Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-05-11
TIE TURCo-RIs sIAS WAR.
ENcLANp-s wAR rRErARArIoNs.

LONDON. May Sin the House of Com
mons, today, Hawthorne Hardy. war seere-
tary, stated that no special roster had been
prepared CT the troops ready for immediate
service.
LORD DERBY 5 REPLY To GORTsCIIAKOFF
CRITICIZED.
In the House of Lords the Duke of Rut-
land criticised the strong language of
Derby's reply to GOrtschakOf. lie said the
reply was liable to be misintsrpreted, as
departure from strict neutrality, and asked
whether it was submitted to be approved
BY the other powers before sent. Derby
replied that the suggestion that the reply
should have been submitted to the Others
powers was unprecedented. He denied that
the reply was inconsistent with neutrality.
Childers, (libera), complained Of the
antI-tus-ian bias displayed by the minis
terialists and censured D1rby's reply to
GOrtsehakofi as tending to provoke Rus
STA and revive the hopes Of Turkey.
Nlscount Sanion defended the govern
ment. lie believed that approval and en-
couragement held cut to Russia was tar
more serious and was calculated to extend
the war.
The Turns PROCLAIM HOLY WAR.
CONsTASTISOrLE, May 9.-In a few days
the annual holy phi grim caravan will leave
COnstantinOple for Mecca laden with costly
presents for MOhammedan shrines. Inc
Shelek ne Islam gave to the leader, who
has been this time appointed by the sultan
himself, instruction to proclaim in all cities
he passed through that Russia who per
secuted the Christians herself for not con-
forming to the orthodox faith was now il
tent upon driving all believers in lsamism
from Europe. The sultan has therefore re-
solved to call all the faithful to a holy war
against infdel Russia. and promises u 60
on a pilgrimage himself if the war proves
successful to his arms.
TIE ARTILLERY FIGHT EETwEEN wIDIS AND
KALAYAT.
BUCHAREST, May 9.-The artillery en-
gagement was renewed with vigor late yes
terday afternoon between the Turkish bat
teries at Widin and the Roumanian batteries
at kalafat. which only ceased at nightiall.
The barracks ami custom house at kalafat
were destroyed and a church injured.
Widin was set on fire. The Turks again
FREQ today but the Roumanan batteries
were silent.
ATTACK on IEGAIL.
GALATz, May yesterday afternoon,
two Turkish monitors supported by shore
batteries at Ghineet, opened numerous
fire upon the Russian batteries at lbrail.
which replied vigorously. the canOnade
lasted three hours. lbrail was uninjured.
All last night there was great activity In
the Russian camp, showing that the Rus
SLAMS are about to assume offensive.
LONDON, May "a cable despatch from
Psra to the London Globe reports a severe
battle between Kars and ErzrOum. the Rus
slams being victorious and fourteen thou
| sand Turks captured.
BLOCKADE OF THE BLACK SEA.
A despatch from Constantinople says that
Turkey has extended the time for neutral
vessels to enter and leave the Black Sea, to
MAY 18th for entering and May 18th for de
parting. The Black Sea will be declared
closed after the latter date.
| THE BcMBARDMENT OF KALAFAT.
BUCHAREST, May 9.-The Turkish batteries
| at Wldin, ceased firing at five clock, yes
terday afternoon. Their shells did not reach
| Kalafat, and the returning shells only
reached the Turkish vessels OF Wldin.
RoUMANIA's POSITION.
A private meeting of senator's and depu
ties has been held to consider the expe-
diency of ROumania participating in the
war. The majority OF the deputies appear
tl favor war, but the senator's views are
| doubtful.
The statement that the RoumaniGn army
would probably be incorporated with the
Russian, or placed under a Russian COM
mander, is officially contradietsd.
The Cossaeks have crossed the Danube
at Broila and burned Turkish block
| house.