Aitodar and Mangup Kaleh. The Russians are still
down at Markoul, which is situate in the gorge formed
by one of the feeders of the Belbek. They are, however,
evidently only a strong grande garde, a few battalions,
with the usual accompaniment of Cossacks. Towards
Ozembash the Russian outposts hold the plateau on the
right bank of the little stream of Upu, overlooking the
head of the Tchouliou valley. The outposts on both
sides are so close to each other that shots are continually
exchanged between them. The features of the country
are particularly fit for such encounters; the heights
being covered with brushwood, and the little ravines on
all sides facilitating the approach of both parties. Both
the roads which lead up from the valley of Baidar to the
North are only country roads, and, of course, nearly
impassable in winter or after rain. Having taken up
this offensive position, the French, with their usual
foresight, have begun to make them both practicable for
the march of an army..... If you look at the map,
you will easily see that all the abrupt cliffs have more or
less a southerly and the slopes a northerly direction.
This is principally the case as regards the heart of the
Russian position between Baktshiserai and the north
plateau. It is a succession of steep plateaux divided by
gorges, through which the Tchemaya, the Belbek, and
the Katcha, with all their feeders find their way to the
sea. With the exception of the road leading over
Akhtiar or the Mackenzie heights, all the others follow
the river courses. Most of the plateaux are too steep to
be scaled by an army; so the defiles must be forced;
and this seems the line the Russians have chosen all
along for their defence." Since that time the principal
movement has been the despatch of Sir Colin Campbell
to Eupatoria with a considerable force of infantry and
artillery.

The allies have achieved some important successes.
The city of Kars, in Asiatic Turkey, so long beleaguered
by the Russians, has been effectually relieved by the
bravery of its Turkish garrison. On the 29th of
September, the Russians attempted a general attack on
Kars. The battle lasted seven hours with extreme
desperation. The enemy at length was repulsed, and
his retreat became a complete rout. The Turks followed
the Russians beyond the earthworks of Kars, and so
completely broke them, that they were unable to rally.
In addition to the dead and wounded carried away
during the action, the Russians left 4000 dead, 100
prisoners, and a gun. The Turks lost between 700 and
800, among whom were many superior officers. At the
time of the latest account the Russians were preparing
to retreat. The defence of Kars has been mainly
sustained by General Williams, and the British officers
under him. "His aid-de-camp," says the Daily News,
"is Captain Teesdale. He has also been most ably
supported by Colonel Lake, of the Madras Engineers,
and Captain Thompson, of the 68th Bengal Native
Infantry. All three are young men. Captain Thompson
was severely wounded in the arm in the Burmese
war, and returned home upon sick leave. But
his eagerness to serve his country induced him to
volunteer for the East before his wound was entirely
cured. He has gone through the arduous defence of
Kars with his arm in a sling. This is the true metal of
which British soldiers are made. The privations suffered
by the garrison of Kars have been great; our gallant
countrymen learned to regard horse-flesh and cat's-
flesh as 'dainty fare.' They speak in the highest terms
of the qualities of the Turkish soldier when rightly
officered. The Muchir and General Williams are on
the best terms. As for the Pashas, they have the good
sense to keep quiet in their tents, smoking, and declaring
that their trust is in God and the English officers."

The following particulars of this brilliant affair are
given by an English officer who was engaged in it:—
"Last night the Russians attacked us in force, and
(between you and me and the post) very nearly took
Kars. The fight was a most bloody one, and lasted
seven hours and a half, without one second's intermission.
The Russians left upwards of 2,000 men dead on
the field; and their loss in killed, wounded, and
prisoners must have exceeded 6.000 men. What do you
think of us Kars chaps after that? I was not actively
engaged, as they knew better than to attack my almost
impregnable battery a second time; but I did great
service with my heavy guns, and twice drove them out of
a battery they had taken, and turned upon us. It was
a nasty sight—the field—afterwards. It was completely
covered with dead bodies, mostly Russians, as our men
did not lose more than five or six hundred altogether.
The defence was commanded by dear old General Kmeti;
and when our general thanked him in the name of
Queen Victoria, for his gallant repulse of the enemy, I
thought the brave old boy would have burst his heart
open—he was so proud. The Turks fought—not like
lions, but like fiends. I never saw such desperate recklessness
of life. You can form some idea of what a desperate
business it was, when I tell you that the Russians had their
whole force concentrated upon General Kmeti's division,
which, with the reinforcements he afterwards received,
did not amount to 8,000 men. The reports have just
come in, and there are more than 3,000 killed on the
side of the enemy."

The allied fleets in the Black Sea, after remaining for
a short time before Odessa without any hostile operation,
sailed from that place on the 15th inst, and
anchored off Kinburn, a Russian fortress situated on the
southern shore of the estuary of the Dnieper, opposite
to Oczacoff. "A flotilla of gunboats," says Admiral
Lyons' despatch, "forced the entrance into the Dnieper,
and the allied troops landed on the Spit to the southward
of the forts; thus, by their simultaneous operation,
the retreat of the garrison and the arrival of re-
inforcements were effectually cut off, so that the forts,
being bombarded to-day by the mortar-vessels, gun-
vessels, or French floating batteries, and being closely
cannonaded by the steam line-of-battle ships and
frigates, having only two feet of water under their
keels, were soon obliged to surrender. The casualties
in the fleet were very few, but the enemy had 45 killed
and 130 wounded. A steam squadron, under the orders
of Rear-Admirals Stewart and Pellion, lie at anchor in
the Dnieper and command the entrance to Nicolaieff and
Kherson. The forts were occupied by the allied troops.
The prisoners will be sent to Constantinople
immediately." Another despatch states the number of
prisoners to be 1500; and the number of guns taken is said
to be 174. In consequence of this occurrence, the
Russians, dreading an attack upon Oczakoff, destroyed
the fortifications of that place. A telegraphic despatch
from Admiral Lyons, dated the 18th inst., says: "This
morning the enemy blew up his fortifications on Oczacoff
point, mounting twenty-three guns, which were assailable
by our mortar vessels."

A successful operation has taken place against a fort
and some buildings at Taman and Fanagoria, on the
island of Taman, opposite Yenikale. Three companies
of the 71st Regiment, and six companies of French
infantry, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Ready, were
landed on the 24th September at Fanagoria, covered by
the fire of four English and nine French gun-boats.
The enemy instantly abandoned the place; which was
occupied by the troops, and held during the week. The
object of the expedition was to dismantle the place, and
appropriate the wood and fuel to the use of the garrison
of Yenikale. During the operations on the 24th, the
Cossacks, 600 strong, occupied a hill-side about two
miles distant; whence they were dislodged by the
admirable practice of the gun-boats. One English
sailor was slightly wounded. Fanagoria was a fort
protecting the town of Taman. At the former, were
found sixty-six pieces of cannon and four mortars, all
rendered unserviceable; and at Taman eleven 24-
pounders buried in the sand. This successful foray
deprives the enemy of the basis of operations he might
have selected for a winter campaign against Yenikale.
Taman could receive and shelter several thousand
soldiers; and at Fanagoria vast edifices might serve as
hospitals or barracks. All have now been destroyed.

An affair of cavalry has taken place near Kertch, in
which the 10th Hussars sustained some loss. The
details are furnished by General Simpson. Colonel