The Portland daily press., 1877-06-22


operations. OF course opinions relative to the
locality of the Russian advance must be formed
from indications observed from the southern
banksof the Danube Observations seem still
to indicate somewhere not far from Nikopolis,
as the spot where most serious effort will be
made. The Russians are making notable con-
centraton of troops at the mouth of the river
Babe and Alute, across which they have
thrown bridges. There Is scarcely doubt that
the troops concentrated between these two
rivers form the operating army.
In Asia the principal feature has been the
partial withdrawal of the Russian right wing
and investment of Kars, and for strengthening
the centre against Mukhtar Pasha's 10000 in
strong position. These figures show that the
Russians have no men to spare if they intend
to keep the country they have 50 far occupied,
though if their object was simply to effect
rapid advance and defeat the Turks as pre-
liminary to peace there is nothing to prevent
their doing so. 1t is confirmed from several
sides that the Russians are not bent on rapid
operations of this latter kind, but, on the con-
trary, are doing their work thoroughly and
Systematically taking over the administration
VI do thOy nu'dhSO, eAuo eLO Iva AAASA
Sandjak OF Schuraze is now completely incOr-
porated with Russia under the Russian civil
governor 1t seems in obedience to this plan
of consolidating their conquests and making
all sure behind them the Russians will make
no attack in the direction of Erzeroum till
their centre and left wing are quite free and
prepared to cooperate therein.
In connection with the foregoing the Moscow
Gazette significantly remarks: when we
have secured freedom of the Sclavs and the
question of material compensation has arisen,
the incorporation of Armenia with Russia will
probably be decided as much on Armenian as
Russian basis" Both combatants have been
reinforced during the week, the Russian left
wing having received reinforcements supposed
to have traversed Persian territory. Relative
to political events, there is great excitement in
South Servia in consequence of the operations
of the Turks against the Montenegrins, loud
demands being made there for Servia to support
the Montenegrins, who unless they receive
speedy assistance seem to have little chance Of
being able to Withstand the converging Turkish
columns, whose object is to drive the Mon
tenegrns south and westward, and prevent
them ia the coming struggle from joining
hands with Servia, and thus cutting off Bosnia
and Herzegovina from the rest of the empire.
The feeling in Servia against the Prince of
Montenegro being left to be crushed is SO
strong that it is believed Prince Milan cannot
safely resist it, and it is also thought incredible
that Russia should allow the Montenegrins to
be abandoned, although reports as to the prob
| able action of Servia are very conflicting.
The Montenegrins have been defeated at the
Duga Pass, and the heroic little army is sur
rounded by Turkish troops.
The state department of Washington
| has information that the treasure of Islam
or offerings by Pilgrims at the Prophets
| tomb at Mecca, from which funds have
been demanded by the Turks for the defence of
| the faith, now exceeds 600, 100000 francs One
chest was opened during the Russo-Turkish
war of 1928 and another in 1854, but the third
| has not been opened for 1852 years.
A Vienna despatch says that in few days a
| manifesto will be issued by the Gear on the oc-
casion of the crossing of the Danube for which
| preparations on grand scale are now making
The Turks are sending reinforcements to the
mouth of the Timok, evidently suspecting that
| the Russian design is to cross into Seryia
| at Gladova.
| The Daily News Rustchuk despatch says
outrages are proceeding unch ecked in the prov
ince of Tultcha. The Christians are outlawed
by the authorities and abandoned to the Tar
| tars and C;rcassians. Villages and barns are
wantonly sacked and burned with the view of
| rendering the country desert before the ad-
| vance of the Russians CHASTITY heads are car
| ried every day by blood stained murderers into
Tultcha, Matchin, Babadagh and Hirsova. The
flames of some burning village are visible ev cry
| night
Trustworthy advices from St. Petersburg con-
firm the reported inefficiency of the Russian
| commissariat not only in Armenia, bat also on
the Danube. The Gar is exasperated, and the
scanty provisioning of the troops has caused
much apprehension
Complaints continue of outrages by Zebices,
or Asiatic Bashi Bazouks, but no tort is made
| by the government to check their atrocities.
| Saturday five of them attacked a Christian
family at place between Pera and Therapia
| The family consisted of father, mother, and a
daughter 16 years old. After beating the father
till he was insensible, the five soldiers subjected
the women to the most horrible outrages, The
perpetrators were not arrested.
A correspondent at Pera reports that after a
long discussion on the budget. the Turkish par
| Lament decided to make considerable reduc-
tion in the salaries Of ministers. This measure
was SO distasteful to the ministers that they ad-
vised the Sultan to dissolve the Chamber, and
it was accordingly dissolved Tuesday.
Cable specials say there is no longer
L 49,
severe defeat at Kars Every effort is being
made by the authorities at CONSTANT
nop]e to conceal the truth in reference to the
Asiatic campaign, through fear of its discour-
| aging effect All news from Muhktar's head
quarters is colored to suit the situation. A
| correspondent at Constantinople telegraphed a
| true account of the affair which took place
near Kars. 1t reached the Turkish ministry,
but was suppressed.
OTHER FOREIGN NEWS.
The French Assembly met Sunday. A
message was read from President MacMahon
| declaring his intention to dissolve the Gambler
OF Deputies. This provoked strong dis
cusson and scene of wild disorder, which
have been renewed at every session SINCE On
Tuesday the Deputies passed vote of want of
confidence in the Ministry by large majority.
The fishery commission provided for in the
Washington treaty, had its first meeting at
Halifax Friday. The proceedings are con-
Quoted with closed doors, but it is understood
the business commenced by the commissioners
making the solemn declaration provided by
the treaty. Rules for the management of the
court which counsel on each side had under
consideration for several days, were presented
to the commissioners for adoption. Each
party may be represented by counsel to the
number of five. The case of Great Britain was
filed and the Americans have several day to
put in an answer 1t is understood that the
claim for Canadian fisheries embraced in the
case filed by Great Britain is $14,OOOOOO.
Lady Stirling Maxwell. better known as the
Hon. Mrs. Norton author of "Bingen
on the Rhine is dead. She was mar
ried on the LIST of March last, to
Sir William Stirling Maxwell, Bart, M. P. for
| Pearlshire. At the time she was 20 wears of