NEWS BY THE SUEZ MAIL.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4264, 29 March 1879, Page 5

NEWS BY THE SUEZ MAIL.

£By Tblegbaph."! [Via Auckland. J The progress of tha plague has received the attention of the English b'overnment. They announced that they will zealously guard the approach of vessels from Russian ports, although they believe no need of alarm exists. Intercourse with Russia is virtually prohibited by Germany, Austria, and Roumania, in consequence of the plague, while Italy and Turkey have adopted very stringent quarantine regulations. Ths latest accounts state _ that the plagne has increased in Russia since the thaw set in, and there is a general disposition to epidemic in the interior. Strong belief in the fact prevails that spring will witness a serious revival in the intensity of this dreadful malady, aud that it will take considerable further strides westward. Although the epidemic in Thessaly has not been ascertained to be the plague, there has been a large mortality in that province from malignant typhus. The idea of an immediate advance on Herat, if even contemplated, has been abandoned, and the troops under Generals Stuart and Biddnlph had to return from Khelat and Ghilini towards Kandahar. The reason for this retrograde movement is not officially stated, b.t it ia generally believed that the war is over. General Roberta in the Kurnm Vail y and General Browne in the Khyber Pass and Jellalabad appear to be devoting attention to improving and seenring iheir communication. The Afghan winter has fairly set in. The tr; ops are suffering considerable hardships, but maintain capital spirits. The mortality in the camp of the Kandahar column is very great. _ Accounts continue to be received of dissensions among the chief men at C-bul. Desertions from Yakoob Kh;_'s ar_y continue. The rumors current that Amesr Shere Ali had died had reference to the Ameer of Bokhara. Sir Reid Temple returned to Bombay after an absence of 2. months. He was engaged in a scheme for putting on an efficient footing the supply and transport agencies for the Quettah and Kandahar forces. MacPherson, the " Standard" correspondent, waa dismissed from General Roberts' camp for adding to a telegram after its countersignature by the General. Other accounts state that the dismissal was owing to au adver— criticism of Roberts' tactics at Piewar. Cetur • Walie Dahomed arrived at Jellalabad, and was received with considerable state. It is believed that important negotiations are proceeding between him and the British. The onward movement is expected soon. _ Isolated attacks by fanatics continus, but nothing serious. The Home Government thanked India for the offer of a contingent for the Cape, which is not at present required. Eighty-air persons connected with the Burmese Royal Family were assassinate! by order of the present .King. The British Government rent a strong remonstrance. General Grant arrived at Bombay on the 14th inaS., and was tha guest of the Governor. He has since proceeded throughout India. A letter from Yakoob Khan, dated C-hul, February 20th, was received at Jellalabad. It contains overtures fortho renewal of friendly relations with tto British. A further letter states that since the despatch of the former letter, the news was received at Cabul of the death of his father. Yakoob stnt this informatioa on account of his friendship, as his father was an old friend of the British. General Biddulph, rear guard, wa3 attacked by 2000 Ahz-i Duramis, but they were repulsed, losing 1500. Our loss was five killed, _duding one Major, and eleven wounded. Lord Chelmsford's despatch, -reporting the defeat by the Zulus, stated:—" I have to report a very disastrous engagement on January 22nd between the Zulus and a portion of the troops under my command at Borke's Drift, which, daring sixty-two hours, had been attacked by between 3000 and 4000 Zulus. Amosgst the fallen are Lieutenant Cnard.R.E., senior officer, and Captain Broomhead. Three hundred and seventy bodies lay close around the post. Tbe loss of the Z_u<_is reckoned.at 1000 here alone, but at the camp-whire the dwaater occurred _c loss of the ehe-ty fs compnlwrat over 2000. , The seas ion of Pari-*——it waa reopened with-

out a speech fromthe throne. -, The. attend—ice i of the Lords was very numerous, but despite£be full and brilliant aspect of the House, there was . gloom over the proceedings from beginning to end, caused by the news from South Africa. Every allusion to the subject by the speakers during the debate appeared to make a painful impression. Lord Beaiconsfield now rose, and reviewed the present position of the African troops. He a.nounced the measures whioh it was the intention of the Government to introduce during the session. He then in unaffected touching terms alluded to the sad event in South Africa, -which he described' as a great military disaster. He curried with him the sympathy and approval of b)th sides of the House, when he paid a feeling tribute tp the heroism of the troops dead and living, who had to encounter that disaster. He then summed up his review of external affairj by an emphatic declaration that the object for which 'England had commenced hostilities in Afghanistan bad been completely accomplish* d. We were now in possesion of three great highways between Afghanistan and India. This would make our Indian Empire invulnerable. The Government had recognised the difficulties that had arisen from hhera All's disappearance, bnt did not think they would prove an insuperable obstae'e to a settlement. He made one other important announcement on the subject. "It is," he stated, "the generally expressed opinion amongst Indian authorities that India onght to bear ultimately all the expense of the present hostilities."

The speeches of the Opposition leaders m both Houses were of a very moderate character. They fully shared the sorrow expressed by the Government at the military disaster, although reserving for future discussion the qnestion of the origin of the war in general. Exception was taken to the favorable picture drawn by the Government respecting the results of the Treaty of Berlin] which was st-ted to be unsatisfied, the Greek cliims being particularly adverted to. It was evident also that the question of Turkey's non-execution of the reforms guaranteed by the Anglo- Turkish Convention will hereafter form the subject of Bharp criticism by the Opposition.