MAIL NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 335, 21 May 1877, Page 4

MAIL NEWS.

The following is a summary of the news brought by the City of New York, ■which arrived at Auckland from San Francisco on Saturday afternoon, the steamer's dates being up to the 25th April:— WAR NEWS. On the 24th April the Russians crossed the Pruth ; there are, therefore, no accounts of engagements. The Turkish Government demanded Roumania to resist the passage of the Russian troops, but Roumania replied that it was too serious an undertaking. At a review of troops at Kichener, 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 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 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 army would be paid for. Fifty thousand Russian troops marched on Galatz, and another fifty thousand crossed the river at Kemfenstchen Leoraunsteni. Ten thousand Turks marched from Widin to defend the Danube between Silistria and Ismail. Rustchuk is well garrisoned. The Turks have made great preparations for defending the Danube by ironclad 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 the Danube by troops. The Sultan has sent a requisition to the Khed've for troops, and he has promised fifty thousand. The Russian fleets in the Atlantic and Pacific Imve been ordered to concentrate in the Meditteranean. The Russian representatives were instructed to announce that the Czar did not make war for territorial aggrandisement, but 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 telegraph operators deprived them of subsistence. The Grand Vizier l-eplied 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. T e population of Armenia resist the conscriptions. The representatives of the Porte abroad, however, deny these rumours, and state that the army is in good condition and spirits. A correspondent of the Dai.hj Telegraph says :—" I have just inspected the Ottoman fleet in the Bosphorus, and find tha 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 Blaek Sea Squadron, which comprises fifteen ironclads. The forts on the Bosphorus are also ready. Reports from the armies are satisfactory. Mahomet Pasha, first A.D.G. 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. Abdul Kerim, the Turkish General, has started for Shumla to assume the command of the army of the Danube. The Athens correspondent of the Daily News states that the Greek Government; has given orders that an army of 60,000 men shall be in readiness for active service in case of need. The feeling in Athens is intensely an ti-Russian. The Bosnian refugees now in Austrian territory number 110,000, and cost their entertainers 300,000 florins per month. In consequence of an insurrection, this number would be doubled, and Austria might be compelled to cross the frontier to quell the localised insurrection. With this view Count Ignapiray has received orders to make every preparation at the frontier for such a necessity. The Pan's 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. Their resistance would be an ephemeral struggle," but would necessitate a declaration of war by Austria. The entry of Austria on the scene would be looked upon as the signal for a wide conflagration. One telegram states that Turkey has expressed willingness to cede Herzegovina to Austria, as improving the Dalmatian frontier. It is stated that Mr. Lanyard 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 a 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 uj> to prevent misunderstanding. From the Plain of Nashbetilis, where t'. ey were recently, they ; were ordered to Erzerouin. Immediately ] on their departure, some of the Khordish < tribes rose, burned the barracks, and com- 1

menced to plunder Christian villages. The inhabitants fled to Bitlish. The Khoords have now been scattered over ' the country for three weeks, robbing , caravans and travellers. The cavalry . wliich has been sent against them are too few to drive them back. The movements of the troops between Trebuzona and Erzeroum are more active than ever. All necessaries are at famine . prices. Commerce no longer exists, and distress in the extreme prevails. The pay of the troops is thirty and thirty-five , months in arrears, and they are ill fed and clamorous. I A correspondent "of the Standard on board a Danube steam boat, reports that the Turks made a great movement from - Lidden towards Rustchuk in boats towed ; by steamers. The Turkish preparation ; for the defence of the Danube by means | of gunboats, ironclads, &c., is most formidable. The Turkish troops are well t armed and clothed, and in good spirits, • although dysentery has appeared among them. ». EUROPEAN" NEWS. Mr. Charles Bradlaugh and Mrs. Annie b Bissant have been arrested on a charge of s issuing immoral publications. News has been received that the Plague I has broken out at Bagdad. The cattle plague has appeared at Willesl den, Middlesex. I One thousand iron shipbuilders have - struck at Stockton-on-Tees. The London Times roughly estimates i that last year's expenditure will exceed l the revenue by five millions sterling. One hundred thousand persons propose to march in procession to the House of - Commons, to present a petition in favour - of the Tichborne Claimant. Fifty thousand persons took part in ; another Tichborne demonstration. Fingall and Sons, Liverpool, have - failed for two millions and a half. GERMANY. [ The Pall Mall Gazette thinks it doubtful whether Bismarck will not retire alto- ! get her. j German contractors are making large army contracts. ; RUSSIA. The retirement of Bismarck is regarded • as opportune for re-opening negotiations • with Germany, to regulate the relations Church and State. Russia is cultivating friendly relations ! with Rome, and proposes to the Vatican l to settle long-standing differences. ITALY. 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 anarchael intentions, have appeared in various provinces. At Serlerno, a band of thirty took possession of the Town Hall, and burned the archives. Most of them were arrested. AUSTRIA. Austria is well prepared for war. The » Standard's special says it is impossible for Hungary and Austria to remain neutral. ! Both argue in favour of an alliance with England, against Russia. FRANCE. President M'Mahon instructed the Minister of Justice and Public Worship 1 to rebuke the Bishop of Nevers for meddling with foreign polities. The Bank of France has reduced discount to three per cent. - AMERICAN" NEWS. Sak Francisco, April 20. In a fight with Indians on the Buffalo Range by hunters, fifteen of the latter were killed. In Mexico, a battle took place near Manezath, in the State of Canca, between General Tongellos and the enemy. It lasted seven hours. Tongellos was victorious. The losses on both sides were heavy. The brig Roanoli has been wrecked ; 11 persons were drowned. A terrible explosion of powder occurred at a mill near Lantor, Santa Cruz, by which several persons were injured. Sixty thousand miners are idle in the coal regions of Pennsylvania. The steamship Leo was burned at sea ; the captain and 13 of the crew escaped in lifeboats. Three passengers and 18 of the crew are missing. A terrible tornado at Rutherford, Tennesse, blew down 15 houses, killed three persons, and wounded eight. The smallpox has broken out in San Francisco. It originated on board the Alaska, from China. The labour market in Calafomia is terribly depressed. At St. Louis, on April 11th, the Southern Hotel, the finest of its kind in the city, was destroyed by fire at between 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning. Before the engines arrived at the fire the upper storeys 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, and the others were dashed to pieces by jumping from the windows. Two hundred female helps were asleep on the sixth floor at the outbreak of the fire. The mortality among them was veiy great. Many wonderful ' escapes occurred, and many deeds of heroic valour were performed. The hotel was completely destroyed. The loss of property is estimated at one million dollars. The insurance is about one-fourth of the amount. The number of killed ■was 123.