SUEZ MAIL NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 36, 11 February 1878, Page 2

SUEZ MAIL NEWS.

London, December 21

Speaking at Edinburgh on the 20th in9t, the Secretary of War said that he thought the great danger to peace arose from the large reserves, numbering many millions, of men now collected on the Continent.

The Earl of Beacousfield has contradicted tbe reports that the Pope has written an autograph letter to the Queen thanking her for the freedom of action in connectien with the establishment of a Catholic Hierarchy in Scotland.

Five vessels, ifc is stated, have sailed for Australian and New Zealand ports during the last two mouths with quantities of gunpowder varying from 10 to 100 tons on board.

The City of Berlin, which brought the Australian mails via San Francisco, was 13 days crossing the Atlantic, having broken her propeller. She was met and taken in tow by the City of New York. Twenty guineas premium was paid on her.

The masons' strike continues, both masters aud men declining to give way. Several fights have occurred between English and foreign workmen.

Eight thousand Northumberland miners were locked out on the 18th for refusing to accept 12^ per cent reduction on their wages. The iron trade at Sheffield is in a vopy depressed state, and a large number of men are receiving fortnightly wages.

Chief Inspector Clarke, who was acquitted at the late detective trial, has been restored to full pay and reinstated, but will forthwith retire on a pension.

The new fortifications iv Germany an being rapidly completed.

The commercial treaty between England and Austria is to be prolonged.

The Milan municipality has granted an eligible site for an international exhibition to be held in 1879.

Captain Malcora, R.N., is organising the Red Sea anti-slavery police.

Queen Isabella and the wife of Don Carlos have exchanged visits in Paris, and there is a prospect of the forty years Carlist feud ending.

The news of the fall of Plevna was received with the greatest rejoicing in Russia, Roumania, and Servia. The Russian loss, it is officially stated, was ten officers and 182 men killed, and 45 officers and 1207 meu wounded. The Turks lost 4000 killed and wouuded, and there were captured ten pashas, 128 staff officers, 2000 officers, 30,000 infantry, 1200 cavalry, aud 77 field guns. The siege of Plevna, from first to last, has cost the Russians 70,000 men. The Emperor has conferred orders of the highest class on the Grand Duke Nicholas, Prince Charles of Roumania, |and General Todleben, aud many other officers have been decorated.

An auti-Uussian meeting, attended by 8000 persons, mostly students and laborers, was held at Pesth on Sunday. Violent speeches were made. M. Tizza declined to receive more than ten or twelve persons to present the resolutions agreed to. The mob broke into his dwelling, driving back the guard on duty ; the windows were smashed, and cries were raised of " Down with Audrassy," "Down with Tizza." Order was only restored by calling out the troops. The TremdenbUW. the following day stated that such manifestations would have no effect on the Austrian policy, and added that if we were to cry "Halt" to Russia, we should simply plunge ourselves into war with Russia and increase the hostility of Germany and Italy.

The Greek cabinet, at a meeting on the 16th, decided upon pursuing a peace policy. A popular demonstration in favor of war was put down by the police. The King has written a letter to Vienna saying that war would be fraught with great disadvantage to Greece, and be would not resort to it except from pressing necessity.

One hundred and four cannon were found buried at Plevna.

In an engagement on the Lorn on the 13th instant the Czarewitch was so much exposed to the Turkish fire that a ball grazed 1113

head

The flight of the ex-Khan of Khokond from Orenberg is expected to cause serious difficulties in Central Asia.