ADDITIONAL MAIL NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 90, 15 April 1878, Page 4

ADDITIONAL MAIL NEWS.

In connection with the }he statement of the Secretary for Vv* 8 r s we fake the following extract from an article by Sir G. Wolsel^y, entitled "England as a Military Power," in the number of the Nineteenth Century" for March:— *' At no previous period of our history have we been so strong in a military eenee as at present. In 1854 we were very weak in field artillery, and the OQilitarv force in these islands was under 70,000 men, and there was no reserve whatever beyond B ome pensioners too old for field service. Were war declared to-morrow about 400,000 drilled men would fall into line if required, supported by 372 field guns, manned and horsed by Royal Artillery. That number would roughly be madß up as follows: — Standing army at home, 99,000 men; army and militia reserve 40,000 militia 85,000 men 5 volunteers, 180.000 men; second class army reserve, 10,000 men ; total, 414,000 In this calculation I Lave put figures very low, and I have left out altogether 1000 yeomanry available for home Bervice. I have likewise not taken into consideration the nutr.bsr of regular troops that would be available for war when the Mediterranean garrison is furnished by the militia. It will be seen that we could at ones take the field with two fully equipped army corps of more than 30,000 soldiers each, leaving a similar force of regular troops at home as a reserve. When I compare the military strength of England now with what it was in 1854, I am as much amazed at the conditions of military weakness and helplessness in which we were when we began the Kußßian war of that year, as I am at the ignorance of those who are now heard crooking over our supposed want of strength and our alleged consequent inability to fight. Unlike most other nations, if we declared war we need have no apprehension of invasion. This confers upon us thß great advantage of being able to chooee our own time for beginning active hostilities, and as our army would necessarily have to be conveyed by sea to the theatre of war, we are always able te Belect the line of operations considered best and most suitable to the force wo act with. In fact the initiative would rest with us, and I need not tell the student of history how invaluable this is to a commander who knows how to Jtake advantage of it. But if we are to secure this national advantage of the initiative we must act with unity of purpose."

The Rußso-Turkish treaty bears the title " Preliminaries of Peace." It con - tains 20 articles. The opening articles relate to Montenegro, .Servia, and Bulgaria. The indemnity is fixed at 1,410,000,000 roubles, but 1,100,000, 000 are covered by the territorial cessions. ■ Nothing is fixed concerning the terras and period of the payment of the 1,410,000,000. No guarantee is stipulated nor is there any mention of Egyptian or Bulgarian tributes, or of the Turkish fleet. The treaty simply stptes that Russia and Turkey should agree subsequently about the payment. Pirout remains in Bulgaria. Servia includes Scenitiza, Novibaizaar, and UraDja ; Montenegro includes Antivari, Spuza, Podgoriliza, and Nicieea. All the Bulgarian fortresses are to be razed and the Turkish troops withdrawn. A military road is to be established for the Okawau posts, telegraph, and passage of troops, which, however, must not make any considerable halt while pasaiug through the country. Mussulmans may return to Bulgaria. Any properly, of Mussulmans who have not returned, which they had left undisposed of, may be sold after two years for the benefit of the widows and orphans' fund. Arrears on taxeß in Bosnia acd Herzegovina to be remitted. The revenue until 1880 to be applied to an indemnity for (ho suflWers by the insurrection, and to provide for local needs. The Austrian and Russian commissioners will arbitrate all disputed claims. The navigation ot the Straits is declared free for merchant vessels during peace or war. Six divisions of Russian infantry and two of cavalry are to occupy Bulgaria until the formation of a Bulgarian militia, the strength of which will be fixed later by Russia atjd Turkey. The Russian army of occupation will preserve its Communications both through Roumania and the Black Sea; the expenses of Russian occupation to be be borne by Bulgaria. Roumania is authorised to make demands for the indemnity direct to the Porte, and to make a direct treaty. No indemnity is stipulated for Servia or Montenegro. The Russian, Turkish, Bulgarian commissioners will determine the Bulgarian tribute. The reform programme of the Constantinople conference is to be applied to Bosnia and Herzegovina, nnd an organisation similar to that granted to Crete in 1868 is stipulated for Thesgaly and Epirus. No mention ismade of Greece or Crete. Batoum, Ardehan, Kara, and Bayazid are ceded to Russia. Erzeroum and Trebizond are not mentioned, exoept that the Russians may embark at Trebizond on the return home. Asiatic Turkey is to be evacuated in six months and the evacuation of European Turkey is to be begun immediately, and to be completed within three months. The European Danube commission retains its former rights, the Porte undertaking the expense of re-establishing navigation in the Danube, and indemnifying all private losses, the amounts to be deducted by the Commission from the sums it owes to the Porte. Russia receives Dobiudscha to exchange it for Bessarabia. The question of the Turko-PerßJan frontier is . to be epeedliy settled.

The Daily. Neivs telegrams give additional details respecting General Gourka'g recent operations. A correspondent describes the road from Phillipoppolis to Hermann as 70 miles ef utter desolation, strewn with the household effects of many thousand families — "a sickening panorama of death in every form." On one day he counted 200 dead non-combatants by the wayeide. Further on, in a spot where a large bivouac had been formed, it was estimated that 500 dead bodies were lying on the ground. As many as 15,000 carts had halted ther9, and at least 75,000 persons had deserted the whole of their possessions, and fled with what they couldcarry in their hands. The sufferings of the fugitive- population are described as very terrible. Great anxiety is felt at Constantinople from swaggering bands of discontented lawlees Turkish irregulars, and there are also fears of an outbreak from some terrible epidtmic, such as small-pox or typhoid fever. Every train that arrives brings thousands of refugees, amongst whom there are always some cases of these diseases. In the hurry and confusion attendant upon the escorting of these bewildered and Bhivering wretches to different asylums, no one thinks of looking for. sufferers, and separating them from others. Diseased and healthy are crowded into mosques, and refuge houses, and it is only next day, when perhaps the disease has been communicated to many, that measures are taken to isolate patients.

Papers submitted to Parliament show that in June last, before the Russians crossed the Balkacs, the Russian Ambaseador in London, in an interview with Lord Darby concerning the relations between. England and Russia, and the conditions on which the Czar might make peace with Turkey, expressly declined to give a pledge that the Russians would not " pursue military operations to the walls of the Turkish capital." He further epoke of the present arrangements regulating the navigation of the Straits bb conceived in a spirit of enmity to Russia, and therefore as calling for European revision. The aims of Russia in the war he defined as to terminate once and for ever the continual crisis iu the East ; firßt by proving her military superiority to Turkey ; and secondly, by guaranteeing the Greek Christians against Turkish abuses. He also spoke of it as indispensable that Bulgaria on both sides the range should form a vassal autonomous principality. Further than this he said that the Russian Government would also demand as the price of peace the recession of that portion of Bessarabia which Ruesia lost in 1856, and the cession of Batoum, with the adjoining territory. Can it therefore be said that the Russian demands have taken the Government by surprise ? Arrangements are being completed for sending an expeditionary force to the East. It is understood that 60,000 men can be landed in a month. Lord Napier will be appointed Commander in the event of his services being required.

A large meeting in favor of peace was held in Hyde Parke on Sunday, where a counter demonstration, held at the same time as the former, was being addressed by the Hon. Auberon Herbert. A section of the war party advanced to the positions held by the peace party to propose an amendment, when somß blows were exchanged, but fortunately no serious injury was done. The windows of Mr. Gladstone's house were broken, and damage to the extent of £3 10s was doue. A lad, who broke the windows, was captured by the police, and made to pay the damage and a fine of £2.

Papers have been issued from the Foreign Office giving a correspondence between the Russian and British Governments relative to the conditions of peace which Russia would have been disposed to accept in June last. They are nearly the same as now asked, but not so sweeping or exacting. Server Pasha, the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affira, has resigned, it is believed, in consequence of the remonstrance made by Mr Layard to the Porte that he should be dismissed for the statements he made to the correspondent of the Daily News, in which he made insinuations seriously affecting Mr. Layard and the Prime Minister, Server Pasha having stated that they (the Turks) were led into the present desperate plight through the representations held out by the two latter gentlemen that England would eventually help the Turks.

The Turkish irregular troops continue their rapine, murder, and devastation. Sixteen villages have been burned and pillaged. The inhabitants have either fled or perished . The Turkish authorities profess to be collecting and protecting the refugees at Delvino, but many are known to be killed. The Consuls have represented the condition of affairs to their Governments, and appealed for preventive measures. The British Consul has been particularly active, and the British man-of-war Rapid has done everything possible for the refugees.

The Golos says that typhus is increasing rapidly among the Eussian troops in Roumania. All the Roumanian railway carriages are infected, and ifc is absolutely necessary for the army in Turkey to return by sea and not through Koumania

In the House of Commons the Eight Hon. Gathorne Hardy, Secretary for War, in reply to a question asked by Sir Henry Marsham Havelock, the Liberal member for Sunderland, said that the transport carriages, ambulances and ammunitoia trains for the first army

corps had been completed, and for the second corps are infa fair way of getting ready. 'Z^.. '' The English "War Office has invited tenders for the supply of 150.000 Martini-Henri rifles.

It is said that the Duke of Edinburgh will return to England shortly, his term as commander of the Sultan having nearly expired. Great distress is prevalent in tne mining districts of England and Scotland, and distress is spreading in the Forest of Dean, one family being fed upan grains and treacle.

The German Ambassador in London has been voted an addition of £1500 to his salary, the high price of living in England being given as the reason. Dr. Kenealey's appeal for one million sixpences to form a fund to return a number of "good men and true," like himself, to Parliament, has so far only resulted in £82 being subscribed by the British public, who evidently do not relish paying for the services of " good men and true " of the " doctor's " stamp. By the latest accounts from China, it appears that it the famine region there were 9,000,000 persons literally starving to death. The bark of trees was used for food," and every green thing eaten up. The Belief Committees are taking up subscriptions in England.

American news during the past four weeks has been singularly devoid of new. or interesting topics. There are reports from the Eastern States of depression and shattered confidence, owing to uncertainty as to credit, and the record of failures is continuous, some of the oldest concerns having gone into voluntary bankruptcy. There is in almost every case such a disproportion of the assets to the liabilities as to intensify' the want of confidence in merchantile circleles. The consequence is that everything continues to be of the hand-to-mouth order.

A telegram from Ottawa dated 22nd inst., states that at that day's sitting of the Dominion House of Commons the Finance brought forward the Candian Budget, In his speech on the occasion the Minister announced a deficit of 1,160,000 dols., caused by the falling off in the trade returns, as compared with last year, to the extent of 5,000,000;