The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-10-28 00:00:00

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

The Times, on Monday, published the following
"orn. their Special Correspondent at Danilograd.
Oct 21
AA I reached the convent on the cliff opposite to the
citadel Of Spuez, I Leard cheers and the report of arms. I
hastened en. the church bells wern ringing and men
hurrying in as I gained the building Mtdun hia gurrended,
With 500 men, four cannons, and much ammunition. I can
learcely write for the uproar that is here.
The feast of Bairam is still I,eing celebrated. An attempt
Made last night by the Montenegrins to blow up the bridge
over the Moratchs, near Podgoritza, towards Spusz, suc-
ceeded very partially. The Turks withdrew last night into
thus evacuating Montenegrin territory. The.rain con-
eel the movement until it was almost completed, and then
Montenegrins took about thirty tents, six horses, and
killed five men.

The followinz is from The Times' Correspondent
With the Turkish Army :

THE TURKISH LINES BEFORE ALEXINATZ,
Thursday, Oct. 19.
k_.Jtuit now the Thrkleh army Is advancing to attack. It is
"I.ll'lAst seven o'clock, a.m. The battle has begun.
Noon.
„While in front only a sustained artillery fire was kept up,
TUrkish left wing attacked the Servian positions south
(11,..1)junta. The Servlans have been forced hitherto to with-
from several positions. Since early morning it has
rained incessantly. In spite of this the attack is being
Coktinued.

OCTOBER 20.
_ In spite of pouring rain, the Turkish attack against the
nervian right wing was continued yesterday afternoon, and
ended only at 6 p.m. Tim Turks took the Servian positions
between Karnik and Siljagevo. Wants itself remained in
the hands of the Bervlans on the Turkish front and right
if°thg. Towards the Moravia all batteries were firing, but the
nfantry fight was confined to small detachments. At 4 p.m. a
Turkish regiment of cavalry made with great skill a feint
attack against the tete- du Tont before Alexinatz, which fulfilled
its object of keeping in that direction considerable bodies of
t_3,ervian infantry. The attack is likely to be continued to-
°my. The losses seem to be considerable on both sides. The
Min has not abated.

OCTOBER 21.
Since eight o'clock this morning, at which hour Hafts and
Abdul Pasha opened fire against the Servian position
before Djtmis, a violent cannonade has been raging along the
line.
A. battery under Fazley Pasha approached and shelled
Alexinat z.

There was an Infantry encounter about ten o'clock near
Triop.
The maln attack on the very strong position before Djunis
Was reserved till afternoon.

In yesterday's battle the Turks captured la entrenchments,
Including four earthen redoubts.
There is a Prussian Staff Officer among the prisoners ;
end they allege that there were five Servian brigades engaged
/esterday.
This morning I visited the ambulance quarter, where there
rag much to be done. Three hundred wounded, brought
this morning only, were already attended to. The English
Ited Cron Ambulance has changed its previous unfavourable
Donition, and is now securely planted Milt opposite the
ei!aeoi3d. fire. This institution, in the opinion of all, has
a
own itself a pattern of true benevolence.
Aain and storm still.

ae following is also from the Special Correspondent
of Thc T1711C3

SEmLIN, Oct. 23, Evening.
aeln eye-witness who has just returned from the front states
eVening bY
baat the fight in the Morava valley commenced on Wednesday
a fire from four Turkish batteries on the Crevet
15•34ition- The Serviaus answered with one battery only.
Before daybreak on Thursday morning the Turks in great
lalaases made determined efforts to force the positions of
• ;510rYetevitch, which extended In a south-easterly direction
te,,e.ltbotit five miles from the heights above Djunis, on the
to 'Mari, on the south-east. Horvatovitch had an
Bettie
!Lvallable force of about 10,000 to 12,000 men. The
raged till after nightfall, and the Turks sue-
?eeded in driving Horvatovitch's forces step by step
iTeirtliwards, the most serious and successful assault
e Eng on his right wing, which was driven back
considerable distance. The losses on both sides
eowere
„ and the Turks displayed a determination and
which Horvatovitch said was unparalleled in his ex-
Their artillery was in great force, a heavy battery
• p7aced in front of Crevet, the left centre of the Servian
rdtion, while two half batteries fired in the same direction
11,‘Mi a hill on the east. Towards evening Tcheruayeff and
.d Staff rode over to Kaonik with reinforcemente, imoading
!...wo battalions of Russians. One of these was
te:evet, posted at
Which lies among hills. By this time the roads were
tlooked by the wounded on their way to Kaman. Early on
irldaY morning the Turks renewed the attack with fresh
ne,,rees, and planted a new battery south of Crevet, which was
e,.°l PlaYed upon by a triple fire Ihe Russc-Servian artillery
1111, outnumbered, and a portion of it was withdrawn to a low
t north-west of Siljegowatz, the village in which nerve-
'yitell had his headquarters. The Turks towards the close
Of th
b‘d `e
e ay effected a lodgment in a portion of Crevet which
been held during the day by a Russian battalion and a
tu,attalion of the Servian regular army. Some battalions of
82rvian Militia had not shown similar courage. For two
rYa the battle had now been hot and heavy without any very
„eeetslve result. On Friday night Tchereayt ff, in a council of
"ar, decided to evacuate Crevet, in spite of a contrary
i°Pillion on the part of Holvatoa itch. The latter had
th_atilayed his usual skill in rearceuvring his forces, and
p 4,1 Inade several flank attacks whice, with more ex-
erienced forces, might have had a different result; but
eee was also outnumbered. Tchernayeff spent the night
`'n a height above Djunis with Maj a• Peterson, who dis-
played great energy during the weole of the engagement.
Albout nine on Saturday morning the Turks took possession
t 0 Crevet and the adj scent hills with great cheering, and
et
),tßed dONVII the road leading towards Degowatz vine re-
itliatieas determination. At ten o'clock they set fire to
. 814 the smoke and flames marked the retreat of iryatovitch's right wing, wl'len'
Fentre, took
In the rear with the bulk of his
a fresh position north-west of Siljegowatz,
flushed of his farthest batteries. The Turks
ht.! m.„,w,itb, their suceesap'el.ernow attempted the
IrL 3 Creyet in the direction of the
Mote 'very terh heights, anti ehent midday matters looked
ais for the right wing et the Army Morava-General of the
Dnctourof, Chief of Tone...vire fair,
who returned the day before from the small affair near
Saitschar, led in person a reserved battalion of Russians
against the enemy, and drove them at the point of the
bayonet down the hill opposite Crevet. He displayed much
bravery and coolness under a a ithering fire, and averted a
disastrous defeat About twelve the Turks fired Siljegewatz,
Which, with lurid flame as each house successively caught
the tire, buret for several tenure. About three o'clock th
musketry firing gradually died away, the cannonading havir
been comparatively slight for some hours, owing to the clo,
quarters of the contending forces.
The Russo-Servlan losses were about I,EOO killed 5d
wounded, and the Turks, as they were the attacking petY
and constantly brought fresh forces, are supposed to ive
lost more. The tnew !position of Ithe Russo-Servian svnY
extends from the low hill on the south of the Kruchgatz
roa i on their right to the great hill opposite Djunia eothe
left, the centre being thrown back considerably on a intle
tioVng elevation north-west of Kaonik.
Whether the reverse prove decisive depends litre on
the temper of the troops. The new petitions, if hel(reao-
luttly, may render the battle of ailjegowatz less diptrous
tan some less sanguinary successes, the helghtsabove
l)Junis on the lett being very strong, aid batteries hog in
such a position as to sweep the glacis .11 front, wbh has
been cleared of trees, and also able to dyed t a hemoress-
fire on forces attacking the centre, which naturalita leas
Strong.

The Nord (Brussels, Oct. 23), publibes the glowing
telegram :

'Vienna,ht. 22_
"The Russian AmbassaCor at Constantiople h received
tsistructions to insist upon a six weeksArmistte, and to
entail' to the Ottoman Government the iotives Nbich pre.
tent Russia from acquiescing in the prove' of en Annuifee
icr six months.
"It Is believed here that General Igntleff's represents.
tons to the Porte will be very moderate,md sill not have
the character of an ultimatum.
"There ls serious ground for believing tat tilt other five
Great Powers support the Russian propod. f•ervta and
kontenegro having declared that they woui acce)t nothing
bat an Armistice of six weeks, or at the Most tw) months.
"The rumour published by some journalthat the idea of
a collective mediation of the Powers has beenow abandoned
at the least, premature."

Intelligence received at Bucharest from Ctstantinople to
Slut 2lst inst, states that at the meeting of 43 Ambassadors
at the residence of General Ignatieff, the lanr pointed out
the necessity €1 allaying the feverish excitnent of public
oDinion in Russia by obtaining certain indisinsable conces-
sions from the Porte. Russia insists—first, aan Armistice
of six weeks' duration ; secondly, upon le grAnting of
thirdlautonomy to Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Itlgaria ; and,
Th Y. upon guarantees for the execution t the reforms.
, e Russian Ambassador declared that ta concessions
trivolved In the first point should be obtainer immediately,
T, as regards the two remaining ones itrould devolve
Zpon a conference of the Powers, at which' Tuley would not
~.,'"e_,rePresented, to define the meauinkol the wozls autonomy
"`uu guarantees.

tThe Ultimatum presented to the Porte by Blida consists
tlttantiallY of the following three points ;-I.An uncondi-
ue al armistice of six weeks' duration' 2. Aministrative
sulton
°IOY in Bulgaria, Bosnia, and fierzegoina ; 3. The
jerYing into arca of the reforms under the spervision of
;," o ,u4,l_l7eltsioners to be named by the Great Pow', who are
e protected by an armed foreign force rom 31ussul-
ken. fanaticism.

The Pall Mall Gazette of Wednesday gives he following
!Pedal telegram : 'Berlin, Wednesday. —Thetssent of the
xerte to the Russian propoial of a six weeks' arsintice is now_
considered assured mt
. The Russian Governcnas deferred cornrnunicating to the Powers Its latest terms pepozed to the
Pdrte, in compliance with established diplotatic usage,
until atter General Ignatittre first audience c the present
Sultan. Fresh negotiations are now about to ,onzence'
The
intelligence is confirmed that Russia has proposetthe holding
ot a Congress for the settlement of the EW,en Qtleati°l3'
accompanied by
represented." the stipulation that the Porte ball not be

Complete isolation of Great-Britain is not likely, the Golos
says, to make Russia withdraw the programme finally
adopted by her. Russia, strengthened by England's isola-
tion, ought, on the contrary, to speak more and more ener-
getically, and thus induce Europe to recognise the fact that
military occupation is the sole means of getting out of the
dil:mma In which the policy of Lord Beaconsfield has placed
the European Powers.
The Brimn Correspondent of 2he Times writes :—"When
the Berlin Gazette a few days ago published the text of the
Ruttean despatch announcing Prince Gortchaketf's return to
the Elliott programme, this was regarded as a sign that the
German Government were anxious to piece Russia's adhesion
to a pacific policy on record. But lilt should be true that
General Ignatleff is going to offer military assistance to the
Porte for the better carrying through of the Elliot re-
form programme, the formal enactment of her last pacific
move has had no power to restrain Russia from reverting
to a bellicose policy. With her finances disorganized by
the mere apprehension of troublous times, with her un-
educated millions little fit to cope with European armies in
the present state of the military art, Russia has more to lose
by war than she can hope to gain by pursuing the dream of
military omnipotence, and reducing more civilised neigh-
bours to an intolerable position. The division and forbear-
ance of the Powers have thus far enabled her to advance
one claim after the other, and by the mere assumption of a
military attitude to exact much ef what she could have hoped
to obtain by a successful campaign. These threatening
tactics having hitherto answered so well, not a few regard
the new Ignatteff mission as another experiment in the
same line. However, it is a dangerous experiment now that
Austria and England, wearied by useless attempts at media-
tion, have signified an intention to leave Russia to herself,
and protect their own interests in ca e of need. Were a
new extreme demand raised by the Russian and refused by
the Turk, Prince Gortchakoff, so indefatigable in the pursuit
of a receding adversary, would be placed before the alterna-
tive of acting up to his threats or of appealing for renewed
diplomatic assistance to those whose patience is getting
exhausted."

The Permanent Committee of the Skupischina has for
warded the following address to General Tchernayeff
"Few men fight for a principle or for an idea Great cha-
racters are scarce, and ought therefore to be all the more
appreciated by nations when they do exist. Those who
neglect this are unworthy to prosper, and a society whence
the sense of honour is banished must infallibly perish. The
undersigned cannot remain indifferent, General, to your
heroic efforts and to your boundless devotedness. Your past
is known. You have accomplished much, but your present
services will give still greater brilliancy to your glory. It
was at the most terrible and most dangerous moment for us
that you came to oar assistance from a sister country. You
are the hero of the drama which isunfolding itself in the midst
of the indifference of Europe, which appears to ignore our
sufferings. The fight which you have commenced is a holy
struggle, for it is undertaken in the interests of humanity.
We have confidence in our Prince. He has known how to
appreciate us. We have faith in the Servian people, which
will shed the last drop of its blood in the national cause. Our
country will ever retain for you a profound admiration, a
sincere gratitude, and your name will henceforth remain
attached to its destinies.

The Prussian Correspondent of The Times sends over the
following items from Berlin : —" The same Russian parties
who gave out that the Grand Duke Cesarewitch contem-
plated a journey to London and Paris now represent the
report as unfounded —The Moscow Gazette advises the
Russian Gdvernment to issue lettres de marque against Eng-
land in case of war. As to the prohibition of lettres de
marque agreed upon in the Paris Treaty, the Moscow Gazette
disposes of the engagement by' the remark that Treaties
cease to be valid in war; and as it might be urged by some
that this particular Treaty was concluded for the very pur-
pose of coming into force in war, the Gazette adds that no
Treaties can be morally binding unless equally advantageous
to all parties concerned.--The financial panic increasing
at St. Petersburg and causing immense losses, the Russian
Exchange Gazette, to comfort its readers, reminds them that
Napoleon the First won his Italian battles though his
soldiers had neither shoes nor bread."