WAR ITEMS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 224, 21 September 1877, Page 2

WAR ITEMS.

(From the Post, September 18.) Two hundred volunteers have left Medina for Constantinople with nine holy banners. The Czar has abandoned his previous determination respecting foreign officers in the Russian array, for two German officers have heen admitted to serve. According to a St. Petersburg telegram great indignation has been aroused in consequence of the committee charged with the investigation of the accounts of the stores commissariat having discovered enormous defalcations at Odessa. They have proved that 120,000 pounds of bay and 200,000 roubles worth of corn are missing, and that the groater part of the biscuits aud bread arc filled with sand. The following official telegram has beeu received at the Ottomau embassy in Paris from Constantinople :— "Duritig an engagement at Tchamtchara, in Asia, the Russian troops directed tbeir fire on the hospital, although the neutralising flag— that is, the red crescent on a white ground— waved above it. The hospital contained wounded, many of whom, prevented by their condition from taking flight, were killed. Wa call the attention of indignant Europe to this cruel act." A Ragusa telegram, dated 18th July, says: "Twenty-two English steamers, two of which are ironclads, embarked 48 battalions, under the command of Sulieman Pasha, the day before yesterday, at Antivari, and sailed for Salonica, where the troops will be immediately despatched to Adriauople. A splendid hospital for the Russian sick and wounded was inaugurated on Sunday on the plain of Cotreceui, in presence of the Princess Elizabeth (consort of Prince Charles of Roumania), the Princess Phakowskoi (in-spectrice-general of the sanitary department), Baron Jomini, and the commandaufc of Bucharest;. Hassan Pasha, with four vessels and boats has attacked Vikova, and destroyed the Russian signal station commanding tbe mouths of the Danube. The Cossack garrison escaped by swimming. The Japanese papers have opened subscriptions for the Russian wounded, on the ground that Japan must follow the example of Europe, and that Russia is its neighbor and friend. In consequence of the prevalence of fever iv the Russian army operating on the Danube, "Quiniuo committees" have been formed in several Russian towns. It is announced from Constantinople that the reason why the Sultan sent the Minister of War to the Danube was because uews „ from that quarter only came at prolonged intervals to the Turkish capital, and this absence of news sadly deprived the Sultan of his sleep. It is curious to remark that the Czar went dowu to the Danube for the same reason. A swindler passed himself off as the Sultan of Turkey's chief attendant, deputed to collect subscriptions for the war, and bas obtained £480 from the Seyzid of Zanzibar and his subjects. The Gazette de Moscow states that the Duchess of Edinburgh has consented to become the patroness of a sanitary traiu, to bear her name, organised by the Ladies' Committee of Ambulances afc Moscow. The Sultan gave an audience to Mehemet Ali before the latter left Constantinople, telling him that, according to fche report of Narayk Pasha, the army had lost 40 per cent in consequence of bad food and bad management. The Sultan charged him expressly to remedy this state of things, adding that defaulters in this respect, whoever they might be, would be severely punished. According to the Golos, early negotiations for the conclusion of peace are possible. If tbey were proposed, the Golos says, Russia would not be very exacting. The Editor of the Arabic journal El Jawaib has presented the Porte with a sum of £4000 subscribed by the Mahomedans in India in aid of the Turkish Government in the present war. A despatch received from the Governor of Erzeroum, states that the Russians greatly oppress the inhabitants of the districts through which they pass, aud treat women and children particularly with much cruelty Having learned that the Governor of Caza was at Kara, they pillaged the houses in the place, stripped the women and children of their clothing, and drove them naked into Kars. The despatch adds that the latter fact is confirmed by the Governor of Kars A further contingent of 3,000 Egyptian I troops hi. loft for Constantinople. J

Recent investigations prove the truth of the assertion that one baby with a large biscuit will make the couch of wearied industry more uncomfortable than 15 prize mosquitoes. The following is one of the scenes from H msard :— Mr Rees— The hon gentleman (Major Atkinson) used the term "informer " —a name infamous to be used by one gentleman towards auother-a thing which would leaye a stain upon the name of gentleman — Major Atkinson— And quite right too. -Mr Rees— Then why did you use it?— Major Atkinson— Because I meant it.— Mr Rees— And these are the aristocracy, I suppose, of this country, men who' defile the name of gentleman, men of character and conduct which would disgrace a bullock driver Mr Speaker— l call the hon member to order. It is a critical thing to decide at what point it is the duty of the Speaker to interfere. I think it was not according to Parliamentary usage to use words partaking of the character of a challenge to go outside this House; although I am bound to express the opinion that such terni3 do not bear the same interpretation and meaning in modern times as they did according to ancient usage. Afc the same time also, I think ifc i 3 very improper that they should be used. Ido not wish to attach special blame more to one side than to another, bufc I do think the debates are assuming a personal character which is very undesirable. I hope the House will consider I am acting wisely iv checking the use of such language, aud that it will support me.— Mr Rees— Of course, sir, I bow to your ruling aud to the feeling of the House. All I hare to say is, thafc the hon. gentleman first used an epithet which I think was very improper, and then repeated the expression. If what he said is uot a challenge to a gentleman who expresses his feelings, I should like to know what is. But ifc will be repeated for him on the pages of the history of this oolony ; and that, if he has any sentiment of whafc constitutes an honorable gentleman, will be his punishment.