Russian fleet seek refugee for winter in safe roads according to the Dutch newspaper Dagblad van Zuidholland en ‘s-Gravenhage dated 17 February 1854

An item dated Berlin, Germany 15^th referred to the latest Russian newspaper which reported that the real reason for the departure of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea was not the Allied fleet. To prevent damages caused by storms and ice was it customary to leave the Black Sea at the end of the year and not to return before 15 March. That was the only and true reason of the departure to safe roads in begin January.(1)

Note

1. At that moment was the Crimean war (4 October 1853-12 February 1856) going on with England and France among the Allied forces against the Russian empire.