The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1878-04-30 00:00:00

THE WAR.

TI PROSF.Zer,

Cheering news Is wri .crrcua—,..;.l in Vienna, bat the
Stamford Correspondent says it finds very little accep-
tance. The Austrian Ministry have begun to see that
they must form • plan of some sort, but it is becoming
evident to them that though she roar be neutral Austria
cannot be still The renewed military activity of Berri.
has not escaped observation, and Austria wants to know
against whom these preparations are being made. Our
Correspondent Iselieves that the occupation of Bosnia is
imminent. The Poidiced Correspondence publishes& letter
from St. Petersburg, which purports to give an account of
the recent negotiations respecting the withdrawal of the
array anti the fleet, and states that altar Ragland assented
to the proposal her 6 trernment raised a new difficulty by
suddenly claiming that the fleet should not have to retire
Irons not the Dardanelles, as cobtrary weather and
the difficulties attending the passage of the Straits
must require more time than was at first contemplated.
11., Berlin it is rumoured that Russia is inclined to make
some further concessions to the British objections, and it
Ls added that for about a month there have existed the
most friendly relations between the English and German
Government, The A genet Reser. too, contradicte the
awtertion that German mediation had ended and declares
that that action bad attained its object by smoothing the
way to the exchange of views between the Cabinet.
which Is now proceeding Some rumours are afloat on the
Continent that an English ironclad squadron was being
fitted out for service in the Baltic. The North Gressaa
&tette. regarding this news rat authentic, and without
con-idering what could possibly be the operation. of such
a fleet, expresses the opinion that the devateh ‘•( such an
expedition to a place where many hitherto neutral
intends might be affected, would render the situation
Immeasurably more contalicated.
I bear by every mail from Constantinople of the
most dreadful atrocities committed by the Bulgarians
under Russian protection, and by the /Gulden com-
manders themselves, upon the Jlussulatan population
of the occupied districts of Turkey. No man's life
and no woman's honour is safe from the "high and
holy" missionaries, and as for the property of the
Mussulmans, they have already seized it all and do
with it as they will The unfortunate Turks who have
fled, will find their homes wicked when they return, if
ever they do return, and thee who have been unable
to fly are treated In a way which would pan. all belief
were it not evidenced by undoubted testimony. But
It is not only the Turks who are victims of [Zambia
and Bulgarian oppression. A systematic persecution,
after the manner ,d that long carried on in Poland,
has been commenced against the Jews, the Greeks,
and all who do not bel 'no or will not profane to belong
to the schismatic Greek-Bulgarian church. The facts
are, I believe, well known to the English Government,
at any rate they are well-known to the correspondents
of the English newspapers in Turkey; but not one of
them has " taken up" the matter, for there is • tacit
agreement among all the correepondenta, based to a
large extent upon instructions from home, that
Russian and Bulgarian atrocities are not of any
moment, and that the Turk lathe only creature whom
It is allowable to bring to book. Nevertheless, lam
Informed that the cruelties committed in the name of
the latter by Circassians, and Baahi-Basouks, are as
nothing, either in number or in horror, as compared
with those committed by the former themselves, in
the name of the high and holy mission. Will the
Government not publish the marts they have on the
sah,ject f—Vaeity Pair.
RIIIISIAI NAVAL DIVIEWCIII.—The ceiling-up of
4,000 fr.!, ...men Is, we learn, causing, graet stir in
naval circles at St. Petersburg. Plans are being pre.
pared by the Finegan Government for the formation
of three powerful squadrons. One of these, consisting
of the strongest frigates, and reinforced by the steamers
which Russia is on the point of purchasing in America,
will be despatched In May to cruise In the North Sea I
to a second, comprising eight or nine somewhat
obsolete ironclad'. will be assigned the duty of crubing
strut the Baltic; while the third, composed of 11
small montrwos an a large number of gunboat sand
torpea,,,,..els, will be dispersed between Crotistadt,
Sweaborg. and Riga. The defensive operations of the
"Inshore squadron" will be waged almost exclusively
with the torpedo.— Whifeheg Review

PRIZARATIIMII.

During the nest .t-W73"tii-o-nilis an ,unusnally largi
number of men-of war will be out of the hands of the
dockyard authorities. The fronclads Hercules,
Triumph. Monarch, Invincible, Penelope, and Iron
Duke, all of which have been under repair for some
thus past, are almost ready for the pennant and
available for ocean vervice, while One new broadside
ship, the Northampton, at Chatham, will prohuhly
be commusioned Inc few days. A turret-vessel, the
Dreadnought, is also on the eve of being finished,
thus putting at our disposal two of this formidable
dare, for the Thunderer is just now lying at Spithosa
awaiting sailing orders. Besides this formidable naval
force, most of the ships recently purchased by ,
Government are in an advanced state. One of them
,
the Orion. is still on the stocks at Poolar frit
others will all be fit for ma by June. The Bellehda,
indeed, is so nearly finished that she will go out of
dock next month. and the Neptune, which was in a
very complete condition when purchased from Me
Brazilian Government, will not be long after the
Bellehls. The other battle-obi , the Superb which
Is being fitted as • flatablp at Chatham, ma, If Dims.
eery, be got ready by Midsummer. Ten ocean-going
iroadads, therefore, and tart fermi/aide tweet vessels
will represent the active addition to the British navy
during the next few months, or, in other words, five
or six milli ms of ficating property. They will not all
be available, however, _for home or particular service.
The Monarch Is ordered to the Mediterranean to
relieve the Sultan, whose boilers have been in an rin-
rendition for some time pest. The In-
vtocabsidataletSo gene to strengthen Admiral Hareby's
command. rice tbe Hotspur ironclad ram, just returned
bylthi,mitetry. A third ironclad, the Triumph, goes
:pehtp tb• Pacific, while • fourth will probably
John Hay's command in place of eho
• -ved to Jodie. Nevertheless, these will
ilbannoe, cede. "Kb left to form two formidable
isigeuadstt:Zassisow
pr.d"' -bs to troctieti to the Eleatic and
er the protection of our
another to remain at • hove
acres, for Nokias the fronded/a. e., enfimr".4Care
have several unarmoured ships fitting
-vains and
are the Isis. Meal despatem reseal, the g 1,,• aod
Bacchanal Mews end the corvettes 34,06.
Emerald.
It Is rebrisHl assommood lb. Gesia Dolls Nti=who
hes been raised to the risk of Meld Manisa hie
been recalled to St Prearebms ea account still beam..
He will he sooseeded by Opera Tediebea.
The reviser of Roesisa traps which was be ham team
place to vat San Sidasse baa bees ladellaitaiy pee.
posed.
seasoemeato with the Liars ere reported hese
=et Geed lisps, sad distention ppm tobe