The Russian attacking force consisted of six torpedo boats, viz. the No. 1, Lieutenant Poutschin; the No. 2, Lieutenant Rojdestvenski; the _Tchesme_, Lieutenant Zatzarennyi; the _Sinope_, the _Navarino_, and the _Soukoum Kalé_. The No. 2 was a specially constructed torpedo boat, 68 feet long, and very fast. All were armed with spar torpedoes, with the exception of the _Tchesme_, which carried a towing torpedo. The boats were convoyed from Odessa by the _Constantine_, some being carried, and some being towed; another steamer, the _Vladimir_, supported her. The Turkish squadron were anchored in quarter line, about one mile from the harbour; the _Kartal_, under weigh, being used as an advance guard, and a few boats rowing guard close to the ships being _the only means of protection_ adopted by the Turks. Passive obstructions, such as booms, nets, crinolines, &c., were not thought of, much less used. On arriving about five miles from Soulina, the boats were formed into two groups, the first consisting of the No. 1, the No. 2, and the _Tchesme_, and despatched on their way. The working of their engines was scarcely heard, and all lights were carefully hidden by tarpaulins. The first casualty that happened was the disabling of the _Tchesme_, by the electric wire of her towing torpedo fouling the screw, this obliging her to return to the _Constantine_. Aided by good fortune, and by the darkness of the night, the No. 1 and the No. 2 succeeded in getting close to (30 yards) one of the Turkish vessels, the _Idglalieh_, before being discovered, when they were at once hailed, and, not answering, a tremendous fire of big guns and rifles was directed on them from the _Idglalieh_, which was promptly followed by that of the whole squadron, though from the other ships nothing of the boats could be seen. According to the Russians, the No. 2 succeeded in exploding her torpedo close to, if not in contact with, a Turkish vessel, but from eyewitnesses on board the squadron only one explosion was heard, viz. that of Lieutenant Poutschin's torpedo. Any way, no damage whatever was experienced by the Ottoman squadron. The No. 1 came down on the _Idglalieh's_ starboard bow, fouled her cable, and swung alongside, exploding one of her torpedoes in so doing, but with no other result than a wetting to those of the ironclad's crew, who were on the forecastle. Alongside Poutschin remained for some minutes, but at last managed to get clear, and then was either sunk by the _Idglalieh's_ fire, or, as he avers, on finding his screw foul, he sunk his boat, rather than let her fall into the hands of the Turks. Poutschin and four of his crew were picked up, after being some hours in the water, by the squadron's boats.