THE WAR—BOMBARDMENT OF ODESSA BY THE ENGLISH FLEET.
On the morning of the 23d, nine steamers of the allied fleet took up a position before the forts that command the entrance to the harbor, and immediately commenced to throw bombs and rockets upon the forts and the city.
One statement says that the bombardment was over in two hours: another that it continued incessantly for ten hours, and only closed with the night. The Austrian official account published at Vienna, 30th, states as the result of the action, that "a battery of four guns was destroyed, and one Austrian ship, the St. Catherina, and eight Russian merchant ships in harbor, were burned." The Russian telegraphic account is significant. It is in these terms:
"The English and French Admirals demanded the surrender of the Russian ships in the port of Odessa. This being refused, bombardment began from eighteen ships. A small part of the city is destroyed. An attempt to land 1,800 men failed. The bombardment has produced no effect!"
Three of the English steamers were badly damaged.
A dispatch to The London Daily News states that on the 22d a partial bombardment took place, but not much damage was done except setting some buildings on fire. On the 23d, hostilities were suspended, and a summons was sent to the place to surrender.
In the event of a refusal, the Admirals, French and British, threatened to destroy the city on the succeeding day. On the 24th, was the attack. It was further stated that the Russian fleet sailed out of Sevastopol and advanced against the allied fleet, either with the hope of drawing the latter away from Odessa, or of getting it between two fires, but, on a portion of the British ships offering battle, the Russians withdrew to their strong-hold.
It may be remembered that on the 6th ult., the British steamer Furious was sent with a flag of truce to Odessa to bring off the British ex-Consul and some seventy British subjects. The Russians refused to permit the steamer to enter the harbor, and on her persisting, fired six or seven shots from the walls, and sent out some ships to chase her. The Furious escaped, and brought back to the fleet a report of the treatment she had met with. This was on the 6th of April, and the next we hear of was the arrival, off Odessa, on the 14th or 17th, (for accounts differ,) of several ships of the allied fleets. The last advices from Odessa, received here per steamer Canada, were to April 20th, at which date, although some English steamers were in sight, all was quiet. Consequently the account in the papers that the city was bombarded for one hour on the 18th, is manifestly incorrect.
LATER.—Prince Woronzoff's palace at Odessa was entirely destroyed by the bombardment. Four English frigates were badly damaged. A private dispatch states that the whole of the allied fleet left Odessa on the 26th, and was to cruise off Sevastopol to prevent the egress of the Russians.
Prussia has forbidden privateers to enter her harbors. Small-pox had broken out on board the British ship James Watt, and Sir Charles Napier had caused a number of the sailors to be vaccinated. A million of paper roubles are just issued at Warsaw.
THE SIEGE OF SILISTRIA.
The important position of Silistria is closely invested, but a telegraphic dispatch of date 26th says that to that date the fortress had suffered no damage.
Accounts from Bucharest, April 19th, mention that it (Silistria) had been hard pressed since the 14th, and would ere then have fallen but for the determined valor of its defenders, who express themselves able to hold out until aid shall arrive.
The Russians, on the contrary, expect to reduce the place in a few days. Mustapha Pasha has a strong garrison, but is said to be neither well victualed nor properly supplied with ammunition. The ford is in the possession of the Russians, as are also the intrenchments at the junction of the Dristra, the Turks having retired within the defenses.
The Russians were expected to assault, on the 1st May, with 30,000 men. They had erected seventeen heavy batteries, under cover of which they will cross the river. The passage at Oltenitza is expected at the same time. Notwithstanding all these formidable statements, we must not forget that Silistria is too strong a position to be carried without a severe and perhaps a prolonged struggle.
THE BALTIC.
The British fleet had been further re-enforced and was awaiting the arrival of the French squadron.
On the 21st, nineteen British ships anchored before Stockholm. A depot of coal for the fleet is being formed at Farosund, on the island of Gothland.
A Russian powder factory on the island of Cronstadt, and containing 60,000 pounds of powder, blew up and killed sixty operatives. No damage was done to the fortress.