Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-18
The European Question.

RUSSIANS CLOSING IN ON CONSTANTINopIE
A dispatch from Pera in the second edition
OF yesterdays London Times says: "AlthOugh
the advance of the Russians four Kilometres
nearer to Constantinople is declared to be de-
vsid of significance, the movement has never
theleSs increased the uneaSineSS here. The
Russians, instead OF being clustered in vii
lagos, are now extended before the city, with
their lines of tents in manner impressive to
the popular mind. News comes also of an ad-
vance of fifteen thousand troops from Kali
kraft to kutchuk Tchekmedje, of similar for
ward movements from Siluria to Kallikrati,
and other corresponding advances from the
rear toward the front. All these movements
tend to mass the Russians closer and closer to
COnStantlnople, and consequently increase the
anxiety within the city. 1t is reported on
good authority that the Russians are about to
deepen the channel from TchekmedIe lake to
the sea sufficiently to permit the passage of
launches and other small vessels.
CABINET CRISIS IN SERvIA.
A special to the London Standard from
Belgrade announces that the Servian ministry
has resigned. M. Ristitch is forming a new
cabinet
THE PEACE CONGRESS.
The London Times st. Petersburg cores
pondent telegraphed yesterday as follows
Count Schouvaloff will probably leave To.
night or tomorrow morning. Nothing definite
is known regarding the result of his mission.
but there is reason to believe that the con.
greSS VIII meet In about fortnight"
TODLEBENs DEMANDS.
The correspondent of the Dduy Ne,os at
ConstantinOple says: Il am informed on good
authority that General Todleben sent a note
to the Porte yesterday. saying that he was
uatiOn, to make the following demands, aud
requesting the Turkish government to accedp
to them as soon as possible: First, the evacu
alton of Shumla, Narna and BatOum; second
ly, the removal of the Turkish camp at Mas
lax, and thirdly, permission to occupy Bujuk-
dere. No answer has yet been given by the
Turkish government, but there was a council
of ministers and generals held last night, over
which the Sultan presided, and there is 10 be
another this afternoon to discuss the subject
1t is considered almost certain that the Turks
will decide to fight rather than yield"
GERMAN INTERESTS.
The rumor is that Gen. Won MOtke, the
to watch the movements of British agents who
are trying to persuade Sweden to sell them a
port on the Baltic. 1t is thought that that in
urging Denmark to protest against this ceS.
yOcate the formation Of league between Rus
Sia, Germany and Denmark to close the Cate
cat Sound. ana, CT course, the Baltic Sea, as
means of protection and peace. The Cattegat
is a large strait lying between Gottland i'm
sweden and Jutland, Communicating with the
North Sea through the Skager Rack on the
north, and with the Baltic tiroug gh the Sound
and the Great and Little Belts on the south.
AS Won MOltke is native of Schleswig HOl-
stein, formerly governed by the King OF Den
plan ne proposes viii be only suppIementing
the Danish system of seaboard defenseS
which has just cost them about $40 600 O10 ir
is thought probable that Denmark would be
and, in addition, she could DEFY che entire
neets OF Great Britain, which would, perhaps,
ue Some revenge for the British bombardment
OF Copenhagen In 1867. when such large de-
struction OF property and life occurred. Thus
Germany Is looking after German interests
alone,