Should the transportation of the Turkish army to Trebizonde be determined upon, it will not take less than two months, even Avith the help of the British marine, to convey it across, a longer term having been required for the transport from Varna to Eupatoria, which places are not so far apart. Allowing a month for the march from Trebizonde to Kars, it would be November before the army could reach its new position; and at that season the lofty tableland of Armenia is deep in snow, and all military operations will be suspended until the ensuing spring. But it is more than probable that the report of the movement has no foundation. It arises from a belief that the affairs of Asia have been grievously neglected, that the present year has not bettered the position of the Turks, and that there is danger lest the Russians should actually succeed in wresting away an important province as well as consolidating their reputation among the inhabitants of Central Asia.
To-day, Omar Pasha paid a visit to General Simpson's head-quarters. The Naval Brigade fancies itself hardly used in the matter of promotion, and indeed it is difficult to come to any other conclusion than that its officers have been somewhat neglected by the First Lord of the Admiralty. After the 17th of October, a large promotion was made by Sir J. Graham, as the reward of a single day's labour and danger, but since that time, although a period of nearly eight months has elapsed, no single promotion has been conferred on an officer of the Naval Brigade. There are in this branch of the service lieutenanls of nine or ten years* standing, who volunteered their services on shore, and have been as much exposed to the hardships and danger of the trenches as the officers of the army.
The latter, by stepping into death vacancies, and by brevets, have received a proper reward for their services; while the naval officers remain in their old position, and are naturally disappointed and disgusted. It is hardly sufficient to tell them that when Sebastopol is taken they will have their promotion. Many will not live to see that day, and in the case of mtu-ried men, the widows, who would be in the receipt of adequate pensions for their husbands' sei*vices, will be left witli a maintenance not correspondingto the merits and sacrifices of those who have fallen in a prolonged siege. ]f the one bombardment of October was thought worth}^ of a large promotion, there should be some reward for three others, each of which was more severe and more successful tiian the first — not to mention nearly 300 nights of duty in the trenches, and all the sufferings of the late terrible winter.
Jnhj 17. Another sortie from the Slalakhofi' last night during a pom-ing rain. It lasted about a quarter of an hour. Heavy firing all night. This morning the French are said to be advancing rapidly with their works. Tliey talk of being quite ready for another assault in about a fortnight. Juhj 21. In spite of the heat which has followed the stormy weather of last week, the operations of the siege are being pressed forAvai'd by the French on our right with indefatigable industry. There is nothing in what goes forward which can strike tlie eye of a stranger; stagnation seems to reign in camp and trenches; even tlie heavy firing noticed a few days since has for the most part died away; yet every day an advance is made, and each advance brings the allies nearer the crest of the Malakhoff, which it vv-ill now require all the courage and tenacity of the Russians to hold.
The JMalakholi" and Mamelon stand upon an elevated plateau, while the ridge that joins them is itself higher than the land around. It is along this ridge that the French, sap extends in a zigzag to within 170 yards of the hiU which the Russians hold. As the incline is somewhat steep, the French working parties are already out of reach of the Russian guns, which cannot be sufficiently depressed to be used with any effect against them. They can therefore continue their work without danger, except from the riflemen, who hold every vantage spot, and use their best endeavours to pick off any enemy Avho may show a part of his cap within their range; but, as these can be kept in check by French marksmen, while the guns of the Mamelon are hourly thundering against the Russian stronghold, the advantage is clearly on the side of our allies.