ADDITIONAL MAIL NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 22, 25 January 1878, Page 2

ADDITIONAL MAIL NEWS.

The following interesting items of news were telegraphed to tbe N. Z. Times by its Auckland correspoudent:-=-In the speech from the throne on the opening of the Turkish Parliament at Constantinople, on December 14, the Sultan declared that Russia began the war, and that Turkey was compelled to defend herself against aggression, and had oifered the utmost resistance. The Ottomans had displayed a most patriotic spirit, as was evinced by the selfdenial of all classes, and the courage of the Turkish soldiers had excited the admiration of the world. His Majesty spoke with special approbation of the formation of the Civic Guard. His noil-Mussulman subjects had showa a conscientious desire to share in

the defence of the country. The Constitution granted to non-Mussulman subjects gave them perfect equality in the eye of the law; therefore, as they had acquired corresponding duties at home, it was only natural they should share military service, and the Government decided to enlist non-Mussulman subjects in the ranks of the army. The only safeguard for the empire was to completely carry out the Constitution. The Sultan's dearest wishes were to see all classes of his subjects enjoy the blessings of complete equality, and the country would profit by the acceptance of modern ideas on financial reforms. He advocated the fulfilment of national engagements, and the adjustment of taxation in accordance with the rule of sound political economy, the collection of the revenue on an equitable system, the revision of the judicial system, and reform so as to facilitate the tenure and the sale of landed property, as also the bestowal of municipal privileges as the basis of the administrative system. Unfortunately, the calamities of war had retarded the accomplishment of these reforms; nevertheless, the Sultan hoped for the future progress of reforms. Various measures had been prepared by the Council of State, which would be submitted to the consideration of Parliament — coucerning the civil procedure, the general elections, ministerial functions, High Court of Justice, the public Press, taxotiou, aud the state of siege. He [concluded as follows:-" Truth can be elicited on questions of- political and civil rights only by perfect liberty of discussion. That liberty having been conferred by the Constitution you require no further instructions. Our relations with the friendly Powers are of the most cordial kind, aud may the Most High bless our common efforts." A correspondent of the London Telegraph writes:—" I wish those who made this war could have been with us yesterday and the day before, for we made two days of it from Sophia, halting at Tashkisend, at the southern foot of the hills. A vivid pen might easily draw a lively picture of the wretchedness and misery this war is causing. It is not like other wars, where peaceful inhabitants remain uumolested. Here, and hereabouts, directly the enemy advances all the townspeople and villagers decamp, and just now that the Russians have gained a success between Plevna and Orchanie, the whole country is on the move. All the roads to Sophia are blocked with refugees, of whom there are about ten thousand five hundred in and around the town. As we proceeded we encountered parties of Mussulmans coming in. Some Bulgarians and Circassians were also fleeing, but they formed only a small portion of the fugitives. On the first half of tbe road we counted eleven hundred carts, and estimated that about four persons were in each cart. Many flocks of sheep and herds of cattle are being driven in every direction. The head of the household conducted his own cart, which contained the family, their clothing, food, cooking utensils, and provender for the bullocks. The second half of the road was in a dreadful state, and consisted of a steep ascent cut through a gorge in the mountains, winding upwards for about fifteen miles. The whole of this road was blocked and chocked with carts in indescribable confusion. We estimated them at six thousand, making iu all about twenty-five thousand souls driven from their homes, and wandering they knew not whither. Many of the fugitives appeared to look upon tbe situation as hopeless, and with serene confidence in fate camped out, driving the bullocks into the ravines and more practicable places at the sides of the road, but of course leaving t heir carts to form an impenetrable block. All classes seemed to be involved iu oue common interest. All fled from the Russian and dreaded the Cossack— whether Mussulman, Bulgarian, Circassian, Jew, or Gipsy, all were struggling in this confused mass of humanity. Not that all were equally miserable—after the sickening group of greybearded and broken-down old men and half naked paralytic hags, the eye would light upon the merry rosy faces of a cartload of children quite enjoying the novelty of the scene. Here delicately nurtured Mussulman women, whose faces never before had been exposed to the gaze of men, might be seen picking their way through deep mud; and little girls seven or eight years of age drove hideous shaggy buffaloes, striking them feeble blows and pulling at their nose-cords with truly infantine cruelty. A panorama of rural life in its worstaspect was presented to us. It is impossible to forget that though nearly all the families had food left for a few days, yet when once that was exhausted they had nothing to look forward to but starvation. Almost every town, district, and village is already full of fugitives, who have been placed ou the English relief list, and' get a sum considered just sufficient to keep body and soul together, to supply them with food, drink, lodgiugs, and clothing. For food they get bread; for drink, water; for lodgings, the ground or a cart; for clothing, what they have on their backs. The sum that supplies all these luxuries is 2d per day per head. A correspondent at Plevna telegraphs the following concerning Osman Pasha's reception by the Russians :— The Grand Duke Nicholas rode up to Osman's carriage, and for some seconds the two chiefs gazed into each others faces without the utterance of a word. The Grand Duke stretched out his hand and shook hands with Osman Pasha heartily, saying, " I compliment you on your defence of Plevna ; it is one of the most splendid military feats in history." Osman smiled sadly, and rose painfully to his feet in spite of his wound. He then reseated himself. The Russian officers all cried " Bravo, bravo," repeatedly, and all saluted respectfully. There was not one among themwho did not gaze on the hero of Plevna with the greatest admiration aud sympathy. Priuce Charles of Roumauia, who had arrived, rode up, and repeated unwittingly almost every word of the Grand Duke, aud likewise shook hands with Osman, who again rose and bowed, this time in grim silence. Osman Pasha wore his loose blue cloak, with no apparent mark ou it to designate his rank, and the red fez. He is a large and strongly built man. The lower part of his face was covered with a short black beard without a streak of grey. He has a large Roman nose and black eyes. " It is a grand face," exclaimed Colonel Gaillard, the French military attache. " I was ahuost afraid of seeing him, lest my expectation should be disappointed, but he more than fulfils my ideas." "It is the great military chieftain," said yoijng Skoboloft\ "I am glad I have seen him ; Osman Ghazi he is, and Osman the Victorious he will remain, in spite of his surrender." Later special telegrams to the New York Herald state that it is generally believed at Bucharest that Osman will be tried by a j military court of the highest jurisdiction for the slaughter of the wounded 'after the great battle of July 31, at the fight before the Gravitza redoubt of September 11, and several other minor engagements. Discoveries made by the Russian siuce occupying the fortifications of Plevna, information gained from thp Turkish officers, aud above all the absence of the Russian prisoners, although several hundred have been captured during all the engagements, leave no reasonable doubt that the Turks under Osman Pasha have been guilty of deeds which will render his now illustrious name for ever infamous. It will be remembered that iu August, 1865, a special military comralssiou sat at Washington to try Wertz, charged with destroying the lives of soldiers confined in Andersville Military Prison, crimes of which Wertz was convicted, and for which he was afterwards hanged. These crimes were less offensive to the code of modern warfare than those s:u-

puted to Osman Paha. Every day brings to light some new horror at Plevna. The Standard iu a leading article explains that the victory of the Russians is not the cause of the summoning of Parliament, but the license which is given to Russia by Germany and Austra to use the victory "in her own way. This is what constitutes the danger to British interests. England can never consent to the quarrel being arranged on those terms. She ma" even have cause to demur to peace made directly between the belligerents. She claims a voice in the settlement of the matter, aud it is that she may be prepared to insist upon that voice that the Government is adopting those measures which Parliament is invited to sanction. A farmer named Dewes has been charged with causing the death of a new-born child by dashing it on the floor in a fit of rage on learning that it was a boy, and not, as he had wished, a girl. He has been sent for trial for manslaughter.