently nn exaggeration, but their number may be act down atf-Mst at 100,000. «?' Tinning to the banks of the Danube wo ffrid the importance of fortified places well exemplified by iho resistance of Silutria. The storm which had for many months been gathering on tho Danube has at last burst, with all its force, on that central position. Tho pansnge of the Lower Danube early in tho spring, followed by a slow and painful advnure through the Dobrudscha, must uavo been undertaken for the purpose of attacking tho fortress on all sides simultaneously ; yet it was not until the middle of May that the Russian conimnnder commenced the nicgo in form. Several ntlocUß had been made by the Russians up-m tho fortress, but with great loss. We have no details, but n telegrapbio message from Bucharest given in the Vienna paper states that on the 28th an attempt was made to carry an outwork of Silistiia by assault, when 700 Russians were killed. On the 20th ultimo 30,000 Russians made a fresh and vigorous atlnck on Silistrin, but were repulsed with the lons of 3000 men. The eldest ion of Count Orloff was among the slain, being shot in the rye ; and Lieut. -General Sylvan was killed. One account says that the assault wa» lencwod three times, with 10,000 men each time, but they were on each occasion repulsed by tho Ottomans. The Turks took a quantity of muskets and other trophies. The took six prisoners of war. On tho ,'SOih, at 4 in the morning, the Tuiks made a tally and a fearful mussacre took place in the Russian entrenchments. Many of the besiegers' guns were spiked, and 'they arc anid to have lost between 1509 and 1800 killed. Tho Turkish loss was also considerable. Wo are sinco told that in consequence of these reverses on the part of the Russian! all attempts to tako Silistriu by assault ore completely abandoned. Hereafter the siege will pro» cced in the regular manner. The report that Mussa Paaha had yielded to the " persuasions" of Russia was a vile calumny, for tho gallant aoldicr is resolved to 4 hold out to the last.

It is oalculeted that the Ruisians have lost 8000 men on tho Danube liuce the 20th May. This

includes Ihe louses by diseases cuu.ed by the svvnmpsofthe Dobrudschp.

With respect to'the relief of Silintria, it apnear» thnt iho plan of Marshal St. Arnand is to detach 24,000 Ficuch. 15,000 English, and 30,010 Ottomans ol Oiner Pucha's army for Hint seivice. 35000 Russians, it is said, ore on the right bank of the Danube, employed in inventing the place. From tho Black 6ra we lenin that the Russian post of Rodout-Kalet and Poti, on tho Circassian coast, had been borabordod and occupied by detnchmunts from the allied rqundruns; aims nnd mtiuitions hnvo been Inndcd on tho Circassian coast- French and English officers have goucinto the country and opened communications with Schamyl, and the Circassians are assembling in all directions.

There has been a change of Minister! at Constantinople. Servin has remained perfectly tranquil, and the government of that principality strongly protests an Austrian occupation. Montenegro is still in an uncomfortable humour the latent news representing the Montenegrins as dctnriniticd to invade Ihe Ottoman territory.

The note, with tho summons to the Ss, Petersburgh Cabinet to evnouatc the Principalities, wai despatched from Vienna to St. Petersburg on Friday, the 2nd of June. It is Bivid that n similar note from Prussia ia on tho road to the capital of Russia.

From Greece it is reported that all ia now quiet. Our cruiseis have already taken or sunk 27 piratical feluccas in the Archipelago. A ropori prevailed in Paris that the Swsdisb squadron hnd received orders to combine its foiec with tho allied fl-els in the Baltic, and that the Swedish minlitcr at St. Petcriburgb had demanded his passports. This, however, must be received with the greatert caution. The Attack on Hanqo Head —The following are the particular* of the attack on Hango Head received in Shields from a sailor belonging to that town on board the Magioienne. It It dated Copenhagen, May 28 S — "On Thursday, May 18, Admiral Sir C. Napier divided the fleet into two divisions, leaving n part with Admiral Corry, and cruising off Gothland. Sir C. Napier mado signal for tlft following ahipa to follow him lo Hango (he on board the Duke of Wellington, 131) | the Edinburgh, Admirol Chads, 60 j the H«guc, 60 ; tho Blenheim, 80 j tho Princess Royal, 91 i the Ctesar 91 ; the Austcrlitz, 100 ; the St. Jean d'Aore, 91 —all screw line of-bnttle ahips. Frigates, the Imperkuso (screw). 51 ; the paddlo»whoel steamers Magicienne, 16; Dragon, 6 ; Basilisk, fi; and Lightning (surveying vessel. Saturday, May 20.— M 4at m. off Hango, Found the lighthouse down. The Edinbuigh got up stcom, and the Dufco of Wellington made signal to the paddle-wheel steamers to get up «team and tow ships as per signal. 9 a.m. Edinburgh steamed in, Lijihtuing ahead us pilot. We could sco four forri full ot nuns and men ; all woa anxiety ; not a shot was fired, although the Edinburgh anchored 3100 yards from the forti. Next the Drngon towing the Hague, and Magicicnno towing tho BJenl.oim, ond so continued until all were anrhoied. Tho Austcrliiz steamed in. The St, George arrived at this timoj the Tyne, atorcship, and tho St George were al«o toned by the M«glcienne. We round the Hecla steamer and Arro' guut frigate up a creek. They had got intelligence of a bark bi inn under cover of some furt« ; in they went and silenced two forts, ond also a large park of artillery, anil, no doubt, made a fearful havoo among the enemy, as they saw several lying on tho sand. At sp. m , the admiral made signal for iho linperieuse, »crew frigate, iho Magiciennc paddle, wheel, and the Dragon lo reconnoitro bvouliorg. Sunday. May 21— At noon saw Revel quite plain, and two vi-ssnla in* shore. The Dragon went in and cut them out, although close under the angle of the fort, the Mogiclenne keeping ready to render assistance; Impeiicuae iv the offing. The Dragon brought the prizes out they weie two schooners. The ercw were ordered on shore with the exception of one man in each vessel. Monday, Mny 22, four a.m — The Lightning come and ordered ua all to Hango, At 10. 30. a.m. close to the Admiral at Hango. About noon we were all ready for notion. Shot and shell up,— guns loaded, — men all ready, — lost our dinner. About two p.m. tho Dragon anchored, having on board the Master of tho Fleet, — distance 1700 jards from the Gusafsvbrn fort. We remained some time and then began firing, the first shell fell short. The fort now began to fire, and tbeir shells fell short. Wo now perceived the Dragon's shot atrikc tho fort, and make the sand and earth fly. The Magiolenno now went in undercover of some rocka and was placed in a splendid spot by Captain Sullivan, of tho Lightning and, an engineering officer. At 3 20, p.m. the Magicicnne'a first shot fell short, after which evury shot ond she.ll fell into tho fort. The enemy then began firing with rcd-bot ahot from a bntlciy which wo bail not seen, ns it wan covered with buahe". They continued firing away, but every shot fell shftrt. Some sheila from a mor, tor, however, eume near, too near to be pleasant and burßt over tho Magicienne. It was certainly a splendid view. At hvo p.m. obseived a quantity ol men standing lound a bouse in the small fort. The Mogicicnne's long 10-inch gun waa brought to bear upon them, and the shell burst ia the middle of them making all fly. Ceased filing and steamed for the Admiral. In passing the fortfired, and Iho shot fell close. A broadside was alto fired when every shell and shot fell into the fort. Thought it strange that tho enemy had never shown his flag. Tuesday, May. 23.— Found the Dragon had bad thirteen shots strike her, threo of them at the water's edge. Her mizeii goff was shot away. They soon, however, had the ensign up. 000 man waa killed on board of her. The Magictennu escaped, not a man wounded. Distance now 2,100 yards from the fort. Could sec the enemy carrying out their dead and wounded at the time the ships were firing. The Ilccla fired upon another fort, but this 1 was given to understand, was only to try the range and the weak parts of the enemy, it being intended to send tho hlock ships in and knock the forts down in the morning. As tacU ship went to her station tho rigging was full of men. When wo were engaged it was astonishing to sco how cool and with what steady aim our men fired. Some walla aro bud to knock down. The four forts were

very utr irq, and built upon a im»ll Mum! or rock*. Wo wrre to lil by officers who were on board o he? ships thnt they *a\v one pimr follow sent imo the nir by n shell bunting from one of the Dragon's guns. By this lime I cxi eft the forts will bo down. On (his day thcMagiripunr left with tho malls and the two priz<M taken off Revel.

•'May 25th.— Cominnnifn'ed with Admirnl Corry's lleet r.ff Gothland, consihtim; of nine "sail of the lino, ono fntalo nnd one paddle-wheel. Tho French fleet pissed about lw> dnys neo."

Tub Nihv War Ministtii — Lord John Russell announced on Thursday, May Sth, in the House of Commons, thai all tlic duties of the w ir department arc lo bt 1 severed from thone of ths C ilonial-office, and that a foutth Secretary of btotc i« 'n be created by tho authority of tin- Crown to conduct that important portion of our military adminitlntion which bus heretofore dcTolvcd upon the Colonial Minister,

Minisikutal AnrtANGr.MiSNTs. — Lord John Russell having declined to accept the colonial de* partment, Sir George Groy is to ho tho now sccrt« tnry for the colonies, in the room of the Duke of Newcastle, who will hold the appointment of secrclary of state for tlio affair, of wir.

Tho stranding of the Tiger, md capture of the crew by the Russians near Odessa, is confirmed. This exploit on the part of tliß Riisann< appears to have been accompanied by the truo featuies of l>ai« baric warfii c. After the ship was helplessly "ground, it wns said that the dig was hauled down, yet the Russians ncveithclcis still poured into her hull a shower of red-hot shot. They wished to destroy at once as many of their assailant* an possible, and did not stand nico about tho rules of civilised warfare Tho Tiirer was forced to surrender before the Vt jnviiH and Niger could come to her assisw ance, Her captain (Gilford) lost one leg, a mid. shipman both, and five men wore wounded, Tho hundred and twenty-six prisoners were taken. Tho Russians had two officers wou: ded, and two soldiers killed. As the vessel could not be removed she was set on fire, and sank the snme day. Somo of her gunt were taken as trophies to Odessa. It is further said thnt on the following day eleven English and seven French steamers having deman* dod the restitution of the ship and her imprisoned crew, and being refused, they proceeded to bomb ml the town of Odessa. The firing had already lasted six hours, and still continued "hen tho above news was despatched. Cnptaiu Giffurd and the midshipman of tho Tiger have since died of their wound*.

A new treaty had been signed by Austi^i and Prussia, under which tho annexation of the Prin« cipalitics, or the passage of the Balkan by Russia, would be oonsidersd a cause of war, between those Governments and Russia. There appears litlle fear of the Czar giving offenco to thoso powers. The militia force was being embodied in England, many of the men volunteering for thu regiments of the line.

The French army in Turkey was to bo Increased to 170,000 men.

Tho Hecla, steamer, 6 guns, Cap' Hull, had a gallunt affair at Eckness ; after silencing two forts, Copt. Hall landed, spiked the cannon, with the exception of three, which he took on boird as trophica, He came down the Moid again with tint pn/.e ship, in company with the Arrogant, Cnpt. Yclverton. Not a shot whs fired at them as they went out to sea. Tho English had three killed and five wounded. The Russian loss was estimated at 500 killed and wounded.

Tho Hous-'s on the ri?ht bunk of the Nova at St. Petersburg!! have been dtstioyud.

The merchants in the Russian trade and thoso interested in the commerce of Odessa express great apprehemion that the capture of the English ship Tiger, may lead to another visit of the combined fleets and the total destruction of thnt place.

Further telegraphic ine«sng«s repeat that the Tiger ran ashore a few miles from Odessa, Batteiirs wore brought down and nothing was to be done but to surrender— the crew, 200 men, bsing made prisoners after a gnllant resistance. Captain Oiffurd of the Tiger was wounded ia the defence of the ship.

The Paris correspondent of thu Times writes— "l am assured that 80 pieces of artillery, of large calibre mid tremendous power were to lie embarked yes* tordny and the day before at Toulon and Marseilles. They are intendod for Sebastopol. It seems ocr« tain that the plan of a combined attack by sea and land upon that celebrated fortress and tho Crimoa has been decided upon ; and tint wo may at a abort interval from each other havn news of something very important taking place m tho Baltic and Black: Sea."

The Vienna paper, Wanderer, has St. Petersburgh news of the Oth. The Emperor looks neither SO well nnr so composed as usual. Tho Hereditary Grand Duke, who U generally in very good spirits also appeared extremely gloomy.

In the Homo of Loids, on the iDili of Miy iho Earl of Malnicsbury inquired whether the Govern* ment had received any information respecting tho loss of tho Tiger, and whether there had been any exchange of prisoners between the combined powers and Russia. The Duke of Newcastle replied lint he was inclined to believe that there was no foun« dation for the reported loss of the Tiger, which had come by telegraph to a mtrcamilo house in London, as the vessel was stated to have been a screw, whereas the Tiger waa a paddle-wheel steamer. Negotiations for ths exchango of prisoners with Baron Oaten-Sackcn bad taken place, and somo Russian prisoners had been given up.

Amongst the reports from the Baltic ia one that Aland und Revel have both been taken.

Another report is that a plan of attack upon Cronstadt had boen agreed upon between the En* glish and French admirals.

Sir Charles Napier is dreadfully feared by the Emperor and his troops. We have letters hero from some of the pilots every week. The Duko of. Wellington's guns aro splendid. One of the pilots has returned from ill-health, and hegavo'moa glowing description of her firing all her guns broadside. They can be brought to bear so us to stnka a space no larger thun a door or window, aud they can direct the shots with so much precision that a very small boat, placed a mile distance was shat« tercd to pieces by the first shot. It is considered by uautical mcv that v broadside from the flag-ibip waa equal to, and would do as much damage as, all Nelson's fleet.

Tun Rumour™ Captwrr of Cronstadt.— Lord V. Stuart, referring to a statement which had appeared in the Morning Chronicle, he presumed "by authority," Ihnt her Mnjctty's steam-ship Tiger, had captured near the island of Serpenti twelve Runsmn trnniporta, wuhetl to ask the firit Lord of the Admiralty whether that statement w«s correct; and if so, whether those transports lino Iroops or ammunition on board, from what ports they had come, and where they wore bound to ? Hewould also take that opportunity of asking nn« other question— which, though he had given no nolire of it, he apprehended tho right hon. baronet would have no difficulty in nnnwering— There was a report current that evening that a telegraphic despatch had just arrived announcing a vciy important event in the Baltic. It was stated that nothing more or Icjh had happened than nn attack by the combined fleet* on Cronstndt, which had resulted in n great loss to the fleet«, hut at tho narno time in the taking of tlmt important place. What he wished to know was, hod tho Government received any information confirming this report or othcrwißP ?

Sir J. Graham.— As the lait queition which the noble lord ban put to me ifl the most important, I will answer that first. (Hear, hfar,) I liavo re. reived no nrrount whatever by tclfgrnph from the Baltic, nnd I cannot doubt that there mint be aome error in the statement to which (he noble lord has alluded. I have received a letter to day from Sir Charles Napier, dated 3rd May, when ho was still with the fleet off the coast of Swede". (Lord John Russell hero marie nn observation ) My noble fiiend reminds me that the last post from the Baltio was the sth of May. In this letter Sir C. Napier Mates that though ho was most anxious to leave the const or Swodcn, and proceed on to the Gu f of Finland, that the fog was so thick that he had no hope of being able to do so nt prenr-nt with safety to the fleet. (Hear, hear.) In replying to the other question the noble lord bos put, I must in the first place disclaim on my own part, and on the part of the Admiralty, any communications made to any newspaper. So far ns that department is concerned, when communication! are made to the public press, they aro mado generally to all, aud not exclusively to any particular paper. (Hear.) With regard to the question itself, I have to «tate that the Admiralty hare received an account from the admiral in command of the capture of twelve Russian transports off the island of Serpenti, while on their wny from Odessa to the mouth of the ■Danube, not with troops on board, but containing gomo munitions of war and provisions. In Copenhnrron there wan on incredible report that the English Consul at Riga had written a letter giving the British Government certain valuable in. formation. Tho letter was stopped at the Pobl office, taken to the English consul, who won merely shown the direction, nnd asked if it was his hand, writing. He answered in the affirmative and' was immediately shot. The prisoners taken in Uiepnsscs captured in the Baltic had been rclemed, on condition of not serving tijrttlnnt the allied power* during the present war. Every item of personal property that belonged to them were permitted to be taken nway. In ono instance j£2oo was found on a captain, who wan allowed to retain possession of it. In many other instances sums of greoter or lem value, with gold and silver watches, chains jewellery, &c, were taken away by the respective owners without question on the part of the captors. The Russian minuter and the crews of the captured Vessels were highly astonished at such liberality. It is thought by the British at Scutari thnt the allied army would co-operato with the fleets in a combined attack on Sebastopol. In the House of Commons the Chancellor of the Exchequer made his financial statement, or supplementary budget. He proposed lo continuo the double income tax for tho whole period of the war, namely, from 7<l. to I«. id. per pound— when pence was proclaimed the double tax would cease ; to in. crease the duty on spirits, in Scotland by In. per gallon, and In Ireland by Bd. per gallon ; to classify the sugar duties by a scale of charges on all nugar, colonial and foreign, according to tho rank of the different sorts ; and to raigo the malt duty from 2«. 9d. to 4s. per bushel. The increase of taxation would thus bo £fi,840,000 per annum* Only the Bpirit duty is to bo permanent. Piracy was becoming common in the Greek Ar> chipclago; two merchant veßsels had been taken, and tiieir crews murdered.