The Portland daily press., 1877-07-28

hardly freight train is running. The Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern, Erie, Pittsburg
& Fort Wayne, Delaware & Lackawanna,
Reading, Central Railroad of New Jersey, Cam
ada Southern, Northern Central, Louisville
Nashville & Grand Southern, Grand Rapids &
Indiana, the Wabash. Burlington & Quincy,
in short, almost every line east of st. Louis
is affected by the strike, and freight traffic is
at standstill. In the large cities and towns
the strike has assumed the form of an insur-
rection, and mobs of ruffians are parading the
streets and threatening destruction to life and
property. In San Francisco there is danger of
general massacre of the Chinese, and alre ady
several buildings occupied by them have been
set on fire and burned, and only the presence
of the police and military has prevented more
general destruct
The general government has been obliged to
interfere, the states being unable to preserve
the peace, and United States troops have been
withdrawn from the Notifications along the
coast and stationed at threatened points, A
proposition even for the raising of volunteers
was, it is said, discussed in the Cabinet As a
general thing railroad managers have refused
to concede the demands of the strikers though
on some unimportant roads this has been done.
THE TURKo RUSSIAN WAR.
Through the mists that have covered the seat
OF war in Bulgaria during the past week a
few military movements of the utmost mo-
ment have been disclosed The Rus sians ad-
vancing with even and well-oonducted strategy
which has thus far encountered no serious
check, seem to have shut up large bodies of
Turkish troops in the fortresses of Silistria
and Rustchuk, and for all practical military
purposes to have isolated those two places,
which are the two northward corners of the
quadilateral, from which the Russian rear was
likely to be most seriously menaced. One hun.
bred miles above Sistova second pontoon
bridge has been thrown across the Danube, and
it is safe to assume that the other bridges are
now SO well protected by formidable defence
as to secure retreat should the contingency
arise, and, what is of equal importance in an
offensive campaign, are SO perfected as to al
low the utmost freedom of communication.
These, however, are the ordinary and regu-
lar movements in the development of the cam
paign which were to be looked for as soon as
the Danube was once crossed. In contrast
of the Schipka Pass through the Balkans, must
be called brilliant stroke of strategy. By oh.
tanning this the Russian haveg gained foot
hold which, if they Can maintain is until
their army can reach the pass, will go very far
to nullify the advantages of "a defensive war
which promised to tell SO strongly in favor of
the Turks. The Schipka Pass opens the way
to the more open country around Adrian
ople, where discipline and superior tactics are
sure to offset that bravery and stubborness
which, through the deep shadows of official
corruption and stupidity, still shed their lus.
tire on the military character of the Turk.
!. The campaign during the last week is full of
signs which point toward the difficulties by
which the Turks are oppressed With inferior
forces they are forced to garrison the quadri.
lateral fortresses, which subtract in this way
more strength in proportion from their avail
able forces for field operations than the beIea-
Curing bodies of Russians subtract form the
Russian army. In the second place, the Turks
have been forced, if we may employ the ex-
pressive phrase of Mr.. Lincoln, to swap
horses in crossing the stream, In the very
crisis of the war they have been compelled to
change commanders, and there are grave hints
of bribery in high places which go farther to
sap the morale of the best of armies than the
loss of battle. If we connect with such signs
as these the fear and distrust that prevail at
Constantinople the outlook for the Porte be-
comes as gloomy as any circumstances except
the loss of series of great battles could make
it. These great battles are yet to be fought,
and it may be that, as in Armenia, the pros
pect for the Ottomans may brighten after they
have actually met the foe. But it is certain
that three weeks Of supneness in Bulgaria do
not awaken the conviction that good fighting
will offset bad strategy.
A cable special says that on Saturday
important communications passed between
the English government and the Rus
sian foreign office. The British Cabinet,
without any doubt, regard the war as ap-
preaching a crisis in which Great Britain
should be represented effectively on the spot
There is firm belief ia most well informed and
trustworthy quarters that the government sent
its ultimatum to Russia, which if not agreed to
by the Cars government will necessitate
declaration of war by England. England has
not really been excited until now, land the talk
everywhere is warlike.