The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-05-25 00:00:00

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

Under date St. Petersburg, May 21, the Correspondent of
'the Times says :—" The conciliatory disposition which has
been for some time displayed by the Government and the
organs of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs seems to be spread-
ing to the Press in general. The newspaper which has been
hitherto most bellicose and which has systematically urged
Government to adopt a policy of reckless defiance has to-day
suddenly changed its tone. It says In Russia there is a
complete readiness for reconciliation, though it should
require concessions to be made. In the Russian Press there
are no traces of Chauvinism, and all the newspapers with
one voice recognize a pacific agreement with England as the
hest means of solving the present difficulties in the East.
All the surroundings favour the diplomatic work. In such
exceptional circumstances we must hope that a just and
durable peace will soon be created.'"

A special telegram to the Pall Mall Gazette, under date
Berlin, Tuesday, says :—" Russians in this country express
themselves very hopeful, and consider the main difficulties
of the situation to have been overcome, They talk of having
good reason for believing that the Congress will meet early
In June. Semi-official journals in this country, on the other
hand, express themselves in more guarded arid less con,
fident terms, and warn the public against rash and prema.
ture hopes of peace, on the ground that the concessions of
which Count Schouvaloff is affirmed to be the bearer are
not in themselves sufficient to ensure a pacific solution, and
that much still remains to be done by negotiations, the
success of which is not at any rate absolutely certain."

Writing from Pera, on the 19th, the Corespondent of The
Times, says :—" I am informed that neither at Prince
Lobanoffs official audience with the Sultan nor at the pri-
vate audience which followed was a word of politics spoken
on either side. In his later visit to the Porte Prince
Lobanoff created a most favourable impression. Hopes of
peace are scarcely entertained at all here to-day: even the
German Embassy, the most peace desiring and at the
same time the best Informed regarding the Russian temper,
finding the sole hope to consist in the fact that no rup-
ture has yet actually occurred. The Austrian Embassy
appears to be much impressed with the irre-
concilable attitude of Russia. The Austrian policy has
taken a definite shape, and the Porte has now no more mis-
givings regarding the military preparations of that Power
and the probable advance of Austrian troops into Bosnia,
than it has of the presence of the British fleet in the Sea of
Marmora. The Porte, being informed of the Montenegrin
preparations for taking possession of the new territory an-
nexed to that principality by General Ignatieff, perceives
that Austria has real cause for anxiety in this manifestation
of Montenegrin impatience, and I believe now fully acquits
Austria of any annexionist designs."

In well-informed diplomatic spheres there exists no ap-
prehension of a Russian coup de main on Constantinople
(says the Correspondent of The Times) The strength and
organization of the Turkish army of defence are now such
that a prudent General like Todleben would hestitate to at-
tempt it, while his rear is harrassed by the Rhodope insur-
rection General Todleben's object all along has been, as
previously stated, to take up a good defensive position. He
was not allowed to fall back, as he wished to do, from the
San Stefano position, and he therefore consolidated his men
as far as possible by bringing up troops from the rear. It is
manifest that the Turkish Army is not only strong enough
to defend neutrality, but even to assume the offensive if
that neutrality were seriously menaced by such an incident,
for instance, as a Russian attempt to seize the Dardanelles,
This fact sufficiently explains General Todleben's care to lift
his army off the San Stefano flats to the adjacent heights,
and give it a strong backing of support by bringing up troops
from the rear.

Letters from St. Petersburg in the semi-official journals
state that the Emperor William and Prince Bismarck, as well
as the Crown Prince of Germany, in London, have used their
influence in a peaceful direction, and that on the 15th of May
the Czar consented to considerable concessions.

Colonel Wild, a Swiss Artillery officer serving in the Rus-
sian army of the Caucasus, in a letter published in a Zurich
paper, says that the Russians have lost more men by war
typhus since the conclusion of peace than they lost by battle
throughout the entire campaign in Asia Minor. He speaks
warmly of the high qualities of the Russian soldier, de-
scribing his attitude in the presence of pestilence as no
less noble than before the enemy.

A Berlin telegram says it is officially denied from St
Petersburg that the Russian military authorities intend
marching on Constantinople.

The South Russian Railways are so crowded with stores
and troops for Roumania that the directors have refused to
convey any stores of the Red Cross Society until further
notice.—Mayfair.

The Pera Correspondent of The Times says that more than
300 claims against the Russians for damage done to private
property in San Stefano and the neighbourhood have been
presented by the Porte at the Russian head-quarters. The
Russians cavalierly reply that in a state of war such accidents
are unavoidable. The Turks are very much nettled at this
answer, saying that the state of war existed on the further
side of the neutral zone, but that the Russians were bound
to behave as privileged guests at San Stefano, especially as,
after undertaking to bring only 1,500 men beyond Rutchuk
Tchekmedje, they actually brought 60,000.

The Ramanul, Government organ of Bucharest, published
an extra sheet on Saturday night containing the announce-
ment in large type that It learned from Russian sources that
the St. Petersburg Cabinet had taken the first step towards
a peaceful solution of the Eastern Question, and that the
meeting of an European Congress is thus assured.

Under date Philadelphia, May 20, the Correspondent of
The Times says :—" Large gangs of men are working day and
night, refitting and transforming the steamer State of Cali-
fornia into a Russian cruiser.=-The Russians have also
bought the steamer Columbus, heretofore on the New York
and Havannah Line, paying about 300,000 dols. for her,
though temporarily her possenion is vested in a United
States broker. The Columbus has steamed from New York
to Philadelphia, where she now lies alongside the State of
California. Her alteration into a cruiser will be imme-
diately taken in hand. She has a tonnage of about 2,500,
is four years old, and is the swiftest coasting steamer in the
American Merchant Service.—The Russians are guided in
their purchases and outfits by the best authorities in the
matter of steamers in America. Their object is to buy only
the most available vessels, being very particular on the
point of speed."

"We ere informed that the fortifications at Odessa are
assuming a formidable character. Eight of the batteries
have received their complement of 11-inch guns, and ord-
nance of a still heavier description is on its way from the
workshops at Essen. Battery No. 1, which has a frontage of
600 yards, is provided with an electrical apparatus for throw-
ing a light four miles across the roadstead."—Whitehail
Review.

Twenty thousand soldiers are lying ill at the hospitals of
Constal,tinople and typhus is increasing here and at
Gallipoli.

The Porte (says the Standard) is very firm with regard to
the entry of ships into the Sea of Marmora, and being of
opinion that the British force now within the Dardanelles is
as strong as is called for in the present situation, it has been
laid down that before any other ships can be admitted to the
Sea of Marmora one of those now in those waters must be
withdrawn. Any exchange is permitted, but no addition to
Admiral Hornby's squadron at the Gulf of Ismid.