ENGLISH SUMMARY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 764, 8 December 1876, Page 3

ENGLISH SUMMARY.

The Times despatch of the 7th says;— Russia tried to raise difficulties in regard to the line of demarcation during the armistice, proposing the arrangement by which Turks should retire from Morava Valley. Except Germany, which would not interfere, all Powers arc appointing a Commissioner for drawing a line of demarcation. A Belgrade despatch to the Times says “It is reported, that General Tchernayeff will sojourn in Russia during the armistice. Russian officers express the belief that thousands of Russians haw been killed in the Valley of Morava a10ne,... They openly accuse the Servians of bayonetting Russians who attempted, revolver in hand, to urge them to attack the Turks. The Standard’s Belgrade correspondent .reports that some wounded Russian -officers have ; been robbed and hacked to pieces by men appointed to carry them to the rear. A special to the Standard from the capital of Bosnia reports %hat the residence of fie Austrian consul in that town was set on fire by the Turks, and that troops who were summoned to extinguish the flames, plundered the house. Montenegro has accepted an armistice on the same terms as Servia. The Duke De Gazes, Mjinistcr of Foreign Affairs, France,‘‘said that the essential interests of France were not involved in the Eastern question. The country needed peace, and if its best endeavors to maintain the peace of Europe failed, they were sure of being able to maintain it for themselves. Previous to the armistice, the Servian population in the vicinity of the seat of war underwent terrible hardships. The Belgrade correspondent of the Times states that in the country between Paraxin and Belgrade, and in the mountains near Saibchar, there are 11,OQ0 women and children almost literally starving. The Montenegrins have cut Mukhtar Pasha’s communication with Trebinje, and reinvested Nisk. Great distress prevails in Montenegro, notwithstanding its military success, because of the necessity of maintaining large numbers of refugees, .It is reported that there are 11,000 refugees' dying of starvation in the mountains around Deligrade. The Marquis of Haitiugton, leader of the Liberals, has returned to London from Turkey. He spoke at a private meeting of Liberals, and advocated the immediate convocation of Parliament. The Marquis indicated his intention to, oppose, the policy of the Government, and support a modified autonomy in the Christian Provinces of Turkey. Advices from Tidis state that the Turkish Consul-General and wife ’were assassinated by robbers. Russia is making every effort to discover the murderers. The troop-ship Himalaya is preparing to take six companies of Royal Engineers and two companies of Transport Corps, to join the British Mediterranean fleet. The order was given Some days ago, when the aspect of affairs waS more threatening than now. Religions agitation is beginning in Moroe-, co, with the object of procuring help for Turkey. Tko Christians apprehend Moslem outbreak. The foreign Consuls haVe communicated with their Governments oh the subject. The Liberal newspapers of Berlin are almost unanimous in vigorous declaration against the establishment of Russian power in the Turkish Provinces. ’The Volks Zeitung urges the propriety of placing reforms under English instead of Russian control. A despatch to the Times from Berlin yesterday says “There is reason to believe that Russia, being hot self averse to war, is endeavoring to induce Greece and Rounmnia to take the field. They, however, hesitate.”

The Russian ironclad squadron will winter in Italian waters, to bo ready to proceed to tho East if necessary. The Times announces that General SchowatofT, at the express desire of the Gear, has declared to LoTd Beaoonsfield that the Russian Government utterly repudiates the recent offensive articles in the Golos newspaper. A conspiracy has been discovered to depose the Turkish Reforming Government and assassinate the Grand Vizier and Midhat Pasha. Several arrests have been made. Tho Servians attribute their disaster to the incompetence of General Tchernaycff. Mr Baring, Secretary of the British Legation, is reported to have resolved to leave Phillipopolis, convinced that the Commission for the punishment of the perpetrators of the Bulgarian atrocities is a delusion and a mockery. The worst criminals are rewarded, and humane and moderate men are in disgrace. The old panic is renewed, and most trustworthy gentlemen have travelled with the utmost speed to Constantinople to inform the British Ambassador that the Turks threaten a new massacre, and had even appointed a day for beginning slaughter. The Alexandra Palace Company, London, have filed a petition of insolvency. An Indian newspaper—tho Pioneersums up the prospect as to a famine in Bombay as follows :—“ There is famine in Sectapore, extreme dearth in Poonah, arid great scarcity in six other districts. All these districts will yield only a portion of their ordinary revenue. It is Loped tho distress may be relieved at a sixth of the cost of the Bengal famine.” A man-of-war, the Nelson, of 7000 tons displacement, 6000 horse-power, and 20 guns, has been launched at Glasgow. Regarding the British Arctic expedition under Captain Nares, comprising steamers Alert and Discovery, their progress to the North Pole was found impracticable. Captain Nares reports that no land could be discovered to the northward of highest latitude reached, namely, 83deg. 20min. In other respects the expedition was a successful one. The Alert proceeded to Queenstown, and Captain Nares to London, all well. The sledging expedition was absent 70 days, hut the ice was so rough that its progress Was limited in winter to dne mile daily. Advices from Cape Coast Castle to October sth, announce that the Dahomians are threatening Grand Pope. They have taken two adjacent villages, killing all the men, carrying off SO women and children. The Home News, of October 19th, gives the following summary of the Eastern question at that time: —“ How serious the situation is considered by the English Government may be judged from the facts that a special Cabinet Council has been summoned for this afternoon ; that the Government has called upon Lloyd’s to supply instantly a list of steamers capable of carrying troops, also contingent contracts for hire; that Lord Napier, of Magdala, has been told to hold himself in readiness to proceed to Egypt 5 that three army corps are being got ready to despatch to the Mediterranean; and that special plans for the defence of Constantinople, proposed by engineers, have been forwarded to the fleet in Besica Bay. A great change has come over English opinion since the attitude of Russia as arch agitator of Servia has become apparent. The party of “ Demonstrationists” against the policy of Government are gradually ceasing. The Times has completely changed its tone towards the Government, and condemns Gladstone. There are rumors of an alliance between Russia and Italy. The Times has a favorable leader ori New Zealand affairs, but compares the Colonial debt unfavorably with that of other Colonies. It concludes “They are trying a hazardous experiment, and we trust that they are not too rashly discounting the value of reproductive works, which the next generation may still find a charge upon the Colonial exchequer.” . The English ship Rydal Hall, from Cardiff, went on shore, with the loss of nine hands, near Spanish town, California. Activity is reported in the Boston wool market. Sales have been made of 140,000 lbs at 35 to 45 cents. A massacre of peaceful Shoshones Indians by Sioux is reported near Wyoming. Only one escaped. In tho panic at Royal Chinese Theatre, Sari Francisco nineteen Chinamen were crusted to death, and nine fearfully injured.