Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-29
Great Activity at Portsmouth
Conversion Of Merchant Ships
into Armed Cruisers.
The Indian ExpeditlOn-Ihe Dis
patch Of Native Troops
Successful.

SNhA'Otiubs
A Rome dispatch c~ontradicts the state
ment that Italy has asked England t.
state her views, aud a Berlin dispatch
reafirms it, and says the question is now
being repeated by Austria, Italy and
Germany.
A dispatch from St. Petersburg d..
clares that Bismarck has ceased mediat
ing, while dispatches from Berlin and
Vienna state the exact opposite very
positively. The St. Petersburg CORE.
spondent undoubtedly derives his infor.
nation from the St. Petersburg chaucel.
lory. 1t is equally impossible to deter.
mine what is the foundation for the re
pested declarations that Austria is about
to occupy Bosnia, The Austrian aud
Hungarian ministers are in counsel at
Vienna. 1t is stated that Count Andras-
sy is pressing for an immediate compro.
mise Of the l%ong.pending controversies
between the two states, because the con.
dition Of foreign affairs demands an
energetic policy which intestine quarrels
would hinder.
Many reports are current about toe
measures of ~precantion Austria will
take, but none are authoritative. 1t is
said that servian activity and trucu-
lence are being excited by Russia 10
divert the Austrian forces, as Servia's
only further expectation Of profit must
lie in the direction Of Bosnia, where
Austria could not permit her to 60.
A Vienna dispatch says that whatever
measures the government may have re-
solved upon, Russia is not a party to
them. They have Germsuy's sanction;
possibly they we're suggested from Der.
lin, but Austria is still free as to her fu.
ture movements. /. is worthy OF notice
that the best informed and most trust.
worthy and careful Of all special contrib.
utors to the London press, discussiD &
the position at considerable leRgth, have
not a word to say about the attitude OF
Austria. There is a fair indication that
no decision has been reached at Vienna.
Bullion gone into the Bank of England
on balance to-day is e2ll 900.
General Sir Alfred Hastings Horsford
has been selected as commander Of the
second army corps. A considerable
proportion Of the FIRST army corps is
likely to bc dispatched to Malta in the
course Of the coming week, including
a portion Of the guards. Many thousand
stsnds Of the Martini Henry rifles are
being removed from the racks in the
tower Of London, presumably for the
equipment Of reserves.
There is great activity at Portsmouth
in preparing fittings for the conversion
Of merchant ships into armed cruisers.
A manufacturing frm has received from
the admiralty an order for more than 100
wire torpedo nets for the protection Of
ships from attacks Of torpedoes, ell nets
to be delivered during May. Immense
quantities of shot end shell are being
issued from the WoolRich arsenal in all
directions.
The first Indian expeditionary force
will embark from Bambay, two divisions
leaving to-day, consisting Of two batter
les Of royal artillery, the Thirteenth and
Thirty.6rst regiments, the Second
GoOrkhss and two companies of ssppers
and miners: The second will embark as
o after as possible. 1t will consist Of
the Ninth cavalry, First Bombay ~lancers,
NiRth and Twentieth Bombay infantry
and two companies Of sappers and
miners. The shipping arrangements
comprise steamers with an aggregate
tonnage Of 1879 tons. and sailing YES.
sells Of l,l46 aggregate tonnage. The
latter will be towed by the steamers.
Water will DO provided for thirty aud
coal for tweuty.six days.
At the Bombay d~ockyard work is
being prosecuted day and night in fitting
ships for troops and horses. AS an ex.
pertinent Of State policy the dispatch Of
native troops to Europe has proved sue
%eessful beyond the hopes of the most
ardent advocates Of the measure. Ma
tive soldiers appear completely capt.
waited by the prospect Of being engaged
in military service ia Europe. They
are volunteering to orosI the seat with
enthusiasm which has surprised even
those who know them best. They are
pressing forward in whole regiments at o
time. The troops who returned from
Burmah only six weeks ago, and who
we're three years in that country, are said
to be delighted by the thought that they
are gsinG to m place near England tc
Eight the Russians. In one regiment
every mar has signed a petition that b.
may be sent with the expedition to Eu
rope.
Ran on n Bank.
New YoRK, April 29.-The run on tb,