, 1880-02-25

nearly all over France. This Is Q subject
of satisfaction at Saumur, as it will give
time for taking precautions against foods
on the Loire through the immense block
of ice into which the river has there been
converted. The glacier, az some OF the
papers call it, though the proper term is
banquise, is six miles long and at some
points 15ft. thick. Its formation il due to
O narrow strip of ~alluvial deposit, which
runs up from a little above Saumur for q
distance of four kilometres, a similar bank
existing at Saumur itself, q portion of the
town standing upon it. So great was the
danger of part of Saumus and the neigh
bouring villages being inundated if there
was a sudden thaw higher up the river.
that both III. de Freycines, as the late, aud
III. Varroy, as the present, Minister Of
Public Work. 8, resolved on going down to
Saumur to stimulate the operation of
cutting channel through the Ice by dy-
Mantle. IL. de Freycinet being detained
by business, NJ. VGrroy started alone last
night, and returns this evening. He has
been over the ground and given %instruc.
tlons for all emei gencies; but the cutting
of the channel has at last been effected. and
it is hoped that this will prove adequate
for the volnme of water, which will be
diminished by the return OF the frost"
The Times correspondent in Paris, refer
ring to the French Ambassador to the
Persian court, writes:-
IN. Tficou, the rev French Ambas.
sador TO Teheran, has had q hattaring
reception from the Shah, who expressed
bis w2rm regard for France. The Temps
commenting OF this, remarks that Tehe-
ran is the point where the threads of
English ard Russian diplomacy cross. and
that the Shah. dreading an alliance with
either OF these Powers, naturally wishes. to
treat %aneutral like France as o friend and ad-
wiser, and that whenever Persia is embarrass-
cd by English and Russian riya!ries, she is
anxious for the friendship OF France. Such
an attitude, 1t says. might have inconve-
niences for France, but tact will always
euable an envoy to steer clear of the diff
Gully. The post is one Of observation and
study. The Shah has not forgotten the
splendid entertainments given him by the
Republic and Paris; be has estabiisheda
Frelcd college at Teheran, and though
his reign is not free from reproach, Persia
is indebted to him for improved roads,
teIegraphs, q postal system, and gas"
The German Parliament was to meet
about the middle of the present month.
One of the principal bills to be laid before
it will be a new military law by which it
IS proposed to increase the army by eleven
infantry regiments and q battalion of sharp
shooters, in all about 5000 men. It is ex-
pectodthat the strength of the army will be
raised 10 427,000 men in active service,
and the increased expenditure will be about
seventeen millions of marks. The follow
ing is quoted by the Times from the
National Zeitung, which, referring to the
new Military Bill, gives a resume OF the
opinions of the Foreign Press. "The
foreign Press" it says "could not overlook
the fact that the motives for the Bill were
more important than the mere augmenta-
ton of the army by $4,000 men. The
motives are characterized, when it is
shown that the guarantees for peace,
which have existed until the present
moment, nave disappeared, and have been
replaced by new ones. The alliance be-
tween the three Emperors has now been
officially done away with, although it was
very useful for maintaining peace in
Europe. 1t is therefore to be regretted
that it has been broken of, but still Prince
bismarck is not to be blamed for having
dissolved it. The understanding among
the three Emperors could not be main
tanned from tue moment that the principle
OF Pansiavism had SO clearly gained the
upper hand IN the Treaty of San Stefano,
which was particularly offensive to Aus
tria. Ii Germany had consented without