THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5041, 21 May 1877, Page 2

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

THE WAR. Auckland, Saturday. The Russians had only crossed the Pruth when the steamer left San Fransisco ; there are therefore no accounts of engagements. The Turkish Government demanded of Roumania that she should resist the passage of the Russians, but the Romanians replied that it was too serious an undertaking. At a review of his troops at Kitchener the Czar, addressing the officers, said: “I felt grieved at sending you to the field of battle, and therefore delayed action as long as possible, hesitating to shed your blood ; but now that the honor of Russia is attacked, I am convinced that you will know how to vindicate it. May God be with you. I wish you complete success. Farewell until you return.” Great enthusiasm prevails among the troops. The Grand Duke Nicholas has issued a proclamation to the Roumanians, stating that the army came as friends, for the sole purpose of helping the unhappy Christians. Everything required for the ai-my would be paid for. Fifty thousand Russian troops marched on Galatz ; another fifty thousand crossed the river at Reni, Matchin, Leora, and Gheni.

Ten thousand Turks marched from Widin to defend the Danube between Silistria and Ismial. Rustchuk is well garrisoned. The Turks have made great preparations for defending the Danube by iron-clad boats. The Turkish troops are in good spirits, but suffer from dysentery.

The Porte has made a demand on Servia to prevent the passage of Russian troops. The Sultan sent a requisition to the Khedive for troops, and he promised fifty thousand.

The Russian fleets in the Atlantic and Pacific have been ordered to concentrate in the Mediterranean.

The Russian foreign representatives were instructed to announce that the Czar did not make war for territoriai aggrandisement, hut simply to exact guarantees for the observance of the conditions prescribed by the Conference at Constantinople. The bankers waited on the Grand Vizier, declaring that the reduction of the salaries of the telegraph operators deprives them of sub' sistence. The Grand Vizier replied that he did not know how anybody could be paid now, even in paper, as there was barely enough money to provide the army with flour and rice.

The Turkish army in Asia is said to be insufficiently fed and in arrears of pay, and the population of Armenia resist the conscription. The representatives of the Porte abroad, however, deny these rumors, and state that the army is in good condition and spirits. The correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says: “I have just inspected the Ottoman fleet in the Bosphorus, and find the condition of the Sultan’s navy splendid. The vessels are fully manned, and the discipline is as good as possible. Hobart Pasha has been formally appointed commander of the Black Sea squadron, which comprises fifteen ironclads. The forts on the Bosphorus are also ready, and the reports from the armies are satisfactory.” Mahomet Pasha, first A.D.C. of the Sultan, has left the capital to inspect the troops and munitions of war in Anatolia, and superintend the final arrangements along the Asiatic frontier.

Adul Kerim, the Turkish General, has started for Shumla, to assume the command of the army of the Danube. The Athens correspondent of the Daily Neios states that the Greek Government has given orders that an army of sixty thousand men should be in readiness for active service in case of need. The feeling in Athens is intensely anti-Russian.

The Bosnian refugees now in Austrian territory number 110,000, who cost their entertainers 300,000 florins per month. In consequence of the insurrection this number should be doubled, and Austria might be compelled to cross the frontier with an armed force to quell the localised insurrection. With this view Count Izapiry has received orders to make every preparation at the frontier for such necessity. The Paris correspondent of The Times says: “ It is a mistake to think that the Turks would greet the Austrians as allies, and allow them to penetrate into Bosnia without striking a blow. Such resistance would be an ephemeral struggle, but would necessitate the declaration of war by Austria. The entry of Austria on the scene would be looked upon as a signal for wide complications.” One telegram states that Turkey has expressed her willingness to cede Herzegovina to Austria, thereby improving the Dalmatian frontier.

It is stated that Minister Layard has informed the Porte that England has guaranteed the integrity and independence of the Ottoman Empire only under the conditions laid down by treaties stipulating for the exercise of control by the Powers. The Porte having contested this right, has forfeited the benefits guaranteed by these treaties, and England could not intervene with arms in its behalf. The Persian camp on the Turkish frontier will be broken up to prevent any misunderstanding. No claim was made on Bagdad. The bombardment of Odessa is expected, and the Russian authorities have made preparations. The German contractors who supplied the German army in 1870 have undertaken large contracts under the Russians. One division of the Russian army was to move to the S\ilina mouth of the Danube, and cross into the Dobrudsoha. A letter from Bosnia states that the Turkish atrocities there exceeded those in Bulgaria, A despatch from Vienna reports that the Roumanian troops occupied Oltenitiza opposite Turtukai, Giurgevo opposite Rustohuk, and Kalarash opposite Silistria, under Russian commanders, in order to permit the Russian forces to concentrate between Brahilov and Ismail and Tultcha.

Twenty thousand Roumanians are forming the reserve troops.

A portion of the Turkish flotilla is taking up a position near Galatz, where the Turks expect the Russians will try to cross the Danube. The Servian Government has sent troops to Gladova to disarm the Servian volunteers who refuse to disband. A Servian corps of observation is forming on Timok. Letters from Erzerum, in Asiatic Turkey, state that there is great agitation among the Koords. The troops who were stationed upon the plain of Mashatablis were recently ordered to Erzerum. Immediately on. their departure some of the Khoordish tribes rose, burned their barracks, and commenced to plunder the Christian villages. The inhabitants fled to Bitliss. The Khoords have now been scattered over the country for three weeks, robbing caravans and travellers. The cavalry which have been sent against them are too few to drive them back. The movement of the troops between Trebizond and Erzerum is more active than ever. All the necessaries of life are at famine prices. Commerce no longer exists, and distress is extreme. The pay of the troops is thirty or thirty-five mouths in arrears, and they arc ill-fed and ill-clad. A correspondent of the Standard on board the Danube steamboat reports that the Turks made a great movement from Widam towards Kustcliuk in boats towed by steamers. The Turkish preparations for the defence of the Danube, by means of gunboats, ironclads, &0., are most formidable. The Turkish troops are well armed and clothed and in good spirits, though dysentery has appeared among them.

GENERAL NEWS. London. Charles Bradlaugh and Mrs. Annie Bissant have been arrested on a charge of issuing immoral publications. The plague has broken out at Bagdad. The cattle plague has appeared at Willesden, in Middlesex. One thousand iron shipbuilders have struck at Stockton-on-Tees, England. The London Times roughly estimates that last year’s expenditure will exceed the revenue by five millions sterling. One hundred thousand persons proposed to march in procession to the House of Commons to present a petition in favor of the Tichborne claimant. Troops were kept in the barracks to prevent disorders. Fifty thousand persons took part in the Tichborne demonstration. Lingall and Sons, Liverpool, have failed for two millions and a half. The Pall Mall Gazette thinks it doubtful whether Bismarck will not retire altogether. The German contractors are making large army contracts at St. Petersburg. The retirement of Bismarck is regarded as opportune for re-epening negotiations with Germany and Rome to regulate the relations as to Church and State. Russia is cultivating friendly relations with Rome, and proposes to the Vatican to settle long-standing differences. In Italy much discontent exists amongst the commercial population. The Republican International Societies are to be suppressed. A telegram from Rome says that bands of Internationalists, who belong to the lowest classes of the population, and have auarchial intentions, have appeared in various provinces. At Silino a band of thirty took possession of the town hall, and burned the archives. Most of them were arrested. Austria is well prepared for war. A Standard special says it is impossible for Hungary and Austria to remain neutral. Both argue in favor of an alliance with England against Russia. In France President McMahon has instructed the Minister for Justice and Public Worship to rebuke the Bishop of Nevers for meddling with foreign politics. The Bank of France has reduced discount to 3 per cent. San Fkancisco, April 25. There has been a fight with the Indians on the Buffalo Ranges by hunters. Fifteen of the latter were killed. In Mexico a battle took place near Manezath, in the State of Cauoa, between General Tongillos and the enemy-. It lasted seven hours. Tongillos was victorious. The losses on both sides were heavy. The brig Roanoke has been wrecked, and eleven persons drowned. A terrible explosion of powder took place at a powder mill near Santa Cruz. Several persons were injured. Sixty thousand miners are idle in the coal regions of Pennsylvania. Laura O’Fair is bankrupt. Spotted Tail and many Indians have surrendered.

The steamship Leo was burned at sea. The captain and thirteen of the crew escaped in a lifeboat. Three passengers and eighteen of the crew are missing. Paul Morphy, the chess player, is in New Orleans Lunatic Asslura.

A terrible tornado occurred at Rutherford, Tennessee. It blew down fifteen houses, and killed three persons and wounded eight.

The Grand Dukes Alexis and Constantine and the admirals of the Russian fleet have visited New York. The small-pox in San Francisco originated on board the Alaska from China. The labor market in California is terribly depressed. Mexico outraged the American flag by the seizure of the schooner Montana and the arrest of the United States Consul at Acapulco. Two American war vessels have been sent to inquire into the matter. At St. Louis on April the 11th the Southern Hotel, the finest of the kind in the city, was entirely destroyed by fire between one and two o’clock in the morning. Before the engines arrived the entire upper stories were in flames. At 2 o’clock the scenes in the vicinity of the hotel were indescribable, and the excitement was intense. A large number of the inmates were killed in the flames, others were dashed to pieces by jumping from windows. 200 female helps were asleep on the sixth floor at the outbreak, and the mortality among them was very great. Many wonderful escapes and deeds of heroic valor were performed. The hotel was completely destroyed. The loss of property is estimated at one million dollars. The insurance about a fourth of the sum. The number of killed is 125. CHINA, Ten thousand troops mutinied near Tientsin. They threw away their arms, and marched to Shantung. The Japanese General Saigo is being gradually driven from Kumamoto River. COMMERCIAL. New York, April 24. Wheat is active and excited at 2dols. to 2dols. 20c., being an advance of 10 cents. Whale oil is quiet and weak at from 65 to 72 cents. ; sperm oil quiet and weak, 1 dol. 31 cents, to 1 dol. 32ceuts. ; winter bleached, Idol. 60cents. to Idol. 65oents. Wool is steady; California has fallen to 14 to 20 cents. ; burry, 12 to 15 cents.; California spring, 20 to 27cents. ; burry, 15 to 20 cents.; pulled spring, 20 to 27 cents. ; burry, 15 to 20 cents. ; pulled, 28 to 35 cents. New York flour is very active, held at 50 cents to Idol, higher. Cotton is quiet. Petroleum—Devoe’s brilliant screwtopped cans, 34 cents. ; faucet cans, 35 cents. ; Downer’s kerosene, 47J to 50 cents.; Eureka, in barrels, has been reduced to 22J to 25 cents, per gal. Quicksilver, market quiet at 41 cents, per pound. Oats, 2dols. 50 cents, for Oregon. Liverpool, April 24.

Californian wheat, 11s. lid. to 12s. 3d.; Club, 12s. 3d. to 12s. Bd. The Daily Morning Call of April 25 has the following :—The topic of most absorbing interest in grain circles to-day has been the probable effect of the Turko-Russian war upon the wheat trade of the Pacific Coast. Prices have already reached a high range; but the tendency is still upward. The further advance of 3d. was telegraphed from Liverpool this morning, and this market immediately responded by touching 2dola. 70 cents. The English market must be very strong not to be affected by the heavy arrivals of the past two days. The fleet which reached British ports from the coast during' the forty-eight hours ending yesterday numbered thirty vessels, with upwards of 1,000,000 centals wheat. Confidence in the permanency of a dear market must be great to carry it still upward in theface of these unprecedentedly heavy receipts. It is unfortunate that California should not this season be in a position to reap the full benefit of the high prices the next crop is likely to realise. Although the harvest will prove very deficient in a largo portion of the State, we still shall have a considerable surplus for export. All that part of the great region north of San Francisco bay will produce the average crop, and sanguine people think we shall have 250,000 to 300,000 tons for export, and that it will bring 30. per pound. Oregon is peculiarly favored this season owing to the light rainfall having been very favorable for the operations of farmers, and a much greater area than usual has been sown. Advices from all parts of that State give us the assurance that the crop prospects were never better, and that the yield will be the greatest ever produced.