The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-01-05
FOREIGN NEWS.

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The snow in Bulgaria Is TWO icct uccP III"
ANYTHING like extended military movements
are out of the question. The present opera
lions are limited to Western Bulgaria with a
view to getting possession Of Sophia and the
passes through the mountains. Meantime
Russia is collecting enormous reinlorcements
on the Danube, and as soon as spring opens
will march directly on COnstantnople. Inc
Scrvians on the Both captured Prot, strong
position on the road to Sophia, taking many
guns and other war material and some prison
ers. Gen. Gourko, after incredible labor ana
suffering from cold succeeded with a small
force in crossing the Etropol Balkans, thus
really turning the Turkish Balkan line. All
the bridges on the Danube have been swept
away or removed, and if ice fails to bridge the
stream, the Russian army in Bulgaria may
come to serious want for commissary stores.
There is nothing important from Erzeroum
1t is said the Russian attack has been postpon
ed to the end of January.
All Europe is becoming daily more earnest
in discussing the great problem of peace.
In England there is general and profound
depression in view of the gravity of the situa
|tion. The opposition press say the menace tc
Russia involved in summoning parliament in
advance of the usual time OF meeting has only
served to increase her pretensions and spirit Of
defiance
England, having totally failed in her note
to the European powers proposing mediation
as a next step consented, "at the request Of
Turkey" to approach the Car with view tc
bring about negotiations for peace direct with
Turkey. The English note was very short and
courteous, reading as follows;
Her Maiesty's Government begs to inform
the Emperor that the Porte is ready to open
peace negotiations. The Emperor's wisdom
and repeatedly expressed love of peace justify
her Maiesty's Government in the hope that hi
will lend favorable ear to the Sultan's re
quest.
For over week Russia took apparently nc
notice of this modest missive, and England
grew daily more uneasy. To contemporary
ignore the note would be such an insult on the
part of Russia as must make a declaration OF
war by England inevitable, and the Russophlt
papers went so far as to charge that the note
was continuance of Beaconstield's for the
very purpose of producing the insult and thus
forcing England into war. Next rumors
came that Russia had no thought of ignoring
tie English notn, hut had replied with "far less
reserve" than the British cabinet anticipated
ntimating to England that while Russia had
declined mediation, she was also EARNED
against intervention This was trifie toe
curt and menacing to gain general credence
and later Il was announced and on much bet
ter authority, that the reply of Russia was moi
at all harsh, but simply informed England that
if the Turks desired an armistic for purposes OF
negotiation, their application must be directed
to the Russian COMMANDMENTS chief in the field
Such an answer England can hardly regard
otherwise than proper, and certainly not as q
contemptuous rebuff. Yet there is no denying
that the war party in England is on the in
crease, and that Bcaconstield is deep in the
movement, He is said to maintain that q
British fleet and 10000 men at Batoum, with
,hs aid of Turkey, could drive Russia out OF
Asia Minor in . month, while 100000 British
soldiers and a fleet at Constantinoplc would be
a perfect checkmatc to further Russian pro
gress in Europe.
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