TURKO-RUSSIAN WAR.

Dunstan Times, Issue 825, 8 February 1878, Page 3

TURKO-RUSSIAN WAR.

—ii (By fc’AfcLK.)

11 * (From our Dunedin Exchanges.) London. January 22ud. The announcement of ■ the suspension of |G hostilities in Bulgaria is premature. An insurrection has broken out in Macea donia. ‘ Sulieman Pasha has retired on Rhodope. In the Commons, Sir Stallord Northcote stated that he was ignorant of peace conditions having been proposed by the belli- ■’ gerents. . a . The Servians captured Prestina on the B 21st January. ™ The Turki-h Government are preparing to resist to the utmost extremity, and ap- ‘ peal for support to the population of the capital. Russian scouts who reached Keashan, 50 miles from Gallipoli, stated that the Sultan will retire to Bromesa on the Russians 1 reaching Tchekmedje. The lines of defence, are entrusted to Sttlieman, whose-ariny is expected to disem- = bark at Gallipoli. , ** An International Committee is formed to G assist the refugees who are dec-king into Constantinople. = Seventy members of Jibe House of Commons have written to request -Lord North--1 euto to take action. :, | Sir S. Northcote replied that the Govern • ment would require to ask for war supplies | if things did-not alter. January 23rd. b The Queen has personally telegraphed to ‘ the Emperor of Russia concerning the Sultan’s desire for peace. She exni esses the 3 hope that every endeavor will be made to 5 accelerate the suspension -of hostilities. ’ The Russians have occupied Adrranople, and preliminary negotiations for peace were commenced. , January 24th. The Russians have arrived at Kishai, on the road to Gallipoli. ■ A -panic has broken ” out in the latter place. St. Peteisbiirgh semi-official journals state that the relations between England j and Russia have improved. t The Turkish Parliament has petitioned the Sultan not to agree to.the conditions of . peace if the Russian demands are exorbitant. ' Latest accounts say Sulieman is at ' Koliaba. j Sir Stafford Northcote will give notice of . motion on the 28 th for supplementary army , estimate for India. The Porte has received from Russia the , conditions of peace. Very harsh terras are ' proposed, including a heavy indemnity, and , occupation till it is paid. , The Russians -v.ro now advancing upon Gallipoli. y:- , The following telegram has been received from .the Agent-General ; ; January 25th. The Government have given notice of . their intention to risk asking for a supplementary vote for war contingencies, i Two morning papers have announced that : Lords Derby and Carnarvon, have place! , their resignation in Earl Beaconsfiold’s ; hands. 1 have enquired and believe the report to be true, i It is saidThaftcPms of .peace Lave been i signed between the belligerents. The National Liberal Federation has ini vited all the associated bodies to bestir themselves for the prosecution of peace. Sir Stafford Northcote will ask for a special vote for the Army and Navy, on the ground that Russia withholds the terms of i peace. Lords Derby and Carnarvon have resigned. A war vote of six millions has been asked - for. Admiral Hornby has been ordered to land i marines and sailors for the defence of Galli- ; poli, and to hold ready six of the ’largest vessels for despatch to Malta, that place i being the temporary garrison. The Russian terras of peace arc the inde- ; pendeneb of Servia, increased territory to ■ Montenegro, a war indemnity of fifty mil- . lions, the Russians to hold Batoum, Kars, and Erzsroum till the indemnity is paid. The resignation of the Earl of Carnarvon has been accepted. The Foreign Minister retains office proi visional!}-. January 26th. i In the Commons to-day. the Chancellor of i the Exchequer, in reply to a question, an- . noum-ed that the Mediterranean squadron had been ordered to rendezvous and to enter the Dardanc.il™ solely to keep the way open and to protect British interests. Ho . added that when the conditions of peace wore rnadO known the f}oet,(would be ordered to stay at the entrance to the Dar- , dandles. Correspondence from Constantinople an- ; nounces that the Forte has accepted the r conditions of peace proposed by Russia, i The Porto and that Power arc. cadi p’edged not to reveal Hie conditions until a formal • treaty of peace has been concluded. The amount of the supplementary grant . required for military purposes is six millions . January 27th. , The fleet under Admiral Hornby’s command entered the Dardanelles, bnt subsequently withdrew to Besika Bay. According to telegrams received to-day from Constantinople, the Porte itself is t ignorant whether an armistice has been signed or not. The conditions of peace have been confidentially comm uni eared to Hie Turkish Parliament, but otherwise are kept I secret, and aro being forwarded to the il . 3 Russian headquarters. Undated. Peace preliminaries were .signed on Tuesday, the sth of January, at the Russian headquarters, but the Ministry it is believed will persist in a special war vote. A portion of the French fleet has left Tou--1 lon for the Levant. " There have been warlike demonstrations 'and rioting in Athens, in consequence of the . , approach of p'race w’iVhout'concessions to . Greece.

, i January 28th. The Russians are still advancing in the : direction of Stamhoul. j Lord Derby has announced the withdrawal of his resignation, { Sir Stafford Northcote moved for the war vote, stating that he was unaware of the . terms of peace, beyond the basis sketched out by Schonvaloff to Lord Derby. These involved interests of great magnitude. The j occupation of Stamboul would seriously endanger the relations of England and Russia. The Sultan has authorised the fleet to enter the Hellespont. , Sir Stafford Northcote severely condemned the agitation as decrying the prestige and , influence of England, and concluded by asking a vote both of credit and confidence. , The debate was adjourned till Thursday. In the Commons ‘to day, Sir Stafford ( Northcote said that the conditions of peace accepted by Turkey are of such a sweeping , nature that they cannot be acknowledged without a European Conference He added that Austria agrees with England in this decision. Although the Porte had accepted the conditions, an armistice had not yet , been concluded, nor hostilities suspended. , January 29th. The Russian head-quarters has been transferred to Adrianople. •Russian Troops have arrived at Schortu, and the population have evacuated the town. The Russians are marching against Tchekmedje. Sir Stafford Northcote stated in the House of Commons that according to authentic information, it was found that the conditions of peace included the formation of Bulgaria into an autonomous tributary principality, with Christian rule ; the independence of Roumania, Servia, and Montenegro ; the representative autonomy of Bosnia and Herzegovina ; and tho payment of a war indemnity, and an ulcorior agreement protecting Russian interests in the Dardanelles. Sir Stafford Eorheoto dedared that these conditions destroyed the keystone to the south-east of Europe, and would affect both European and British interests. He further said that a separate treaty between Russia and Turkey was inadmissablo, and that six millions sterling were asked for as a vote of confidence and to give England prestige at an European conference. Ho added that the orders given the British fleet to enter the Dardanelles had been countermanded, Russia having agreed to refer the question of the Straits to a European conference. The House oft’omraons agreedto adjournment of debate to Thursday. January SO, The Russians are rapidly advancing on Constantinople. The French Mediterranean squadron ami tho Italian squadron have been despatched to the Levant. ENGLISH AND CONTINENTAL. London, January 22nd. '1 he King of Spain has married his cousin Mercedes. There is great rejoicing. A new M-.nistry has been formed in Greece. Owing-to the spread of the Kaffir outbreak, another regiment leaves for the Cape. The Chinese captured Kishgar and forced Emia, and made their escape to Russian territory. January 25th. Fifty thousand salmon ova were shipped per Chimborazo for Now Zealand. January 2Sth. Tho San Francisco mail has arrived. The Rev. Mr Staunton, of St. Giles, has accepted the bishopric of Brisbane.