THE SUEZ MAIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 195, 5 April 1878, Page 7

THE SUEZ MAIL.

London, February 12, Tbe Russians cut the land fpfegraph lines on the northern shores of the Sea of Marmora on the 31st January, mid since then the most direct communica* tion between London and Constant^ nople has been by way nf Alexandra and Bombay.

i With reference to the British fleet i proceeding to the Dardanelles, a tele-. r gram has been received from the Bus* i sian Government stating that Gallipoli : would hot be occupied unless a Turkish , army was concentrated there, and it was thought not improbable that the landing of Sulieman Pasha's troops at Gallipoli would be made by the Russians a pretxt for seizing the place by a coup de main. Tbe second order for tbe Admiral to proceed to Constantinople was given on the Bth inst., when hft was directed to take with him thd Alexandra, Temeraire, Swiftsnre, Ruby, Achilles, and Sala mis, the rest of the vessels to remain in Besika Bay. On its being announced that the fleet had' been again directed to pass Dardanelles, Gorfsebakoff intimated tbat the Russian troops would occupy the city from the land side. Tbe Porte, in consequence, protested against the British men -of' war # g-oing* in. but the Government replied that the fleet would enter, whether permitted or not. Accordingly Admiral Hornby passed the Strait on Wednesday, the 13th, and took four of his vessels up to Prince Island, about ten miles from Stamboul, on tbe Asia Minor coast, in the Sea of Marmora. Two other vessels wpre left off Gallipoli. The Italian and French Government applied for a firman for some of their warships to go up in conspquence of their ambassadors notifying that disturbances were not unlikely, biit the application has been withdrawn. Austria bas applied, however, and is sending five ironclads. Meantime, Lord Derby has informed Oort<chnknff that the British Government dnps not consider the despatch of the flpet any justification for the entry of the Russian troops into Constantinople. . Typhus fever has been making frightful ravages. On the .30th January there were of Turkish and Russian soldiers ill of typhus fever at Kars 5000, at Kanakili ?000, and at Erzeroum 12,000. The office of Grand Vizier was abo* lished and' a new Turkish Ministry formed on the 4th, Ahmed Vessik being appointed President of tbe Oouncil and Minister ofthe Interior. On the following day the Parliament attacked the Ministry for making' the change without submitting, the alteration to them. On the Hth February it was dissolved. • . " /Very conflicting rumours have been circulated respecting the attitude of Austria, but it is generally understood that, though she acouiesced in the Russian 1 objection to tlie conference being held afc Vienna, she is resolved lo pro* tect her own interest by the strongest possible measures', and will' not allow Germany tq influence her* On the 3rd"insc.,' the Czar.. after inspecting the Vihorg*- Regiment, 7 congratulated the officers upon the .satisfactory condition .of ; the. armistice, but said, "We are still far from the end, and must: continue fo hold ourselves pre* pared. until we obtain a' desirable peace worthy of Russia." ' *"■ ;The. hews is 'confirmed that Osman Pasha.will be tried by court martial by the Russians. * The Turks .are alleged to have buried, their prisoners alive at Plevna. ' ' J . Three hundred thousand fugitives are stated to be at Constantinople, and every effort is -being made^to assist theni. Her ..M a Jf st y .subscribed .1100 to tha iXurkish ; CotQpassibnafe i: r F&id ; Earl •P^WoKe, ;Iil0pp ; ? ;anld others large r fa'mbunts, ..y.^A^y. -J- ■ » \- t