Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-04-06
The Eastern Question.
War Considered I'm
minent.
IGNATIEFF'S VIEW OF HIS MISSION
TO VIENNA.
GOrls chak0ff Preparing a Re-
ply 10 England.
A CONGRESS NOT PROB
ABLE.
An Army Preparing TO March
Against British India.
The Russi.n ID ii .nce To-
ward England.
THE STRENGTH OF THE RUSSIAN
ARMY.
The Russi.n ID ii .nce To.
ward England.
THE STRENGTH OF THE RUSSIAN
ARMY.

with Gen. lguateH yesterday, be stated he is sat
ished with the result of hi. mission to V Jenna, in
asmuch as it enables Russia to see more clearly
| what IS necessary TO be done.
toitschakOt II Is engaged preparing a Diplomatic
| note in reply to Salisbutvs circular which will
| have TWO fold object 1t will satisfy Andrassy
| and will conclude utimatum for England This
reply is expected from hour to hour and much Gu
rloslty IS manifested to ascertain its actual con-
| tents. Ii is expected 1t will ptccpitate genu-
inc crisis, and force England to declare distinctly
| what she wants
Gen. Ignatief is less hopeful than ever of C on
gress meeting, and even if it should meet it will
not settle anything satisfactorily Considering
every thing, lgnatietf thinks Congress would only
| lead to war.
There are conflicting interests at stake in this
| Eastern question, which can only be settled BY
| war, and no Congress could reconcile them.
| Gortschakotf appeared to have made up his min
Tor war, and IN Tact TO prefer IT as means of ar
| irving al a definite solution of the difference He
| is therefore shaping his diplomacy with a view to
that end, and events will be Influenced in such a
way AS to preciptae = struggle, under circum-
| stances most favorable to Russia. Everything
here points to war, and the public mind is fully
prepared for il.
1chernaef mas been appointed to the command
of special corps Of eclaieurs destined to pene-
trate rapidly to the heart of Central Asia in coun-
tries where the Russian armies have already been
| on several expeditions. This special corps " Ill be
| composed of Cos.acks and horse artillery, end be
| augmented on the march by such recruits As the
| general commander may see fit to take.
| Armenian volunteers for such work as the col
umn would have to undertake, are to be found
among the tribes of Contra Asia, and their gen.
ersl will have no difficulty in enlisting their SER
vices.
General Tchernsieti is an old campaisne in
1 Central Asia, and will act with the greatest ceer
Ity of movement. lie will adopt the tactics fol
lowed by Gourko after the passage of the Danube
As he is fam liar with the ground and has giea,
experience in dealing with the Asstics, il i, con
sidered here that no better selection could have
been made. 1t is not nkown what the strength OF
his command will be, but it is asserte the gre at
est care has been taken 10 sc ecting men and sub
ordinate chiefs.
There is now no doubt that the objective roint
OF his expedition is British India.
So certain do the authorities at st. Petersburg
| feel of war with England, that preparations
| have been thus early begun, so that no time may
| be lost after hostilites commence.
LONDON, April 5. A st. Petersburg despatch
says the journal DE st. Petersburg, official organ
| of the government, has adopted defiant and war
like tone in its article to-day respecting SalisbW-
rvs circular.
Officials OF the English admiralty have gone to
Belfast TO supeiiGtend the equipment of hume rous
private steamers, to he used cruisers in case Of
war.
The military situation is beginning to attract at
tentIon. The Servlan occupation of Bulgaria as
far as Plevna, is believed to be intended to cover
the Russian line of communication and relieve the
Russian uyops, who will be concentrated south Of
the Balkans.
The Russian tloops lately at Sofia and north of
dlianople. are moving toward the south east,
perhaps to strengthen the army of Grand Duke
Nicholas, or it may be the intention to abandon
he lines Of land communications and RELY almost
exclusively for the conveyance OF reserves and
supplies on the marine transports over the Black
Sea, In consequence OF the attacks Of the Rouma-
mans.
From the latter point of view il is very natural
to infer the Russians will do everything possible
10 keep the British fleet out of the Black Sea,
though it IS not believed here that even occupa
ton of the north IN shore of the Bosphorus by the
Russians would prevent Admiral Horribly from
forcing passage.
On the peninsula OF Gsllipol or the neghbor
ing mainland. i'll from; Of the position OF Bulair,
| arc probably about 10000 Russians, while at Sa
lonica and on the lines of communication there
may be scattered one 10000 more.
The war office at St. Pete r-burg is stated to be
dissatisfied with the condition of the muster rolls
and is making strenuous eNeriions to hurry up the
| reserves. A ! regiments stationed in the capital
were three DAYS ago inspected by the Emperor,
probably previous to their departure to the 'front.'
some Russian DIVISIONS are now on the road to
Buyukdere, and 1000 troops are collected within
easy strik ing auce. Between these and Buy
| ukdere are some Turkish brgades, which could
| probably hold the place till assistance arrived, if
enelRetlCaIly emplt yea ara Loyalty commanded,
in co operation with the Bri sh, hut they must in
| time be overwhelmed, fol the Russians, even al
| lowing for all deductions, should still muster at
least $1,000 combatsnts in front of Constantine
pie.
LONDON, April 5. Official dispatches about the
Russo Roumansn imbrogolio throw no new light
on the reported disposition of the Roumansn
cabinet to consent TO the cession of Bessarabia to
Russia, because the Rounsnisn agents at ST. Pc
tersburg and Vienna belong to the national party
and oppose the ce:sion of Besssrabla. The cab
met would therefore be unlikely to hold other
than patriotic language in communicating with
| them. But the fact is pointed to as significant,
| that Bratiano, Roumanian premier, made a special
| mission to Vienna during General Ignstieff's
presence there, and during his absence no session
| of the chambers was intended to be held, proba-
| ably with the purpose of preventing irritating
| speeches and action Oh the part of the members
towards Russia.
Modifying statements also begin to come from
Bucharest. Such as that more sober minded
Roumasians and foreigners living in Bucharest
think there has been unnecessary impoitic eI-
citemen ut over the Bessarabian question. the de-
csion of which would be practically affected by
feverish patriotic speeches and newspaper arti-
Giles against the proposed change of territory in
the light of suspicious thrown on the attitude of
Prince Charles and his cabinet.