The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-02-16 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER_

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

THE PORTE AND THE BRITISH FLEET.
"It was known in all the embassies this morning
that the Porte had refused to allow the British fleet
to approach Constantinople. The ground assigned
for refusal is that the Russian Government would
thereupon march Russian troops into Constantinople;
as, indeed, we believe, Prince Gortschakoff has
threatened."—Monday's Pall Mall Gazette.

The Times of Tuesday published the following from their
Correspondent at St. Petersburg, under date Feb. 11 :
" I can state confidently that orders have been sent
for the Russian troops to enter Constantinople. At
the same time orders have been sent to Count
Schouvaloff to explain to Lord Derby the motives of
this step. As the Great Powers have determined to
send their fleets to the Ottoman capital for the pro-
tection of their interests, Russia is obliged to adopt
similar measures. There is no intention, it is said, of
in any way aggravating the situation. This decision
on the part of the Russian Cabinet will probably be
published-here to-morrow."

ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 11.—Th3 Agence Busse
publishes an article to-day, repeating that the entry
of the fleets of the Powers into the Bosphorus at the
moment when peace is being negotiated, will imply
full liberty of action for Russia. The article adds :
"If the presence of the fleets is necessary for the pro-
tection of the Christians, this duty belongs no less to
to Russian troops."

ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 11.—The following telegram was
sent yesterday by Prince Gortschakoff, Chancellor of the
Empire, to the Russian Ambassadors at Berlin, Vienna,
London, Paris, and Rome. The telcgrain, which bears date
the 10th inst , says :
"The British Government, upon reports fur-
nished by its Ambassador in Constantinople, has
determined to take advantage of a previously ob-
tained tirman in order to direct a portion of its
fleet to Constantinople, with the object of protect-
ing the lives and property of British subjects
in the Turkish capital. Other Powers have adopted a
similar course with a view to the protection of their
subjects. This intelligence, taken as a whole, obliges
as on our side to take into consideration the proper
means of protecting those Christians whose lite and
property might be threatened, and in order to attain
this result to contemplate the entry of a portion of
our troops into Constantinople." It is further an-
nounced semi-officially that orders have been sent to
the Grand Duke Nicholas in conformity with this
determination.

The Gobs of Monday evening publishes an article in which
it says :—" It ought not to create astonishment if the Rus-
sians who entered upon the war for the protection of the
Christians should occupy Constptinople, as the English
Government Rini has considered it necessary to protect the
Christians. It is to be hoped ttiat the Government will
make a declaration to this effect. It is probable that now,
after the conclusion of the Armistice 'convention between
Russia and the Porte, the Sultan will think Russian protec-
tion desirable, and not that of England."

The Correspondent of The Times, writing from St. Peters-
burg, on Feb. 12, says
"The organ of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes this
morning the following comments As soon as England
thought fit to send her fleet to Constantinople to protect the
life and safety of her subjects, it was evident that the
Russian Government could not remain indifferent to the fate
of hundreds of thousands of Christians who live in the
capital of the Ottoman Empire, and who have certainly an
equal right to, and more need of, efficient protection. Russia
could the less avoid that necessity, seeing that the troops
were in the vicinity of Constantinople, and she could not
well ask them to remain passive spectators of acts of
vandalism, the first victims of which would be the Chris-
tians of their own confession and of a nationality closely
allied to their own. If, in presence of a peril pointed out
by England, Russia could not remain an instant in doubt as
to her duty, she could have still less doubt as to her right to
enter Constantinople upon the same grounds as the navies
of England and the other Powers. If England comes to
Constantinople for the purpose of helping to re-establish
order, her assistance will be welcome; in the contrary
event the responsibility for the consequences rests with
her.'
" It may be confidently predicted" (continues the Corres-
pondent) "that the entry of Russian troops into Constanti-
nople will be one of the most popular incidents of the war.
and from this point of view the British Government by send-
ing the fleet to Constantinople will render the Cabinet of
St. Petersburg an enormous service."

The Daily Telegraph publishes the following from
their Correspondent at Pera, under date Tuesday
'I believe that the English fleet has been ordered to pro-
ceed on its voyage up the Straits. Ido not apprehend that
the Porte will make any active resistance to the approach of
the English vessels. Should a Russian force enter the city
there may, and probably will, be great excitement; but the
altered tone of opinion with regati to the Muscovite Power
is so considerable, that the fears, once entertained, have
now almost entirely disappeared."

CONSTANTINOPLE, Feb. 9, 11.45 a.m._

A contradiction is given to the reports current that the
peace preliminaries between Russia and Turkey contained
secret clauses with regard to the questien of the Straits, the
limits of Bulgaria, and an alliance between Russia and
Turkey. The majority of the Turkish Ministers are, how-
ever, understood to favour such an alliance.
BERLIN, FEB. 9, Evening.

The North German Gazette of this evening, commenting
upon the despatch of the British fleet to Constantinople,
writes as follows :—" With this act of England the
Eastern drama draws to a close. The fifth act seems
of shorter duration than the preceding. We now
have before us the pacific declarations of ti e British
Cabinet respecting the object of the despatch of the fleet,
and also the purpose of the credit which has since been
granted. We also have the statements of the English
Government in regard to their future policy, from which it
results that England, too, recognizes the liberation of the
Balkan Christians as an accomplished fact, and restricts her-
self to securing the Egyptian Canal. This seems to justify
the confidence that no further complications will arise in
the East. This conclusion respecting the situation, drawn
from the various opinions expressed upon the subject, is
also in accordance with our own information."
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 9.
The Agence Busse, in a special supplement to-night, says
"The entry of the British fleet into the Bosphorus is an
accomplished fact. Although this act is said to be caused
by the necessity of protecting the Christian population of
Constantinople, the decision of the British Cabinet, never-
theless, restores to Russia her liberty of action. If
,the dis-
patch of the English fleet, which was requested by Russia
through the Berlin Memorandum and again at the time of
Count Soumarakov's mission to Vienna, is intended as a
raethod of cooperating in the maintenance of order and in
the attainment of a durable and equitable European solution
of the Eastern Question, the British ships will be welcomed
as auxiliaries. In any case Russia will regulate her attitude
by that of England."

(From Monday's Times.)
" BERLIN, Feb. 10.—The conclusion of an offensive and
defensive alliance between Russia and Turkey is here re-
garded as a fact. Every day it is becoming more evident t 6
the Russians that the results obtained by the army are in
danger of being lost by diplomatic mistakes and foreign
ihterference. There is still some doubt as to whether
Austria has completely seceded from the triple alliance, but
is certain that she has assumed an independent and not
very friendly attitude."

The Paris Correspondent of the Standard, writing on
Tuesday, says
"There is a general belief here to-day that war between
England and Russia is inevitable sooner or later. Though
Russian diplomatists are instructed to protest that the
Porte alone is responsible for the closing of the Straits to the
British squadron, no one believes that very transparent alle-
gation, nor is it supposed that England will be kept out of the
Straits by Russia. Turkey is no longer a free agent. The whole
of her territory and every one of her important towns are now
garrisoned by Russian soldiers. Turkey has only Con-
stantinople left, and that only in a measure she can call her
own, and when the conqueror bids her elms° the Straiti
against the English fleet or he will march his soldiers into
the capital, the Porte obeys with the same docility as if the
Sultan were Prince Milan of Servia or Prince Charles of
Roumania. It is expected here that if permission be re-
fused the English squadron will force its way up."

l'Auis, Feb. 13.—The litfpublique Francaisc of to-day, in
an article upon the Eastern Question, counsqls England to
remain tranquil, to make the best of the victories of Russia,
and not to allow herself to be drawn into a dangerous mani-
festation. The majority of the other Paris papers write in
the same sense, and hope that the wisdom and moderation
of the European Governments will prevent complications.

CONSTANTINOPLE, Feb. 11.—Mr. Layard did not atop the
British fleet from entering the Dardanelles, but Vice-Admiral
Ilornby himself withdrew to Besika Bay on receiving notice
from the Governor of the Dardanelles that he was without
instructions, and could only allow the fleet to pass under
protest.

CONSTANTINOPLE, Feb. 11.—A telegram received here
from the Grand Duke Nicholas states that the Russians
will march into Constantinople in case the British fleet
enters the Bosphorus.

BUCHAREST, Feb. 12.—The Austrian subjects residing in
Roumania have been summoned to report themselves at
the Austrian Consulate, in view of a possible mobilization of
the Austrian army.

At Vienna (according to a special telegram in the Debars)
It is believed that the fleet will force the passage of the Dar-
danelles before the Russians can have time to scatter
torpedoes in the Straits.

The following communication from the Foreign Office,
dated 10.45 a.m. (February 11), has been leceived at Lloyds:
—" Mr. Layard telegraphs from Constantinople that an
official notification was received yesterday to the effect
that during the continuance of the armistice the blockade of
the Black Sea ceases, and the ships under all flags may now
communicate between Ottoman and Russian ports, including
those occupied by Russian forces."

A Constantinople telegram says that the Clrand Duke
Nicholas has expressed his satisfaction to Ahmed Vefyk
Pasha at the non•admission of the British fl.3et to the
Bosphorus.

It Is said that Admiral Popoff, well-known in connection
with the circular ironclads, has been appointed the com-
mander of the Russian Torpedo Fleet. It is announced that
by the opening of the navigation, the fleet will consist of
150 steamers.

An evening paper has the following telegram from Vienna,
dated Feb. 11 (says the Faris Correspondent of the Daily
Telegraph) :—All the preparations for the moblization of the
army are completed. The officers of the Reserve have
received orders to join their depas. A fear is beginning to
be entertained at Vienna that in case of armed conflict with
Russia, Austria would find a second adversary in Italy.

"It has been stated by a contemporary that the Govern-
ment has ascertained that 9,000 men could be landed from
the Mediterranean fleet for service at Gallipoli, if required.
If this be so, the Government must have gone to the wrong
place for information, seeing that the whole of the ships in
the Mediterranean, including the old harbour ship at
Malta, have not 7,000 souls on board, even if all the
artificers, cooks, and stewards, untrained to arms, should
be counted."—Whitehall Review.

Italy is preparing seriously for war, although the Minis-
terial papers deny that the work in the arsenals and dock-
yards is being hurried more than usual —Vanity Fair.

Prince Charles is reported to have replied to General
Ignatieff that "no Chamber, no Miniitry, and not a single
Ronmanan" would ever consent to cede the least particle
of territory. All the Roumanian newspapers oppose the
retrocession of Bessarabia.

The Sultan is stated to have invited the Grand Duke
Nicholas to spend a few days at Constantinople.

"The news of the vote in the House of Commons and of
the despatch of a portion of the English fleet to Constanti-
nople was received here with great enthusiasm. These
measures are considered to be the beainntng of an energetic
defence of British interests." Correspondent of the
Standard.

only

The Berlin Corregpondent of the Morning Post telegraphed
on Monday :—"The Emperor William has received the
President of the german Parliament in special audience,
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The Emperor is reported to have remarked that the political
situation is critical, but that he still entertains hopes that
peace may be preserved.''

Sunday night's Nord says that nothing proves better the
uselessness of the credit of £6,000,000 voted by the British
Parliament than the declarations made by the Chancellor of
the Exchequer at the decisive moment of the debate, in
order to demonstrate the necf salty of the credit. The Nora
calls the English Government a disguised belligerent, and
says :—Let the English Ministry carry a vote of subsidies
and get a few unexpected triumphs by means of false news;
let it order the fleet of Besika to make a promenade of
political hygiene in the Bosphorus—these are meagre conso-
lations at the price of the rest!

We are informed by a St. Petersburg correspondent that
a large number of men leave there daily for Roumelia to till
in the gaps in the Guards and reinforce the "Army of
Adrianople." From other Russian towns a similar move-
ment is observable, and everywhere there is apparently a
desire on the part of the military authorities to despatch all
available men to Roumelia. In Poland this proceeding is
very marked, especially in those districts where, in the
event of a war with Austria, a rising would probably take
place among the Poles. These "discontented' Poles are all
sent to Caueasia.—Globe.

The Times' Berlin Correspondent says :—"There is a report
that torpedoes are being placed in the .Bosphorus."—Tbe
Berlin Ministerial Post says that Europe may hope that Ger-
many and Austria will not allow Russia to open the Darda-
nelles for her own men-of•war to the exclusion of others.

People in Paris are much agitated here about the erttry of
the British fleet into the Dardanelles. The general feeling
is becoming daily more opposed to Russia. Her reticent
attitude is construed very unfavourably, and it is asked
whether a Congress will actually he held to register settled
decisions, as the Czar seems to desire.—Times' Paris Corre-
spondent.

The Cologne Gazette affirms that if England and Austria
were to unite in common resistance to the Northern
aggressor, Germany, while still preserving its present neu-
trality, would make that neutrality purely conventional to-
wards RUFRia, and unquestionably " benevolent " towards
Austria. Even England and Austria united will not, how-
ever, the Gazette apprehends, be able to withhdld from Rus-
sia the unlawful gains which it has proposed to itself as
the outcome of the present war, without resistance in
arms.

In an address to the Berlin Reichstag Karl Blind upges the
representatives of the people to insist on Germany taking
part with Austria-Hungary and England in defence of the
interests of European security, freedom, and culture, as
against the dangerous aggression of the Czar.

The Greek Prime Minister on Monday explained in the
Chamber that the army had been withdrawn from the Turk-
ish provinces in consequence of the representations of the
Powers, that if Greece continued to act alone after the sig
nature of the armistice she would forfeit their protection.
TffHouse, after hearing the minister, passed to the order
of the day.

"I am told by a friend, who has just returned from
Denmark, that, if a war should break out between England
and Russia, the Danes will aide with the Russians. Their
reasoning is this. Germany will join Russia; if we join
England, or if we remain neutral, Germany will absorb Jut-
land, for England will not be able to send an army to defend
us against a German invasion. Therefore, much as we
dislike the Germans, necessity knows no law, and we must
subordinate our sympathies to our political exigencies."—
Truth.

Extra workmen were taken on at Woolwich Arsenal on
Monday, and in most of the departments there is unusual
activity. An Admiralty order was received at Chatham
urging the speedy completion of the war vessels at present
In the hands of the men at the Dockyard, and overtime
—which has not happened since the Crimean war—is being
worked. Advertisements have been issued at Plymouth for
artificers, who are guaranteed eight months' employment.
At Portsmouth there is extraordinary activity in the dock-
yard. Over 3,000 operatives are working overtime, and 500
extra workmen have been engaged since Saturday. Con-
siderable numbers of skilled and unskilled labourers are
still being entered, and all war vessels in hand are being
completed for service with all possible despatch, no financial
restriction being placed upon the dockyard authorities.