EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 21, 23 February 1878, Page 2

EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

(Fom the latest Colonial Papers.) London', January 8. Despatches received from newspaper special correspondents announce that the Turks have abandoned the Schipka Pass, and that General Hadetzsky has advanced as far as Kesanlik. The Danube is frozen at Qalats. lieouf Tasini has boon appointed Commander-in-Chief of tho Turkish army j it Handling, and Sulieman Paiho has locvpted command of a corps. Tho Turks still hold iHJSscssion of the Ichipka Pass. Tho Russians, on entering Sophia mnd 80000 wounded Turks there.

The Turkish Parliament has demanded he deposition of the Council of War. A quantity °f ammunition intentedfor Turkey lias QWO seized at Cardiff. Karnr troubles have been renewed, and the situation has become alarming. British troops have crossed the Kei River. The !>Oth Regiment has been ordered out for service at Cape. January 10.

A telegram to the Grand Duke Nicholas announces that General Rrdetzsky, after desperate lighting yesterday, captured the Turkish positions in Schipka Pass, with the whole of the Turkish force, comprising forty-one battalions of infantry, ten batteries of artillery, and one calvalry regiment. General Skobeloff now holds Schipka Pass. Tho Russian troops, having forced Trajan's Pass, took the Turks occupying Sehipka in the rear. Mirskig (fl has occupied Kesanlik. The Russians, having forced their way through Trajan Pass, have now 00,000 men south of the Balkans.

Mohemet All has started to join the army of Roumelia, and power has been given to him in regard to the\irrangemcnt of an armistice.

Tho Turks have defeated the Montenegrins at Spurz. Victor-Emanuel 11., King of Italy, is dead. During three days lie suffered from fever; ami all the aid which could he rendered by his physicians proved unavailing. The surgeons performed tin: operation of blood-letting, His Majesty received the last Sacrament. His Holiness the Pope sunt two Chamberlains with the Papal benediction, and stating that had it not been for his own illness he would have gone himself to visit the King. A general mourning has been proclaimed throughout Italy. Prince Humbert has been proclaimed King of Italy. Some uneasiness is felt in consequence of the belief that the newly proclaimed Monarch entertains very different political opinions from those which were lield by the late King of Italy. H. M. Stanley, the South African traveller, has reached Brindisi.

The Turks having notified to the Grand Duke Nicholas their desire for an armistice, he replied that lie would forward their proposals to St. Petersburg. SuliemauJPasha has beeu recalled to Stamboul.

The French Ministry have superseded those Generals who are believed to have been lately in favor of a coup d'etat. The Russian forces have crossed the Balkans at Kizcl-Tcpe, a point not far from the Dcmir-Kapu or Iron-Gate pass, and adjacent to the town of Kasan, on the direct road from Osman Bazar. Fenian military prisoners have been released, but those engaged in the Manchester murders are detained. January 11. Mr. Edward Wilson, senior proprietor of the Melbourne 'Argus,' died yesterday. January 12. Nisoh surrendered yesterday with 8000 men, a large quantity of war material, and .SO guns ; and Autivari was captured on Thursday. 28,000 Turks, 1000 horses, and 02 guns were captured by the Russians in the Schipka Pass. It is probable that Adrianople will be abandoned, and that the Turks will retreat to the Tchehreji lines. The Civil Government at Adrianople has removed to Rodosto.

It is alleged that the Russian military authorities are averse to an armistice being fixed, and will protest against any proposals on the subject being entertained until the Russians occupy Adrianoplo and Gallipoli. A telegram from Stamboul states that Mr. Layard, British Ambassador at Constantinople, has informed the Porto that Lord Loftus, by direction of Earl Derby, has complained to Prince Gortschakoff of the non-fulfilment of a promise that an order should be sent to the Russian commanders to treat for au armistice, and reminding him also that no stipulation was made that an L armistice would depend upon conditions of peace being first submitted. The "Daily News regards this as the beginning of an intrigue to involve England in the was. Three Cabinet Councils were held this week.

There has been a change in the Greece Ministry, and it will probably be difficult to restrain the war party. Tho Grand Duke Nicholas baa replied tno D Xli^Jn"±rn l y;-n 1 for an armistice must be direct with him, and that an armistice is impossible without the basis of peace conditions being first settled. A new Turkish Ministry is being formed, with Hamid Pasha as Grand Vizier, and Server Pasha as Minister of Foreign Affairs.