The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1878-01-01 00:00:00

KNOLAND.II POLICY.

So far is appears from the present attita le of other
Powers, we have to choose between these two
alternatives. If Russia decide* upon marching to
Conetantinople, to gratify popular feeling, or for any
other reason, and we decide upon opposing her we
shall bare to do so single-handed—a heroic policy,
sad one to which the spirit of the country Is
undoubtedly equal, but much more wetly and
pregnant with hazard than if we opposed her in
conjunction with a/b• If, on the other hand, if we
bide our time potion:ly' even againot the of
Russia in actual possession of Constantino le, we may
rely upon the rapport of Germany and AIWA& in
insisting on its evacuation, if the Russians do not
march out again of their owu accord. Between these
alternatives we may have to choose, and there can be
little doubt which is most worthy of a nation which
ombinee resolution with sagacity.—---,

We hear of no a—cii.e openrico-n; at the seat of war
except those in which the Servians are conoernei
They claim to have had some successes; while on the
other hand they have been repulsed in two or three
places, and their attempt to turn Novi Raw, and so
to gain the Balkans, has been defeated. A protest
from Prince Wrede, who represents Austria at
Belgrade, against any operations which would affect
the interests of Austria as a frontier Power, has
received for reply that instructions have been Dent to
offensive acte:nolithn ethperi" corps
to
direction ortsjaBre from
any
cannonade is still continued in the Schipke Pam
1 A Russian steamer is reported to have captured a
, Turkish vessel, having on board a regiment of seven
hundred men, with its offi in the licephortui, and
to have conveyed its prise to poL
Eight English officers who were sent to Turkey by
the Government have been ordered to join General
Baker, without delay.
There appears to be no chance whatever that peace
will be established between Amnia and Turkey foe
some time to come At the present moment inter.
ferenoe would be regarded as intervention, only one of
the belligerents having asked the Great Powers to me
their Min moo to stop the war. It lathe misfortune
of England that both in Turkey and Russia the po/loy
of the Government is looked upon with euspicion and
distrust. In Constantinople it is felt that we have
tailed to fulfil them obligatiom with regard to &WV'S,
which were eelf.impossed upon the country at the time
when the revolutionary province was placed at the
mercy of the Porte, and in Bt. Petersburg an animus
mists against Great Britian which almost amounts to
deadly hate. Under such circumstance' it is by no
means that the meeting of Parliament is
awaitediu=sty. The general impression appears
to be that Lord Bessiondield will propose to open up
negociations with Russia in the hoped bringing about
a pacific solution of the difficulty. Should the Czar
consent to treat with the Porte, the mediation of
England may be accepted. There can be no doubt
that the position in which Turkey is now placed is an
extremely critical one. It is computed that at least
one hundred thousand men have been elan, and It is
stated that an equal number of her soldiers have been
taken prisoners. Nioney is also more scarce than ever,
and, notwithstanding the sacrifices made by private
Individuals, the difficulty of keeping an army in the
Aoki is almost insurmountable, On the °thorium%
entiumiensi in Ramis is on the incase% and the re-
mem al the oxistry, balk as Muds am sod

money. are imeshanoted. The reception of the Cur
In St- Petersburg was of a most cordial description,
and the assertion that Ris Majesty had saK in refer
once to the war, that "the thing mast be arried out
to the end," has been confirmed up oo incontrovertible
authority. The movements of the Bataan, in PM-
junction with the Servians also tend to show that the
oamoahrn is likely to continue for an indefinite Period.
The Balkans will be crossed, Adrainople will probably
c
be invested. and unless the Great Powers should
Intervene, the lineman flag may yet float from a
minaret over the capital of the Ottoman Empire
The Russian looses have been heavy—they had reached
80.1. Z men on Christmas Day—hut those of the Turks
coast have been burl w, the number of nriomers taken
by the Russians numbering more than 00.000.
The Barrier's have taken Ptrot after two days hard
fighting. This is another st•ge on the retd to Sofia, from
which Pivot is 45 mike distant The repulse of the
Servisas before IPtrot was erroneously announced by the
Turks. Tbe attack Ivan on Thursday and led to • ••••••
eassroment rooted the Turkish redoubta situated on the
left beak of the Niagara. On Friday the last of the
defensive works woe takes, and the Sorriest mitered
PlrtS. capturing Pa gum. 1.000 rifles and • large quantity
of ammunition and war materiaL
According to telegrams from Belgrade, the Turkish
garrison of Nisch appears inclined to surrenderg,:alotis-
time for a capituaition having actually been 0.
• Cation:Alpo* telegram announces that in cense-
quence of the approach of the Rownalts to Soda, the
authorities have ordered the civil population to leave the

The weather in the Zeroed Balkans has improved. and
fighting has recommenced on • limited suet
The &miens are making more progress bed ore
Kraeroum titan any reader would be able to collect from
the telegrams which have passed the Turkish crasorship
in that town. We publish this morning • telegram front
Brasroum, dated Christmas Day, from • source ou which
the fullest reliance may be placed. Tim 'niter We thet
the Rumbles were at that date investing the town, that
everything was coins badly with the Turkish army, and
that "all seemed last." Too much should not be inferred
from the silence of the Russians regarding their oPers-
tiona.

The Porte has recalled MuWater Path.
The Ruwians have attacked Hobart Pacha's squadron at
Bedouin with torpedoes
The extraordinary capture of &Turkish steam transport
in the Black Sea, aa to which so much incredibility bat
been dieplayed, is abundantly confirmed. In a deePatch
from Coostaatioopte It et statad that tha cargo of the
Mesialna was worth E 200.000, much of which wee in
Rada _