Affairs in the East.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2873, 1 May 1878, Page 2

Affairs in the East.

The whoje fleet in the Mediterranean numbers 15 first •class ironclads, 12 frigates, and two corvettes, a dozen smaller vessels, over 200 large guns, and upwards of 10,000 men. There are fire admirals now in the Mediterranean coin* mand. The Turks evacuated Widden oa the 28th February, and the Roumanians occupied it. A warm debate took place in the House of Commons on Tuesday, on a motion of Mr Lay ard in reference 'to the communications between Mr Gladstone and M. Negroponte, when it was alleged that Mr Layard had stated that Mr Gladstone Had been exciting the Greeks to attack Turkey. Sir Stafford Northcote acknowledged that Mr Layard had been indiscreet, but did not justify the attack made upon him. The motion was rejected by 206 to 132. The Duke of Edinburgh left for Malta in the Antelope on Wednesday, en route for England, where he will shortly receive flag rank. , Roumania and Servia have demanded from Russia payment of their-outstanding claims. Servia's subvention is two months inarrear. Two steamers left Malta yesterday with telegraph cables to lay down in various parts of the Levant for the British Government. • , r . .. „ Notwithstanding the signature of peace .preparations for contingencies still- con* tinue. The vessels already in commission fitting out include the Thunderer, Dreadnought, Incumbent* Northampton, Monarch, Superb, Belleisle, the two new ironclads purchased'from the Turkish Government, the Independence, purchased from Brazil; the Euryalus, Agamemnon, Iron Duke, Lord -: Warden, Triumph, Hercules, Thunderbolt, Northumberland, Prince Albert, Glatton, Cyclops, Hydra, Hecate, Philomel, and Cormorant. The Inflexible is being speedily pushed on, and her 81-ton guns are nearly ready. Large quantities of war material are being shipped to the Mediterranean fleet and fortresses. Great precautions are being taken by the fleet in the Dardanelles and Sea of Marmora against attack. Each vessel is proteoted by hawsers and spars. Steam and torpedo launches are used, extra sentries posted, and heavy guns are kept constantly loaded; while the electric lights from the tops of the Alexandra and Temeraire render all objects visible for two miles around. A number of commissions in the ordnance and transport departments are being given to non-com-missioned officers of artillery. During the last sittings of the Turkish Parliament public affairs were discussed with great freedom, both Christians and Mussulmans joining in exposing the faults of administration. On the prorogation several of the prominent members were expelled to Asia Minor. • Very contradictory accounts have been published of the alleged hanging of four Polish surgeons at Sofia. Five were there when the Russians entered, four 1 were arrested, three of whom are stated by the fourth, who owed his being set at liberty to having a British passport, to have been hanged; the fifth had a German name, and was for several days employed by the Russians, but it being stated that he was a Pole, he was arrested; and although be said that he was the brother of the Secretary to the Supreme Court at Vienna, he was hanged. All five were Austrian subjectsfour from Cracow. Interpellations have . taken place on the subject in the Austrian " Parliament, and the facts were denied by , the Ministers, but Czarrouiski, the sur- ■' vivor, persists in the truth of his asser- , tion. The English surgeons who were taken, prisoners l>y the Russians at Kamarli were shamefully treated, compelled to march on foot for days, although having their own horses, and were prodded with' " bayonets to make them move faster. They were insulted by the Russians, both soldiers and officers/ and onbt^btained their release through the internbence of Colonel Blunt, the consul at Adrianople. „ They blame General Gourkb as the principal cause. The Grand Duke Nicholas expressed great indignation at their treatment, and promised that the offenders should be punished. „