The Portland daily press., 1878-04-30
FOREIGN.
The Eastern Situation.
NO PROGRESS IN THE NEGO-
TIATIONS.
England Still Hurrying Her War
Preparations.
Austria Meditating a Descent on
Bosnia and Herzegovina.

LONDON, April pa Rome despatch con-
tradicts the statement that Italy asked Eng
land to state her views, and Berlin despatch
reatfirms it and says the question is now being
repeated by Austria, Italy and Germany.
A despatch to the Times from st. Petersburg
declares that Bismarck has ceased mediating,
while dispatches from Berlin and Vienna state
exactly the opposite very positively. 1t is i'm
possible to get the exact truth from the various
assertions but the Times St. Petersburg cor
respondent undoubtedly derives his information
from the st. Petersburg Chronicle.
Austria's Precautions.
Many conflicting reports are current about
measures of precaution Austria will take, but
none ara authoritative. 1t is said Servian &C.
tivity and turbulence is being excited by Russia
to divert the Austrian forces, as Servia's only
further expectation of profit must be in the d.
recton of Bosnia, where Austria could not per-
NIT her to 90.
The Telegraph's Vienna despatch says what
ever measures may be resolved upon, Russia
not party to them They have Germauy's
sanction possibly. They were suggested fro n
Berlin, but Austria is still free as to the Berlin
movement
The British Army.
General Hastings Horsford is selected COM
mander Of the second army corps. A consid-
cradle proportion of the first army corps is
likely to be dispatched to Malta in the course
of the coming week, including portion of the
guards. Many thousand stands of Martin
Henry rifles are being removed from racks in
the tower of London, presumably for equip
ment of the reserves. There is great activity
at Portsmouth in preparing fitting for the
conversion of merchant ships into armed cruis-
ers. Certain manufacturing firms received
from the admiralty orders for more than hun
drei wire torpedo nets for the protection of
ships from att acks of fish torpedoes. All lots
are to be delivered during May. Immense
quantities of shot and shell are being issued
from Woolwich arsenal in all directions. Two
divisions OF the Indian force leave Bombay to-
day, consisting OF two battallons OF royal ar.
tlllery, 18th and 31st regiments, I'd Gourkhas
and two companies of sappers and miners.
Tae second will embark as soon after as pos
sible. 1t will consist of the 9th Cavalry, 1st
Bombay Lancers 9th aid Goth Bombay IN
fantry and two companies of sappers and
miners. The shipping arrangements comprise
steamers with an aggregate tonnage of 1854
tons and sailing vessels of q, LAG aggregate tom
mage. The latter will be towed by steamers.
Water will be provided for 80 and coal for 26
days. At Bombay dock-yard work is being
prosecuted day and night in fitting ships for
troops and horses. As an experiment of state
policy the despatch of native troops to Europe
bias proved successful beyond the hopes of the
most ardent advocates of the measure. The
native soldiery appear completely captivated by
the prospect of being engaged in military ser
vice in Europe. They are volunteering to cross
seas with enthusiasm and they are pressing
forward in whole regiments at time Troops
who retu-ued fran Burmah only six weeks ago
and whc we're three years in that country are
said to be delighted that they are going to some
place near England to fight the Russians. In
one regiment every man has signed petition
that he may be sent with the expedition to
Europe.
Quiet at Constantinople.
LONDON, April 29.--Yesterday, which was
looked forward to in Constantinople with con-
siderable apprehension Of the consequences