RUSSIAN PREPARATIONS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1298, 17 May 1878, Page 3

RUSSIAN PREPARATIONS.

[“ European Mail,” March 15. j Never at any period during the Turkish war have the Russian Government departments been so busy as they are now. It is chieily in the naval establishments at Cronstadt and St. Petersburg that activity most prevails, the intention of the Government being to send out the Baltic fleet with engines and everything in working order at the first movement of the ice. And as most of the ironclads are deeply in need of repairs, the authorities will have their hands full till next June. At St. Petersburg incessant pressure is being put on the private firms wbo have contracted for the fifty torpedo cutters to complete portions of their work with the utmost urgency, and immediately a torpedo steamer is ready it is despatched by special train to Sebastopol, whence it is sent by sea to some destination on the Turkish coast. The ports on the Black Sea having withstood Hobart Pasha’s fleet, are considered sufficiently strong to resist any other, and therefore no alterations are being made at them; but at Olchakoff there is an exception to the rule, the batteries being strengthened with guns of heavier calibre in order to frustrate any attempt to seize Nicolaieff. It is considered very improbable that Russia will make any serious movement at Constantinople till she has consolidated her naval position on t,;e Marmora, and transported the stores which are gathered in such immense quantities along the Roumanian frontier. The Government \rs-elsaro iiow actively employed COOTey* in-: store# ihum Odessa to MICUiUi 'r