PERSISTENCY OF TKLISSIKK. 29 Kertch ; but PeTissier growing savage upon this c HA p. provocation made haste to accentuate the language _ in which he conveyed his resolve, and by tele- pussier to graph at once said what follows to the Minister war'."' of "War: 'The march of two corps d'armde, one ' from Aloushta on Simferopol, the other from ' Baidar on Baktchi Serai, is big with difhcul- • ties and risks. It is the Kabyle country over ' acrain, and unknown. The direct investment ' effected by carrying the Mackenzie Heights ' would cost as dear as the assault of Sebas- ' topol, and the result would be very uncertain. ' I have come to an understanding with Lord ' Raglan for the carrying of the counter-ap- ' proaches, for the occupation of the ground ' on our right home down to the Tchernaya, and ' finally for an operation against Kertch. Our ' allies attach great importance to the measure, 1 and I acknowledge that the operation is a good ( one. All is advancing : the movements arc ' already in progress.' * The next day, PeTissier addressed to Marshal 2-2.1 May J . Same to Vaillant a letter in which he requested that same. 'sufficient latitude' should be granted to him; but — read with the context — those words carried mockery rather than prayer ; for an earlier part of the letter made it plain that the wilful general had already seized and used the broad freedom for which he professed to be asking. Tie already had written thus: 'Lord Raglan has asked me 1 to renew the operation against Kertch, to which
- Telegram of the 21st May.— Kousset, vol. ii. p. 191.
