THE RUSSIAN EXPEDITION TO CENTRAL ASIA.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 2, 4 January 1881, Page 2

THE RUSSIAN EXPEDITION TO CENTRAL ASIA.

LORD CARNARVON ON JOHN BRIGHT. THE ORANGEMEN AND THE LAND LEAGUERS. OUTRAGES BY THE BOERS. FIRING ON A BRITISH FLAG OF TRUCE. TERRIBLE ACCIDENT, TO A TRAIN. PRESENTATION TO TRICKETT. | SPECIAL TO MSLBOUBNE PAFSBS. ] London, 22nd December. Another crisis in the French Ministry is imminent. Herald (query — Tirard?) has resigned, and M. Ferry (Premier and Minister of Education), and M. Constan (Minister of the Interior) have also threatened to send in their resignation to President Gre'vy. 23rd December. Intelligence received from Persia states that the Russian Central Asia expedition, organised by General.. Skobeloff against the Tekke Turcomans, haa not' yet succeeded in capturing their stronghold. The position is one of great natural strength, and a large body of Turcomans has assembled for its defence. Eight thousand Tnrcomans of the Merv tribes have joined the others, and the garrison thus reinforced is considered quite capable of offering a desperate resistance to the Russian forces. 24th December. The Earl of Carnarvon last evening delivered an important speech at Runcorn, in which he denounced in strong terms the encouragement given by Mr. Bright) and other Radical member: of the Cabinet, to the agrarian agitation in Ireland. He maintained that the Government had incurred a serious responsibility in allowing the agitation to reach such dimensions. He attributed the unwillingness of the Government to use coercive measures to the opposition offered by Mr. Bright and those who acted with him. He held, that the views put forward by Mr. Bright were inconsistent with his duty,' as a Cabinet Minister, and that, therefore, it was incumbent upon him to resign if he wished to give free expression to hid opinions. 25th December. Instructions have been given by the Grand Lodge of Orangemen in Ireland to all Orange lodges throughout the country to check outrages perpetrated by the Leaguers. It is feared that the effect of this movement will be to encourage enoounters between the Orangemen and the peasantry. 27th December. In Cork, a patrol of soldiers was attacked whileb making its rounds at night by a nnmber of disaffected persons. Shots were fired, and after" a brief struggle the assailants were beaten off. It is reported from Natal that the insurgent Boers are committing great outrages on those who are disinclined to join in the insurrection. Several persons have been massacred. The officers commanding British troops at Middleberg, being desirous of communicating with the leaders of the insurgents, despatched a flag of truce, but the party was fired upon by the Boers. There has been a general consensus of opinion among the Powers that the" Greek Government should not be allowed to provoke hostilities in again raising the Eastern question in a moßt dangerous shape, 'i he Powers, therefore, have unanimously resolved that, notwithstanding the refusal of Greece, the matter of cession of territory shall bo roferred to their arbitration, and that their decision, shall be binding upon both countries A terrible accident has occurred in Carolina. A train while travelling at a rapid pace caught fire, and before the train was brought to a standstill several passengers were seriously burned. Five have since died from the effects of injuries reoeived. Triokett has paid a visit to Newcastle, and while there was presented with a purse of gold in recognition of his abi'ity as an oarsman.