, 1877-12-30
German Opinion Is that John
Bull Will Be Most Eff
fectual]y 6nubbed.
Pirot Captured by a De-
tachnent OF Serv-
ian Troops.
Detailed Account OF the Appear
ance Of Pleyna After the
Surrender.

Surrender.
WAR INCIDENTS.
THE AS11~Russ1AS MEETING IN LONDON.
(By Cable to The Chicago Tribune.
LONDON, Dec. 30-G q. m.-Tho so-called
antl~Kusslan demonstration on Trafalgar
Square was total fni1ure. There were
perhaps 10000 persons present, but
the prevailing spirit was curiosity.
British and Turkish flags wero carried
by the organizers Of the meeting, and
nearly all destroyed by the opponents of the
warliko policy. In ike manner flag in
scribed "Peace!" was destroyed. All went
of with great good humor, however. No
speakers Of any note were present, and the
whole affair was grand lark for the work
ingmcn.
TIE CAPTURE or PIE1or
by Servlans, reported in these dispatches
two days ago, is confirmed Pierot is strongly
oA%AA4eds eAu HhS tah6u R1LeT Two Gays
hard fighting.
The Servians have begun regular siege
of Widdin, which is well provisioned- It's
garrison is weak, however, and its capture is
expected within two weeks at the farthest
T., ENGLAND.
THE 1oSDoE:zREss on TIE PEACE PROPOSITION.
LosDoS7| Dec. 20.-Thc Times to-day in
ie*d.as s,3aa qatiss sz Ta}fte a}{teq bf
sr,,-nsn+ IN annroach the Czar with 3 view Of
h+-;nrinp about negotiations fof peace WILL tend
~ .o,,,a of the rars which have been e1-
t.? calm some u !, aud to hold out the hope
that 80 snS 1Sfeadfu1 may be brought to close
more quickly than By the shock OF battle. The
Sultan has taken the onlE course consistent with
ca1ln review Of what the war has already
done, and What it must do If it should last much
longer. The circular to the Powers showed that
the peace party at CoDstantinople had got the
upper hand. It proposed terms which would
no doubt
HAVE BEEN ISADMIssABLE
even before the war, and which would not bear
discussion after the terrible battles of tue last
SIX months, but the Porte did not intend the
circular to be taken at its word. Now that all
the Powers have courteously, but firmly, 1c-
clned to approach Russia with the impossible
conditions, the Sultan has wisely asked
this country to use its good Offices to
bring about negotiations for peace. It is
Important that the Government should
conduct the negotiations in Il spirit absolutely
Tree from parttsanship. We are not parties to
sIle present contest. As mediators Our essential
luty is to convey message from one Power
nth Whichwe have no quarrel to another Power
With which we have 10 quarrel. Ne hare
doubtless great interests at stake, political as
yell IS commercial, and they will be urged at
he proper moment. But, meanwhile, it is our
iuty to act as q friendly intermediary, aud not
Is rulers Of the Indian Empire. To take side
7th one Of the two Powers which we must
,ring into contact, would simply be TO make Our
mission useless and destroy the prospect Of
,eace Our Government will have to ascertain
whether Russia is willing to open negotiations,
nd
WHAT ARE HER CONDITIONS or PEACE
t will then have to offer Turkey such advice Us |
nay seem proper. and to present her answer. |
t may have to reason ID earnest spirit with both |
clligerents IL order to secure common !
round. It may be obliged to urge the Porte,
n the one hand, to pc wise in time. and Russia. |
Il the other, not to demand such terms rs !
'ould goad the Turks to desperate courses, and
rus multiply the pcxils Of Europe. While
aediator may seem to act IS advocate now OF |
ne Power aud now OF another, the arguments
lust be dictated purely BY spirit OF concilia-
on.
No doubt the Government would hare to con-
3,ta cr,f +r,& +In |
:ntatfon OF them would come i'll good time,
ID there is not the slightest reason to fear
aey will be neglected.
THE ''DA1LY NEWS"
4ys: The Ottoman Government declares its
esire that negotiations for peace may be
ought about on the present basis OF facts, and,
its professions must be accepted rs sincere,
le public will wish it success in It's new policy.
cannot be necessary to point out that, even
3on the most limited Interpretation OF the
ice it has assured, the Queens Coy
nment has assumed task Of great
.licacy. The present war primarily concerns !
lssa and Turkey, but the Eastern question is
lc which must be considered BY Europe. By
present action, our Government has taken
ION itself the character OF fnterccssor for one ,
fortunate belligeren1, while acting also OIL
,us]y for Europe; but it has to harmonizc
is new character with the declarations which
has repeatedly made, and with the whole
nrse Of conduct, OF which the least that can I
said is that it has prepared the world for F
e part it has now undertaken to play. On
+ Majesty's Ministers may very much depend
,ether the Eastern question shall be now set =
d, at least for many years to come, or this t /
u be followed bv mere truce, the prelude to Y
r even greater than that which we are now !
ectators. We arc bound to hope that they
Il prove equal to their responsibilities. !
- GERMAN. PREDICTIONS. b
BERLIN, Dec. 29.-The North German Gazette i
rs: II England merely seeks to sound Russia :,
,oectlng her willingness to make peace, and s.
CHANGES Of success Of the direct application '
the Porto at St. Petersburg, credit may be t,