NEWS BY THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5586, 20 January 1879, Page 6

NEWS BY THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

The following items are from our mai files:— CONDUCT OF RUSSIA. It would not be easy to find a better illustration at the difference between words and deeds than the Czar’s present conduct. At the very moment when he solemnly promises to observe the Treaty of Berlin his armies are setting its provisions at utter defiance. The correspondent of the Morning Pott acquits the Muscovite commanders in Turkey of complicity in the contemptible attempt to hoodwink England, They themselves are never tired of laughing to scorn the notion of surrendering their conquests. And would it not _ be too ridiculous for them to adopt a different tone la the Dobrudscha the Bussians are straining every nerve to complete their fortifications. Euatendje boasts twelve new forts, the Danube is to be spanned by another military bridge at Bustcbuk, Galatz, and Braila will ■ be . more for-, midable than ever. Besides this, large numbers of fresh troops and vast quantities of war material are constantly landed at Bourgas, the railway is forwarding reinforcements from Tambou to Adrianople as fast as possible, and two additional regiments have arrived at Lulo Bourgas, the advanced guard of a strong column now en route for that place. Tb attack this' tlireatenua' the Porte is pushing on A iert bohsifieniblo and well-equipped force, whilst Baker Pasha and the other English officers in the Turkish service are manfully toiling at the Tohekmodi eDorkos lines. St. Petersburg has, of course, excuses ready coined to account for this suspicious behaviour. Here the Bulgarians need protection, there brigandage must be suppressed, not to mention that the discussion of the definitive terms of « eternal peace between the two countries naturally caUs for the presence of 260,000 men south oi the Balkans. Only the last point merits notice. That Russia does not wish to hasten the settlement of this question is obvious from the manner in which she carries on the negotiations. Indeed, Prince Labanott has already bogged the Porte not to hurry itself m answering his proposals. The Emperors reported announcement that ho be content with Turkey’s ratification of those articles of the Treaty of Son Stofimo which were left untouched at Berlin is a mere trap, for the Congress notoriously shirked more than one vital consideration. Eor instance, the indemnity would complete the financial rum of Turkey if paid, and if unpaid famish a standing peg on which to hang an invasion of the Sultan’s dominions

should England get elsewhere 5 not that Russian Ministers stand oncor ®®.£ in such oases, but even they some sort of pretext handy. IJ The , tr “*J' ! that England and Austria should not P®™? 1 " any indemnity to be exacted, as it w 0 utmost consequence that no further burden , near er distant, should be laid on the exchequer, and also to out from under Russia s feet all moral grounds for future *“ r0 f 0 “; monts. At St Petersburg the likelihood of Turkey being saved from entering into dangerous engagements is doubtless not negleoted by the Cabinet, which hence is wulmg enough to grant the Porte time in the nope of a trump card turning up. But the more powerful argument in favour of this course is the uncertainty as to England and Austria’s real intentions. With the English nation still angry and excited, there might be deadly peril in trying to retain territory after the last flimsy defence for so doing has disappeared; whilst if, on the contrary, the Russians could manage to linger at Adrianople and other strongholds till their able statesmen and English allies had produced comparative indifference, or our Government had betrayed unquestionable signs of fear of the sword, they might never have to evacuate them. And, even should the Czar have resolved to fight rather than to yield the long-coveted land, delay would bo animmenso boon to him, because, though partially recovered from the late struggle, his military organisation is still very faulty. We can therefore understand that Russia’s proper policy is to temporise, England’s to act promptly and compel her antagonist either to retire or openly throw down the gauntlet. Meanwhile the Muscovite commanders are committing endless insults and outrages on the Moslems. According to a letter from Rodosto, in the district of Malgara, the Russian troops chased the few Turkish soldiers quartered there out of the Turkish village Balabankeui, and plundered it of 10,000 piastres, &0., and Koskeui, Sultankeui, and Hadjikeui suffered the same fate, the inhabitants in each case being obliged to put their signatures to a petition asking for Russian occupation. Not satisfied, however, with loot, the victor has hit on a hew method for stamping in the iron. A. short.while ago a Muscovite detachment searched' a hamlet heat Demotika for 1 BasU-Bazpnks. ..but only JWgulara, '• whiw ; -'uplTO 1 irefit‘*"to the rignt &bout sifter their leader had served the - armed ■ . felling llos.- Thci&too, from Eastern Rothuclia comC fresh tales of hqrrible7Vfongs inflicted on the helpless^Mahometans. 1 am too fick of • this loatbsolne theme and-the indifference of 5 the same England which nearly destroyed the Ottoman Empire to avenge the murderous scoundrels of Philippopofis and Baiak to write on it just now, but I do beg and pray that no false scent be allowed to throw public attention off the right trail. The Russians are aiding and feeding .the,insurrection in Macedonia, equipping the rebels, supplying stores, hospitals, and ammunition, and actually accepting the custody of the Turks taken prisoners, 150 of the latter being already, says the Constantinople Messenger , in their gaols- With such evidence before our eyes, what faith oan we put in the denial of the Russian organs? In short, the horizon is still black and gloomy, and storm clouds reign on-high. But here and again appears some bright spot, such os the appointments of Midhat Pasha to govern Syria, and Said Pasha to the valiship of Castambol. ’ LOSS OF THE POMERANIA. A dreadful< collision occurred midway between Folkestone and Dungeness at midnight on Nov.-25.. The Pomerania, a German mail steamship, having a large number of emigrants on board from New York to Hamburg, was run into by a barque, the Moel Eilian, of Carnarvon, about three miles from the shore. She was struck on the starboard side, midships, and sank in less than twenty minutes. .There were 109 passengers on board and a crew of 125, Distress signals were at once given, and responded to by the Glengarry, an English steamer proceeding down Channel, which made all speed towards the - scene of the disaster,; There were nine boats on the Pomerania, four of which were crushed in the collision. Five were got off, but one boat, being overcrowded with passengers, sank as soon as launched. Four ordinary ship’s boats, with 170 people on board, then palled ■ away from the doomed ship, leaving the captain, who refused to quit the ship until the last moment. The last boat to leave the vessel was that containing the chief officer, who did all in his power to persuade the captain to leave the vessel. After pulling for half an hour the survivors were picked up by the Glengarry, and one gentleman was taken from the water in an unconscious state and restored—the Glengarry staying by the scene until daybreak, when the Pomerania was seen with her mast above water. No other bodies were recovered. The Glengarry then proceeded to Dover with those saved, and landed them, and they were at once taken to the Sailors’ Home, where they were treated with every kindness. The story told by the survivors tends to show that the greatest possible order under the circumstances was maintained by the officers and crew. Most of the passengers are Germans; a great many English passengers had been landed at Plymouth, and the French passengers at Cherbourg. One of the survivors gives the following narrative of the occurrence : —“ My name is Louis Laumann. I am a native of Baden, but reside at Akron, Ohio. I left New York in the Pomerania. We had a capital run. We got to Plymouth about 3 o’clock in the morning on Not, 25, and landed our passengers, and we also took some on board for Hamburg. We then ran for Cherbourg, and landed passengers. They were nearly all cabin, and those left were mostly between decks. Our crew consisted of 125, and we had 109 passengers left on board. 1 was in bed about a quarter to 12 when I felt a sudden bump, as if the vessel had struck upon a rock. 1 was alarmed, but I did not think at first that it was anything very serious, as we had kept a good look-out, and tho captain appeared very careful. It was his 126th voyage, and he told us he celebrated his 12ith when he was last at Hamburg. A few seconds after the collision the steward and some of the crew came running to us, and said that a sailing barque had run into us, and we were all to go on deck. I went on deck directly, and I saw our ship’s lights, but the fog was so great I could see nothing else. They told me that ;the barque had run away. The crew were all busy lowering the boats, of which we had eight. The slup was then beginning to sink. In lowering the boats there was great confusion, everybody trying to crowd into them. One boat filled and immediately it got into tho water, while two others were smashed by the collision. The boats .were fastened up tight, and we could not get them undone. The Pomerania was sinking rapidly. There were a number of women among the passengers. I don’t know how many, out some of them have been saved. Our captain had some fireworks on board, and he let them off. We managed to get into the boats that there about ten when a steamer, the Glengarry, saw. the , signal and picked uS up. She oruued about *°F a tin» to pick up any persons who might be floating about. Wo leftthe captain on the wreck. Soon after the collision the Pomerania went straight down. She did not heel over, but went down as gradually as possible. There were only five of the boats of the Pomerania which were got loose out of eight, and we don’t know whether all these got to the Glengarry. There was a good look-out on the > Pomerania all the night. She hod smart sailors, and there were always two or three on the bridge and two on the tore part of the vessel from the time she neared the Channel All the crew and engineers come from Hamburg, and talk Low liutcha x£ they had' spoken good German there would not havo Been nearly so much confusion. Our boat was so crowded that it was very nearly even with the water, and when they gave orders calling out to us to do this and that we know no more what they “““rt it! an if th ®y bad been talking Spanish. ~ ™be Moel Eilian, tho vessel which ran Into the Pomerania, and which was supposed to have sunk, arrived in dock at Dover, towed in by tho Walmer tug Granville, during the flight. She is a laige vessel, 1080 tons burden, and was launched at Sunderland last

yearj at the time the collision occurred she was in ballast, bound from Botterdam on her first voyage. She had her starboatd bo completely knocked away, and her Peering apparatus was altogether deranged, and she struck against the pier, when it she would go to pieces. She was built, however, in watertight compartments and withstood the shock. The survivor* were but little injured, although suffering oonsideraWy from exposure to the wind and waves. The night was foggy, and until the vessel* were right on to each other neither ship appear* to hnve sighted the other. It appears that the Moel Kman struck the Pomerania a tremendous blow, carrying away the mast* and crushing Mm* of the boat*. The collision occurred within a few mile* of the scene of the Grosser Kurfiirst casualty. Many of the rescued passengers went bn to London. The unfortunate victims were mostly of the working classw, who were returning to Germany. Captain Shossen and his wife are both reported to have been rescued by a passing steamer, and their little child, four years of axe, is amongst the saved, together with several other young children. , _ . The Pomerania belonged to the HamburgAmerican line of steamers. Her gross measurement oquailed 3382 tone* She l©ft New York on Nov. 14 with the United States’ mail. She touched at Plymouth and landed there the passengers and mails for England, also 7500d015. in specie, after which she proceeded for Cherbourg and Hamburg to complete ber voyage. She was a brig-ngged iron screw vessel, built at Greenock in 1873. From the latest accounts which have been received, it is reckoned that about 45 persons have lost their lives By this sad calamity, and nearly 200 were rescued from the wreck. MBS EOUSBY AND HEBE BANDMANN. The long-pending case of assault by Herr Bandmann on the well-known actress Mrs Bousby, came on for hearing before the Lord Chief Justice and a special jury on Nov. 19. The evidence is too long to be given in full, but a fair idea of the nature of the case will be gathered from the -summing up of his Lord-, ship. The Lord Chief Just ice, in summing up the case to the jury, said it was indeed a painful . reafly.lay ia a very small compass indeed. It appeared at' the - rehearsal that Mts :Bpu*by, who had. contracted, for the pfece'and paidhalf tlie purchase money, Had an altcgjfltibn in it to whicbhMr Bandmaim objected very peremptorily; An altercation ensued between him Bousby, and although she invited him to discuss the matter After the rehearsal he was not content, but with strong language declared the play should not be performed, and attempted to take the manuscript away, and then it seemed that —intentionally or unintentionally—his arm came into contact with hers. Now, undoubtedly Mrs Bousby was entitled 1 * to the manuscript, and Mr Bandmann was not entitled to take it away. But he was taking it away, for which she would have a right of action against him. But, unfortunately, both parties resorted to force —the one to regain the other to retain the manuscript. If in the course of snch a contest an injury happened to be accidentally done, then the civil remedy might be resorted • to; but if there was a blow intentionally struck, then it was a criminal assault, and if Mr Bandmann struck a blow intentionally, then it was an assault. If that had been the only issue, so many painful questions need not have been raised. But the defence raised, involved painful imputations upon Mrs Bousby and really put Her upon Her trial. Mr Bandmann Had not rested ms defence on a denial of any intentional blow, but he Had made the foul imputation upon her of a design to blast his character by a false charge founded upon a former injury which he had not inflicted. It was said that on March 16, just a month before Mrs Bousby bad sustained an injury at the Standard Theatre on this very arm—the right arm—and then a month afterwards presented that arm and ascribed the injuries to the blow of Mr Bandmann. Unless such a charge could be sustained by proof it was'cruel to make it, for it involved, of course, the imputation, not only of malevolence and malice, but of downright perjury, in support of a false and unfounded charge. Nor did it stop there, for it appeared from the medical evidence that the symptoms were represented as recent, and everyone knew that bruises, originally black and blue, became afterwards yellow and green; but the appearance on the arm were those of recent injuries; and then it was suggested to explain this that Mrs Bousby was in an unhealthy condition, on account of habits of drinking, so that there was thus a still farther issue, whether Mrs Bousby was addicted to drinking, All this, arising out of what might have been treated as a very small matter! The question, however, was whether the defence was sustained. No doubt the lady had a fall, and a severe fall, on March 16, and as she was in armour the injuries were severe, and for two days and nights she could not even go to bed. Bat were the marks on the arm on April 17 to he ascribed to the previous injuries in March? Mr Waller, the surgeon who attended her on both occasions, swore that the right arm was not at all injured on the first occasion. And if that was so, of course there was an end of the defence. And to that evidence was added the positive evidence of Mr Bouse, the other surgeon, that the appearances were those of a recent injury. If that were so, then how sad it was that such imputations should have been made upon her character—upon the evidence of such a witness as that discharged servant! If the defence had rested merely on denial or on exense on the ground of passion, he should have been disposed to take a lenient view of it. But the course taken for the defence was to cast on Mrs Bousby an imputation which was calculated to inflict permanent injury upon her character. The real question was whether there was an intentional blow or not; if it was only an accidental injury it was the subject;of an action ; if it was an intentional blow, then it was an assault. If he raised his arm against her, and brought it down upon her’s with violence, then it was an indictable assault. To profess that the injuries, the marks of which were so recent, were really inflicted on a former occasion was a defence which ought not to have been set up. The real question was whether the injuries were the result of a blow intentionally inflicted ; and in determining that question the jury must not be swayed by any considerations on the one side or the other, except those arising upon the evidence itself.

The jury then retired together, and after a brief consultation in the bos, returned into Court with a verdict, in writing, that the injuries had been caused by the defendant unintentionally. The Lord Chief Justice: That is a verdict of acquittal. A verdict of “ Not Guilty’' was accordingly entered, and the defendant was loudly cheered as he left the Court. NEW TURKISH MINISTRY. Tim Time s* correspondent writes from Constantinople on Deo. 4 : The expected important changes in the' Cabinet have Occurred. Khaireddtn Pasha is appointed in the place of Safvet Pasha, Ghaai Osman, Minister of War, inplaoe of Mustapha Phosphor, and Mollah Effendi Sheik-ul-Islam. The other appointments are Caratheodori Pasha, lately named GovernorGeneral of Crete, to be Minister of Foreign Affairs j Kadry Pasha, of Bagdad, Minister of the Interior ; Saras Pasha, Public Works ; Said Pasha, late of Btoussa. Minister of Justice j Safvet Pasha, latdre President of the Council at the Seraskierato. to be Minister of Police j Said Effendi lately Minister ofjCommeroe, is named in place of Ali Fuad Bey as First Secretary of the Palace j Zuhdi Pasha to remain Minuter of Finance. The appointment of Khaireddin Pasha more particularly is an event of some importance. By birth he is a Circassian, but of wW tribe he does not himself know. He was brought at an early age to Constantinople and after a short tune went to Northern Africa, where he has spent by far the Krtof his life. He speaks and understands irkish, but has not a perfect familiarity witii it, and prefers to express himself in Arinin French. When he speaks thelattwtonirus his hard foreign accent does not prevent great

fluency and remarkable lucidity of expression. He 7M formerly Prime Minister to the Bey of Tonis, and first became known to the Sultan by a small book recommended to hi* Majesty by one of the Ulemahs, in which he endeavoured to prove that modem ideas of liberty and progress are not at all inconsistent with the cardinal principles of l e ia m aa contained in the Koran and expounded by the most learned doctors of the law, and that contrary opinions on this subject proceed from ignorance or erroneous interpretation of the sacred writings. He think* that if Turkey is to be regenerated it must be done by Mussulmans themselves In accordance with the principle* of their own religion, and that the clergy must bo induced to take an active part in the work. Onoe in the course of conversation with him I ventured to suggest that it might be difficult to reconcile reform* conceived in an exclusively Mussulman spirit with genuinely Liberal principles in a country containing a large non-Mussulman population. Bis Excellency admitted the difficulty, but considered it by no means insurmountable, for Islam enjoins justice and good government for men of all creeds, and does not prevent men of other religions being placed in those positions of administration for which they are peculiarly fitted. The realisation of Khaireddin’s ideas would necessitate an increase of the political influence of the Ulemahs ; but this would not be, at least for some time, inch a serious danger as might be imagined, for the upper ranks of the clergy here are far more enlightened and liberal than is generally supposed. Whatever we may think of ms views, Khaireddin has at least individuality and energy, and thereby forms a striking contrast to his immediate predecessors, in choosing him in spite of strong opposition among the official classes the Sultan has shown considerable personal initiative and firmness of purpose. The Cabinet will doubtleas take its tone from the Grand Vizier, all the more as he is known to possess in a very high degree the confidence of His Majesty, and we may now expect a vigorous effort to inaugurate a period of important reforms. An Imperial Halt, containing the prdgrammebf reforms, is expected to be promulgated in a few days.