The Portland daily press., 1877-05-07
FOREIGN
The Turc0-Russian War.
Reported Withdrawal of the Turks
from Kars to ErzerOum,
NO NEW DEVELOPMENTS ON
THE DANUBE.
Carlyle Thinks England is Drifting
Into War.

Into War.
Our dispatches this morning indicate that
the campaign in Asiatic Turkey has SO far
been favorable to the Russians The Turks
seem to have abandoned Kars, leaving but
only garrison, and moved their main body
towards Erzsroum, in the neighborhood of
which they will probably establish a new liIe
of defence. On the Danube the Turks are
said to be concentrating at Rustchuk and
Silistra 10 the expectation that the Russians
will attempt to force passage at these points,
The excitement in England appears to be on
the increase. There are discussions in the cab
met and it is rumored that Salisbury and Car
narvon will resign on account of their anti
Turkish views. Gladstone's resolutions Will
come I'D in Parliament tonight and remark
able contest is anticipated. The war office is
extremely busy sending materials of war to the
Mediterranean. Thomas Carlyle has written
letter in which he declares that England is
drifting warwards. The general opinion in
London, even among the avowed friends of the
Turks, is that the Sultan's troops will not be
VIENNA, May 81 The official Abdenposts
St. Petersburg advices state that great distrust
prevails against England; Inc oatterles on
the shore of the Baltic is being repaired and
armed. Hundreds of torpedoes are ready for
immersion near the Gulf of Finland, and num-
bers of houses are reserved for troops to be
quartered there.
The Tagblatt states that Prince GortschakoH
instructed the Russian representatives, in COM
municating his circular to the powers, to declare
that Russia's intention only is to compel Turkey
to accept measures necessary to insure internal
peace s1ch measures to be determined at the
proper moment, not by Russia, but by concert
of the powers in the matter. The Gear will
limit himself to ensuring the reforms agreed
upon between the powers. Count Schouvalogff
was specially instructed to declare to Great
Britain that Russia entertains no plan not in
tended exclusively for the improvement of the
condition of the Eastern Christians.
The Political Correspondent publishes tele-
grams from Bucharest containing the follow
The open town of REM was bombarded on
Friday by Turkish monitors for three hours.
All the inhabitants of REM, Ibrail and Often
itza fled
LONDON, May ga Cabinet council was
held to-day. The Manchester Guardians Lon
don correspondent says there was great friction
IL
Turkish views of Lords Salisbury and Canar-
Won. This gives rise to rumor of their
resignation.
There is great activity at the English War
Office. Heavy supplies of munitions OF war
and large reipforcements of troops are being
ron at Corfu has been ordered to rendezvous at
Crete. ..
The meeting of the European Danube COM
mission, appointed for the 9TH Instant cannot
be held because the Turkish and Russian dele
gates decline to attend, and the British and
French delegates left Galatz before that port
was closed, and cannot return.
1t is stated that Russia obtained loan in
Paris of a hundred million francs
The Times says that Gladstone's resolutions
threaten to do something worse than throw the
Liberal party into confusion. In ordinary times
the breaking of party bonds might doubtless
be borne with serenity, but these are not ordi'
nary times. The government must soon come
to decisions of incalculable importance. POliti-
cal rivalries are aiding reckless advisers, and it
may be that the discussions of Parliament are
entirely absent from the ministerial councils.
Although the good sense of the public will, we
believe, defeat the promptings of passion, it
certainly cannot afford to lose parliamentary
influence, which has been most powerfully
exerted on the side of peace.
The Central News (St. Petersburg) despatch
(pot very good authority says: "Prince Gort-
schakoff is about to resign. He will be re.
placed by Count Schouvaloff. Prince Orloff,
at present ambassador to France, will succeed
Count Schouvalof at London, and General
Ignatieff will replace Prince Orloff at Paris. "
Thomas Carlyle, in letter to the Times to-
day, says he thinks the present policy of Eng
land is drifting the nation warwards. He
most emphatcally declares that no British
the Suez route, and speaks of the ignominy Of
England's being connected at all with Turkey
The letter says rumor prevails that Dsraeli,
despite the Queens neutrality proclamation,
intends to seud an English fleet to the Baltic
or do some other feat which shall compel Russia
to declare war against England. Latterly the
rumor has shifted from the Baltic and beco me
still more sinister, on the Eastern side of the
scene, where feat is contemplated that will
force not Russia only but all Europe to declare
war against u.s. This latter he says, he has
advises taking charge of the route to India
and steering clear of copartnership with the
Turks.
NEW YORK, May ga London correspond
ent says the Cabinet is thoroughly united about
the protection of British interests, but divided
about what those interests are, and how fal
communication with India will be imperlled
BY the Russian advance in Asia. The British
squadron at Corfu has been ordered to repdez.
vous at Crete.
BERLIN, May 5.-Intelligence from Odessa
states that Kars is completely surrounded. The
Russians have "a siege guns in position. The
bombardment of Kars will begin Immediately.
ST. PETERSBURG, May 5-The Gear returned
to Moscow with the Czarowitch and Grand
Duke Vladimir on Friday night. They were
received with enthusiasm.
telegraphs as follows: passage of the Pruth
is retarded by the unusually swollen condition
of the river. Necessary steps have, however,
been taken so that the concentration of troops
will not be interfered with.
RAGUsA, May 5.-The insurrectiou of the
Miridites is essentially ended. Sixty Miridtes
have been arrested and brought to Sou tart.
NEW YORK, May 6.-The Herald's cable
special says: Gladstone's motion. which comes
up for debate Monday night, promises to be
momentous in the history of Parliament
Gladstone will speak for four hours with
Bright, Vernon Harcourt and members of the
cabinet opposing.
resign the Liberal leadership. The government
declines interfering so as to allow the Liberals
to divide and quarrel. The general belief is
that the Liberal party will disintegrate, Lord
Harrington retiring because he will be unable
10 command the suffrages of his party.
LONDON. May 6-The bulk of the Tarksh
forces appear to be massing towards Silistria
and Rustchuk, and this,is the direction in which
the Russians by their movements would ap-
pear to indicate desire to pass the river, but
the Turks seem still content to remain passive-
ly on the defensive.
AS to Asia, it seems that Muktar Pasha has
left Kars to be defended by its garrison and
has withdrawn his field army to Erzeroum and
was harassed in his march by the cavalry of
Gen. Melikoff which has pushed its RECON-
noisances beyond Kars. The Russian forces
are advancing in semi-circle towards Erzer-
cum whilst the Turkish forces are concentrated
in triangle of Erzeroum. Olti and Kars.
There are no less than 100000 men conducting
and supporting the movements. so we may be
prepared 10 hear of the first battle having been
fought south Of Kars, followed by the advance
forcing the passes between Getshevan and
Deli-Musa to Midschinger and Hassan-Kaleh,
where the Turks will have to take up their DO
sition for the defence of Erzeroum. The Rus
sian consuls of Batoum, Kars, Erzeroum and
Trebizond accompany the headquarters and
will be entrusted with the civil administration
Of the districts occupied.
Significant for the thoroughness of the Rus.
sian advance so far is the fact that each corps
has kept up communication with the others
throughout. This has been accomplished by