Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-04-11

scriptions throughout Russia to organ
ize a volunteer fleet of light vessels fo
destroying the enemy's commerce, an,
to request the czrewitch to accept tn
honorary presidency of the centra
committee.
GoRTsCHAKOFF's REPLY.
A St. Petersburg special of the 5tl
inst, says that Prince Gortschakoff i
engaged preparing diplomatic repl,
to Lord Salisbury's circular which vii
have two-fold object. 1t will satisf,
Count Andrassy, and will conclude witt
an ultimatum for England. This vot,
of the Russian chancellor is expected
from hour TO hour, and nnnnh curinsit,
| is manifested to ascertain It's actua
contents. 1t is expected that it vii
! precipltate genuine crises and force
England to declare distinctly what she
wants. General Ignatief has less hope
than ever ofthe congress. If it should
meet, it will not settle anything satisfac
torily. Considering everything, Gen
eral Ignatieff' thinks the congress would
only lead to war. There are con
tlicting interests at stake in this
eastern question, which can only be
settled by war, and no congress could
reconcile them. Prince Gortschakof
appears to have made UP his mind fol
war, and, in fact, to prefer it as means
of arriving at a definite solution of the
difficulty. He is, therefore, shaping
his diplomacy with q view to that end
RUSSIAN MOVEMENT ON BRITISH INDIA.
General Tchernaieff has been ap-
pointed to the command of a special
corps Of eclaireurs, destined to pene-
trate rapidly into the heart of Central
Asia, in countries where the Russian
armies have already been on several
expeditions. This special corps will be
composed of fCossacks and horse artillery
and will be augmented in the march by
such recruits as the general command
ing may see fit to take. He is now
travelling by rapid stages, and may be
heard from soon. There is now no
doubt that the objective point of his ex-
peditiOn is British India. So certain do
the authorities feel of war with England
that the preparations have been thus
early begun, so that no time may be
lost after hostilities commence.
RUSSIA WILL FIGHT.
A st. Petersburg dispatch of the 4th
states that the statement of Lord Sails
bury has created the widest excite
ment and ill-feeling there. 1t is con-
sidered as equivalent to England's ulti-
matum, but no opinion can be formed
as to what will be the character of the
Russian reply. Some of the leading
Russian newspapers insist that it is
TINE TO OPPOSE ARROGANCE BY FORDE,
and to seize such commanding positions
as, in the event of war, to threaten the
safety ofcertain English interests. The
more moderate Russian Journals are
content to ask England, since she OBJ
Jects to every feature of the treaty of
San Stefano, to state what settlement
she can offer to take its place.
THE OPINION GAINS GROUND
throughout Europe that England did
not wish to have the congress at all, and
that her policy of delaying matters as
long as possible in order to strengthen
her own power and exhaust Russia's
finances was defeated only by Russia's
decided tone and Lord Derby's resigna-
ton. Thus forced to reveal her real
intentions,
ENGLAND UNDOUBTEDLY INTENDS WAR.
The Duke of Edinburgs ship, the Sui
tan, has been ordered home, but the
iron-clads Rupert and Devastation, much
more powerful ships, have been sent
into the Sea of Marmora by telegraphic
order.
NOT TO BE SCARED.
A st. Petersburg dispatch of the 4th
inst. says that Lord Salisbury's vote to
the powers will put an end to the plan
for revival of the congress scheme
which Russia momentarily considered
A correspondent at st. Petersburg tele-
graphs as the text of Lord Salisburv's
circular is not yet received, Russia has
not decided upon an answer, but there
is reason to believe she will not regard
the circular as having anything of the
nature of an ultimatum. As the Brit
ish government confines itself to pure
ly negative criticism it may possibly be
asked to suggest some solution of its
own. 1t is argued that if the English
cabinet really desires to avoid war some
pacific solution may still be found. The
public regard the circular, however, as
new proof that England has decided
upon war, while in the official world it
is said, although the circular is not
pleasant reading for those who desire
peace, it has the advantage of intelligi-
bility.