The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-26 00:00:00

SATURDAY, JAN. 26, 1878.

WAR NEWS.

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774 Times of Monday publishes the following from their
oPecial Correspondent at Pera, under date Jan.lB :
" ParHanle& yesterday, at the request of the Grand
vizier, appointed a Committee of Defence for Con-
stantinople in case defence should be necessary. The
Sultan also specially invited the President and pro-
minent Deputies to a special Council at the Seraskie-
!ate, and told them he had appealed to all Osmanlis to
Join, if necessary, in the defence of the capital. He
declared reform impossible during the war, but pro-
mised to put himself at the head of the Reform Party
on the re-establishmeut of peace.
JANUARY O.
"Adrianople has been evacuated in perfect order
and the Russians are in possession of the town. All
available troops are being hurried to the front for the
defence, if necessary, of Constantinople. Before the
evacuation of Adrianople the Turks destroyed the
I)owder magazine and the old seraglio. Nearly all the
'ilussulnaanr fled, and the few who remained took re-
ef in Christian houses for fear of the Bulgarians.
R
,nges are still arrivin by hundreds in Constanti-
r,"„°Ple. The Compassionate Fund spends MO daily
Sclup and bread alone, and there is danger of their
""liaing short of money."

CONSTANTINOPLE, Jan. 20.
Tutil, official statement published to-day, says that
KeY 18 still possessed of means of defence. The
under Suleiman Pasha is composed of the divi-
rl,B of Fuad Osman' Kouri, Sabit, and Redjeb
~,a'l43-s, and they are forming imposing forces, which
Ze concentrated at Drama, to the south of the rail-
Adrianople. In addition to these there is the
p",!„ of Eyoub Pasha, which is stationed in the
—.44uY of the latter town.

ST. PETERSBURG, JAN. 22.
b 411 °facial dispatch, dated Kezanlik, 19th inst., has
o!oer, received here, giving further details of General
8 movements and his engagements with the
thel'eY from the 15th to the 18th inst., and announcing
1i)44 the Turks have been finally driven into the
EeBn_l3°t° Dagh, or Rhodope Mountains, to the rear of
491142,10 and Laskowo, with the loss of 4,000 killed and
811„ ns• The number of prisoners taken by the Rus
IV to the dispatch of the telegram was 3,000. It
added that General Gourko's troop, are advancing
ki all sides:

RUSSIAN HEADVARTERS, SEZANLIK, Jan. 20.
th%lieral Strukoff reports from Mustapha Pasha on
v2,l9th inst. that a constantly increasing panic pre-
gLied at Adrianople. The Turkish governor and the
ria'B, on had withdrawn, after blowing up the powder
laeZakzi, he and ammunition depots. General Strukoff
i
the explosion from his headquarters. A tire,
aft,'"".Paned by disturbances, broke out in the city
(lie the departure of the troops, and five persons of
tilt,`,l.elat nationalities came to General Strukoff,
crtul'ing him to hasten to Adrianople to restore

VIENNA, JAN. 21, Evening.
e Political Correspondence publishes the following
siitatell from Constantinople of yesterday's date :
t,64.4e Porte claims to have information to the effect
atil;the Russians will reach Gallipoli from Adrianople
latest on the 25th or 26th inst. In diplomatic
"es, however, this news is regarded as premature."

ST. PETERSBURG, JAN. 23.
4111112 Journal de St. Petersbourg of to-day pub-
ill; an article which says :
tile? edtately on receipt of the first telegram intimating
hbveorte,, desire to enter into negotiations, we warned the
heeau !_
seagainst exaggerated optimist expectations of peace,
evs the sincerity of the Porte's desire for peace did not
kitnito us to be sufficiently proved. The despatches pub-
n the British Blue-book confirm our view. The Porte's
the i;Y,e was prompted by Lord Derby, not in order to offer
tthe,',lgerents ground on which they might approach eachtte but to enable England from the outset to interfere in
ilipoucgotiations. It is right that this unprecedented
ke4d.raatic inanceuvre should be brought to the notice of all
cf Peace.
be 6 article then points out that an armistice can only
ilkeerltcluded after an agreement has been arrived at
X tile Peace preliminaries, and continues :
eout the British Cabinet declares that it would only re-
ktecf.- a piece in the conclusion of which Europe partici-
ligtet It follows from this that even in face of the Porte a
l'erie,slire the peace preliminaries would be worthless, the
IP Inn ii.a3sent not being binding because Europe might
This situation is still further aggravated by the
4tatei:nten of the British Government that it would await
Drete,3,B conditions before demanding a credit. Thus, if the
Saer" attempt fails, the attitude of England would again
'44 ,aa armistice and peace impossible and plunge the
cliterO.Lo fatal complications. We are, however, far from
41mthe ;Ting the idea that the British Cabinet desires this,
ottrtl— to every sincere and impartial observer the cogeny
aikto it
is.ar,nguments will be manifest. Europe must judge,
trib ...ecessary that in the public conscience and before
-44 re Ofdaal of history everybody should bear their proper
• responsibility.

_
The p
°The aris Correspondent of the Standard says :
ka jr,p ~
ews teleraphed from Constantinople, that
Popei-:-1,4, has called to arms the whole of the Ottoman
has given rise to a belief that the nego-
the ?I's fpr an armistice have broken down and that
esaur ussians are marching on the capital. I, am
tiee,.ed that in a conversation with a foreigner of dis-
th4t,aori
41_ at St. Petersburg the Czar candidly stated
had '46 naaomitude of the sacrifices the war
cesaa
Bentailed eon his people and the great sue-
t° rei. caf his armies made it impossible for him
aceehs,' content with the conditions he would have
before the commencement of hostilities. His
he IZ°,,tYi% further reported to have pointed out that
thlt„ t athe auPport Of a staunch and powerful ally;
b`cat 1,- wag convinced of the isolation of England ;
'Alroi-7,,ralioe could not move, and that the rest of
4410%101d allow Russia to deal with Turkey and
- '"e Eastern question without interference."
Di
ktl rhe ails Correspondent of the Standdird_y s s
eitea °ccupation of Adrianople by the RtaissiLTs
. if grave suspicions here. The Francatse says
7ace be not speedily concluded the Russian
id""1, rio to doubt, march on to Constantinople. It
kCera that the moment has now arrived for Russia
larld°w_,whether she will respect the interests of Eng-
I44pitallu -Austria. The Estalette points out that the
t 1/41,18 oi Turkey is now at the mercy of the Russians.
'l/440,-8 Will they resolve to enter it before making
their conditions of peace? The temptation is
!11, ightt"bg cne, but the march on to Constantinople_
L4,the e 000 of the unforseen circumstances spoken of
‘te a (c?uccu's Speech, and might force England to
ecisive step.' "
The c
')pecial Correspondent of the Daily Telegraph,
getell tr°l3a Pera on
Tuesday, says :—" It is believed
kalz ", 'at the Russians have no intention whatever to
(31it' Peace at either Kesanlik or Adrianople, but will
tilei:4l.l° the Pcurparlers in order to gain time while
Itat, otin'f(le,e4 Press forward to Gallipoli and Con-
-It7ital;Phle• In the case of the movement on this
Itctible e gravest dangers are to be apprehended.
lq is hand bloodshed are regarded as inevitable.
si hoped that England
0,, ..e, 4.1.. will impress upon
tim, this '''''at she can gain nothing by marching
h'Neth_ citY that may not be
.secured by
kins at Kesanlik. The Turkish
.Delegateso
teliheo'ci Powers to treat for peace, and there is no
tl:hats °f anY obstacles being raised at the Forte
they may accept I am, indeed, informed'
to-4 44,et:Jelegates have been 'directed to
.make peace
b,-14'fil.M8, rather than allow the Russians to come
,/t3"4lltinople. English intervention at this
et to ght be based on the desire to save life,
EiLhe
tt-lLreyent the fearful scenes which must ensue
VAG-B'4o armies continue to approach this city.
h2lifealtlita of the disorders to be feared are already
_cli)itta'lg them selves. All yesterday inflammatory
ano,land pamphlets were distributed throughout
which, it is feared, are portents of the most
Z character.
obi -uh r,
ii'e hme ;_°oquest of Turkey is proceeding. Adrian-
al,e, ia thoeet,
taken, and nowhere, so far as we can
illelAnkift`e any suspension of the war. In short, the
ke, (44e 3' which was to have made it incumbent on
k 01 , en to prenare to take measures of precaution
Ilect.fgeara : 'hostilities' are 'unfortunately pro-
, ---'londay's Pall Mall Gazette.
(P" St• 13 ------
totpet szt__ etersburg correspondent of
in
Eastern
Valle 0,841% though opinions are divided n Russia as
ia t
the question of the Straits must __
Nu
, k,
eci Nl_ !rableness of making further conquests, all '1 d
be
4
"e tlav-',eu a manner as to admit of the extension
14' Power of the Empire.
I:I hal,
Ar,Dti week° ,I?ecti asked by fifty people, during the
.°°w far Adrianople is from (:,'onsan l-
attl4te n 18145 miles as the crow flies. The inter-
-043* I,cluntry is a 'desolate one, and a Russian
,bardly advance at a quicker rate than
tailes per diem."—Truth.
tlZhe p° rte
tha „it is,._e has informed the English Government
litapt:k:Go.ikje:aarreyd._t_ovgiii:eitthe necessary permission for
' 150 44 Peet to pass the Dardanelles should that
g Fair.
§i:,o 3,,Xlin correspondent of The Times says :—" I
itt4t troll: re G-:_,
,Nred intelligence from St. Petersburg,
kes,rath, tr" a source as leaves no room to doubt of
i ktrii:e dirleathe Emperor of Russia has received a
Z r ctt from
Queen Victoria, interceding for
thlttriousall'l Buggesting that he should stay his
The news has produced a most
' :Itl'°l-11.41341°111110aieps;ession in the Russian capital."
Vkt,„broltetil'g to telegrams from Athens an insurrection
:41,•tel3ort, in Thessaly. Five hundred insuspents
, %lire Izitza e‘-'_, tube concentrated between the villages
.r tit
--ark°. Pinacotes' near Velo' and to have cal,- -.11 :y of
arms. The Turks took to flight,
es
, 141 luselvin the f rtress of Velo.
s
tt44Z(l II tto -------:2------
!erl,, ce,aid Lti has been requested to state how many
Spared V }re flu i ri; Ptazicrl f roems e lndia
neiancr home.asof an
his
enter
'°ooleballen4o stated in case of
re
presence
f a war against Russia
' the ]Nti,ght easily and rapidly be raised from
" ,inedans of India.— Vanity Fair.

2:4e T.
t„,inll°Nt,"l,o4rtle°l
t1811115;a4a iitlli
a falye'
. IR frorn th,
fro,"the /1
,-----
13 -4
.1,11"4.413a at Adrianople are just ten marches
c tild a'orp°ll •
, ~ we, at the most liberal computation,
inZ: of itlaen. it under thirty-five days. S 9 we are
-
ph,f140,1, as the saying is, Con
and may consider
_.
Practically lost. The lines of Gallipoli
llll,atlc;eYed at year by competent English officers,
Th4turally so strong that they might have been
jilc'et S. f ew British re iments against all corners.
z,Oeerl3llrse there were n- ilt
o British regiments to spare
kyVilld liow the Eastern Question is settled '
kis,.l4ert,
NI:13111d
_Jatinople really be naena&eldd
le
tilleg4lartiOliabvte g 8 recall allth
e remaining
forts of theQuadrila•

--
stantinople Correspondent says that
Queen's Speech disappointed the
cted something much more warlike.
may again help to extinguish the war
S presented to the Sultan and his
light, and they are still told to hope
ie Parliamentary debates.

terra to rely on their own resources. Desperate efforts
would also be made to drill the whole effective popula-
tion of Constantinople, which has hithertosuffered less
than some other places from the general enlistment.
Thus the Turks would be able to organise a force amply
sufficient to defend the line of works running from the
Sea of Marmora to the Black Sea. Lakes, hills, and
valleys have there placed a great natural barrier across
the peninsula which runs up to Constantinople.
Foreign engineers have again and again furnished
plans for the fortification of the line; and, indeed,
so many are its natural advantages that it would be
easy to make it another Torres Vedras. At each end
is the sea, ,commanded by the Turkish ironclads ;
across the peninsula would run line after line of works
far more formidable than those of Plevna ; and the
capital itself could be fed by means of the Dardanelles
and the Bosphorus. Thus Constantinople might bid
defiance to the whole power of Russia if it were held
by any European race. Nay, eve -a the Turks, shift-
less, beaten, and dispirited as they are, could still, if
they cared to put forth all their remaining strength,
make such a defence as the Russians would do well not
to provoke. Constantinople could never be captured
without nne of the greatest sieges recorded in history
if it were defended with anything like the energy dis-
played by Osman Pasha. We may trust, however,
that the Russians will have no excus- for coming near
to a point which awakens so many European as well as
Turkish susceptibilities."—Leader in The Times.

The Correspondent of The Ttmes, writing from
Sinanitza, Jan. 19, says :—" Theta are thousands of
carts waiting here with stores of every kind, but
lying in all directions, in disorder and filth. There is
no idea of sanitary arrangements. Sick and dying
soldiers, hucksters, swarms of Roumanian and Bul-
garian cattle-drivers, gipsies, Jews, Turks, pigs, dogs,
• live and dead cattle—all show what must be the result
in this small town, with no provision for carrying off
the superfluous sewage or for the wants of this
enormous population; and as it is here so it must be
in every other depot, though not to the same extent.

The Government not being able to transport the
contractors' goods across the river according to the
conditions stipulated are obliged to reimburse the
contractors the cost of the detention of their carts and
people here, and this amounts to some hundreds of
thousands of roubles daily."

A telegram from St. Petersburg says the Agence
33e ou Monday evening again called attentiou to
what it terms the contradictory attitude of the
English Cabinet in denying Russia's right to treat
directly ivith the Porte upon the preliminary condi-
tions of peace, and at the same time awaiting those
very conditions to determine the amount of the vote
which it proposes to ask from Parliament. "These
reservations," proceeds the Agence, "nullify in ad-
vance the basis of peace. Now, without the basis of
peace an armistice is impossible, and if there be no
armistice the war will be continued and peace will be
more distant than ever. The responsibility for such a
check to the attempt at pacification recoils upon
England."

"A private letter from Philippopolis gives an ab-
solutely appalling account of the state of the fugitives,
describing mothers, mad from fear, throwing their
children out of the carriage windows. One mother
deliberately killed three children to save them from
suffering, People so overcrowd the roofs of carriages
that numbers fall off and are crushed beneath the
wheels. There are sick wounded at Matzka who have
been mutilated, though whether by Russians or Bul-
garians is not known. Major de Winton, as repre-
sentative of the Turkish Compassionate Fund, is
working indefatigably t 9 relieve the sufferers on their
arrival here. The English Ambassador is also actively
engaged, hence the money, which is sorely needed, is
sure to be well employed."--Constantinople Corre-
pondent of The Tinies.

The Bujuk-Tchekmedj e lines on the land side of Con-
stantinople, and twenty-five miles to the west of it,
comprise thirty large redoubts and twenty-four
smaller ones; the former are armed with eight or ten,
the latter with four Krupp guns each. Most of these
guns are already in position. The fortifications are
considered to be impregnable with 50,000 men to de-
fend them.— Vanity Fair.

Advices from Berlin to The Times state that Prince
Augustus of Wiirtemberg, Commander of the Prussian
Guards, speaking in the name of his corps has con-
gratulated the Emperor Alexander on the success of
the Russian Guards in the Turkish campaign. The
Emperor Alexander, in his reply to the Prince of
Wiirtemberg, says :—" The sentiments you express
are a fresh proof of the spmpathetic and truly fraternal
relations so long existing between the Prussian and
Russian Armies. I cordially thank your Highness
and the Prussian Guards for your gratifying com-
munication."

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