The Portland daily press., 1877-12-31

Note-Similar reports in circulation in Lon,
don have recently been denied from st. Peters
burg
Tbs Post publishes the following ia an official
form:
We are sorry to gather that there is little
prospect of Engiand's offers of mediation being
accepted at st. Petersburg Russia seems dis.
posed to rely on the possibility of engaging the
Porte in direct negotiation.
The Times Paris correspondent says the ex-
aggerated construction at first placed on the
mission undertaken by England caused some
anxiety Yesterday lsst she should be drawn into
war. Happily it is known tonight that Eng.
land simply accepted the mission of sounding
Russia as to whether she would accept the pa
citic overtures to be made by Turkey.
Daily News Bucharest states that intelligence
has been received that the bridge at Petrehen.
the last which remained across the Danube, has
been carried away. Boats occasionally cross,
but the passage is hazardous and several per-
sons have already been drowned.
A special TO the Daily News from Plymouth
reports the whole channel feet and all COM
missioned ships under repair are ordered ready
for sea by January 16.
CoNsTANTINoPLE, Dec 30.-A despatch says
that Austria in reply to the Turkish circular,
reserves its right to intervene on the opening of
peace negotiations as guaranteeing and from
tier power.
The Russians are approaching Sophia and
have ordered the Inhabitants to leave.
Mdkhtar Pasha has left Erzeroum. One &C.
count states he has been recalled to Constanti-
nople Another that he has taken command of
the small force in the field, with which he will
endeavor TO keep his communications opeu
Osmael Baki Pasha is in command of Erze-
roum. The Russians have suspended the con-
ceDtrat1on OF troops against that place on ao-
count Of snow, They were making roads by
tunneliug through the snow.
NEW YORK, Dec 30.-A special cable from
bay 4, T..
momentarily Increasing in influence and num-
bers. Russophiles are constantly using effol ts
toward the organization of liberal associations
and quite active IN passing resolutions in favor
OF peace, but the arrogance of Russia toward
the suffering Turks and the extreme GOODNESS
displayed by Germany is extremely exasperat-
lug to the majority of Englshmen, The result
Is determined increase of the W ar party and a
general expectation that England will be
brought into war with Russia early in the COM
ing spring. Eighty thousand native troops and
10000 English regulars have already been or
dered to be in readiness to march at short no.
tce from India for Egypt aud Turkey 1t is
believed that $4,000 British troops at Batoum
in alliance with the Turks with money and
arms to distribute, would raise storm which
would drive the Russians out of the trans
Caucasus as well as Armenia For some time
great stores of provisions aud munitions of war
have been accumulaiing at Malta, from which
point they could be easily drawn as supplies
needed for an Eugl1sh army at CODstantinople
or feet to bar the Dardaneies against Rus
sian ships of war. Certain well detioed Brit
ish interests which have been touched upon by
the war will be declared by the Queen in a
speech at the opening OF Parliament. She will
explain the situation as clearly as possible and
an ultimatum being necessary Lord Beacons-
field will ask Of Parliament permission to deal
with the subject as the ministry may think
consistent with the safety and honor of the
country. II is believed here that very large
majority will vote with him in this visw of the
case,