Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/105

 OPERATIONS IN' THE SEA OF AZOF. 75 Of the peaceful inhabitants eleven were killed, cm a p. . IV. and forty-seven otherwise stricken*. — . The defence from its weakness afforded of course a poor sequel to those high-toned words of rejection with which the summons was met, and seemed even to annul the whole warrant for a course of proceeding which subjected the peace- ful inhabitants to losses of life and property. None could say that the victims were sacrificed to the exigencies of a valiant defence. Marionpol was a place on the only highroad 5th June. i • • Operations then left to the enemy tor effecting his communi- at Marion- cations between the country of the Don and the Crimea ; and Colonel Kostrukoff, there command- ing, affected to defy the summons brought him from Lyons and M. Sedaiges ; but the Allies quickly landed some men, and thereupon the whole garrison, consisting of some hundreds of Cossacks, was at once marched off without fight- ing to a place of safety. The town thenceforth remained for five hours in the hands of the Allies. The Allies took care to destroy the great stores of grain in the place, but did no harm to the town.(°) At Gheisk, the authorities yielded to the exi- operation gency of the summons, and a vast quantity of hay oth June.' and corn was destroyed. Wy a skilful manoeuvre of his vessel, the Ardent,
 * Todlebeu, vol. ii. p. 291.