The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-16 00:00:00

TTfl STmTPRIIPIDGE OBSERVER

There are at present 250,000 fugitives collected at
&humla, and it is stated that unless something is done for
their relief at once, immense loss of life is certain to take
place. •

The Constantinople correspondent of the Manchester
Guardians, telegraphing on Friday, tila Syra, says
"Visitors from San Stefano attached to the head-quarters
of the Grand Duke state that the Czar is very warlike. He
does not fear England if alone, but dreads an Austro-Hungarian
alliance. The occupation of Constantinople was ordered to
take place immediately the passage of the British ships be-
came known at St. Petersburg. General Ignatieff and the
Grand Duke, considering the step inadvisable, with difficulty
obtained the Czar's consent to a compromise. The torpedo
officer of the Alexandra has just returned from a visit to
Gallipoli. Every arrangement has been made for laying
torpedoes at the shortest notice. Plana are drawn up, and
the work divided amongst the ships. Two corps d' armee
will be tent to Thessaly. Large numbers of troops returning
from Varna are proceeding to Crete."

The Standard publishes the following from their corre-
spondent at Gallipoli :—"The Russians have commenced a
very remarkable operation. They are now arming the works
on the Charkaui-KadikPui lines with the heavy guns which
the Turks attempted to bring with them in their fright from
Adrianople, but which they had to abandon. Two of these
guns arrived at Charkeui on Sunday, and more are being
conveyed thither. All the draught oxen that can be found
about this district are being requisitioned by the Russians
for their transport servic. The Russians are also enrolling
the Greek inhabitants of this district for service in their
cavalry, and are offering thorn very high pay."

A Pera telegram to the Oologne Gazette states that the
Sultan is ill, and that there is an agitation in Syria for an-
nexation to Egypt. At Koniah the Mollahs have proclaimed
the fall of the Osman Dynasty.

-Under date Pcra, March 8, the Correspondent of The
Times wiites :—" I am sending home by the post a docu-
ment which, I have reason to believe, fairly represents the
vicw held by intelligent Armenians about the effect which
the treaty between Turkey and Russia is likely to have upon
their country. An Armenian writes to me that his country-
men fear Russia may encourage Turkish misgovernment in
order to turn it to her own advantage and gradually absorb
all Armenia. They accordingly implore the help of England
in the Conference to obtain for them an autonomy guaran-
teed by Europe, or at least protected by Europe. They
hope that this autonomy will be a barrier against Russian
interference with the English road to India, and that the
Armenians, from their national character, will more readily
adapt themselves to English civilization as the true type,
instead of the Russian false type."

Count Andrassy has informed the Hungarian Delegation
that Austria will not peimit the formation of a Bulgarian
principality extending to the i-Egean Sea, or the occupation
of that principality by Russian troops for a period exceed-
ing six months. He likewise declared that in the event of
RUP3ia insisting upon a change in the balance of power, the
mobilization of the Austrian forces at a moment's notice
might become necessary, not to occupy Bosnia, but to
defend Austrian interests effectually.

We learn, by telegraph, that the British squadron in the
Sea of Marmora has made another move, having left the
anchorage at Toulza Bay, and taken up a position in the
Gulf of Ist-aid, on Saturday. Admiral llornby has now with
him at this new anchorage the Alexandra, Temeraire,
Sultan, Achilles, Flamingo, Torch, and Ilelicon.—Standard.

The Journal de St Peterbourg contains a long article in
reply to a letter written by a Russian against the Congress.
The writer of the letter asks why the results obtained by
Russian blood must alone be reviewed and sanctioned by
the European Powers, when no Congress met after the
Italian war for unity which overthrew the old Papal
power, or after the German wars against Austria and
France which changed the balance of European power. The
semi-official paper replies that Russia herself undertook to
consult Europe respecting those changes resulting from the
war which had a European importance, because she wished
for a long and enduring peace. The public may, however,
rely upon it that the Russian Government will abandon no
point involving the great principle and the object of the
war.

"That Sir Edmund Commerell should be in command of
the squadron at Gallipoli is one of the few reasuring points
to be remembered as to the fate of the entrapped British
fleet. Sir Edmund is a bold sailor, and was one of those
who, in 1845, carried through the heroic exploit of cutting
the chains across the La Plata, and forcing the river under
the heaviest tire from the shore batteries, lie was engaged,
too, in the Crimean War—in which he won the Victoria
Cross—and it is no secret that he would feel the greatest
pleasure in having another brush with his old enemies the
Russians. He has vessels on both sides of the narrow
Gallipoli peninsula, which is so narrow at Bular that it could
be swept clean across by the guns of the vessels on either
side. To prevent the occupation of this isthmus by the
Russians is to prevent the closing of the outer door of the
Marmora trap, and Sir Edmund is just the matt to prevent it,
with or without orders."—Vanity Fair.