WAR AND WAR PROSPECTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4741, 28 April 1877, Page 2 (Supplement)

WAR AND WAR PROSPECTS.

RO.SSIA AND -tHRKEY.

IWe compile from our exchanges; -When tlielast mail left Europe the air was filled; with rumours. , , ; '~.,'• '. '. ■:' : .'-"-

Russia's expedient.

: l Whether the Russians will .attempt" to ;ad-: vance into the bowels of'the Turkish; land appears' to be an open question,'; The public, impression at.'- Berlin., in "".'the beginning .of Pebruary;waa!that,f after.much hesitation, a peculiar p.lan seems to have beendetermiaed; upon at St.; Petersburg. • The- present state 'of things;: which "ia neither peaco»nor war/ is to be indefihite'y'prolbnged.*- Not caring tofight the/ Turkish. trodp3 in;;their present 'coriditiohj, yet' loath ;to abandon a campaign: which.opens so"well, .Russia is fain to adopt an ingenidns,' expedient. '.. ]', Trusting she. can better'afford; the strain of ; prolpnged^mobilization, than Turkey, ..Russia /will -keep; her troops on the frontier-,; thus -compelling Turkey ,i to vido: the ■■■;•, like. ' If-Turkey imitates:-.the Bussian- example, ;'her • financf s are' ■■■■ to": give way, and ;h>/ people-to : dlaihour :for - peace ,at any price before many smonths,are' over'; whereas^ ifi to bbyiate; this'*qalamity,"''.Ttfrkey- take 3 the"'dcsp'erate,t;iiep'.^f, anticipating. ,tjie..R!us-. sian^attack,; the" Russians,, .would .then, fightrin .theirb^Tcountryiahdon.carefully-' ptepared fields,-; are ; sufficiently confident of ■ victory. j;;To exerciset redqubied pressure upon; Tarkeyi-thePrrfth' will probably be 'crossed,5 if not now,;i.at leasVata latetf/stage;' .Asto the Danube, Tit is"tiotrHkelyVto^be^ taken injhand before the fightmg ) 'capacity of; Turkey;}h'aß.''been;:;.B%nsitily.'.t.dio^ulied!,by'.---delayl .'.^ith'-aviel^: to.;these contingencies;: the Rugsian army; |n ~\ Bessarabia .-.is conjimur aUy increased, ,aU. the ,&puth Rusoian ifdrtressesi are beingtmade ready,ior.defence. I ■ <:;■ :;f ■A^BS^a'bo^iyrtio^^-'[;: 'f'^ ■ : !Writingfrpm'p6nsta rntinppi6;jn^^tn'emiddle' ;of P.ebrjiary,';.^ve,learn from,the.Times Bpondeht.that^^rtKeAattitnde pfvßussiais by no means reassuring, f :the ■ jealousy hi AustriaandiGermanyimayidiscountenance all idea'of an advance1 of: the main: Russian Army) on .the-Panube,:we are; told'" tbat' rav ;force-of ffiore';ithan : ':iP^PjPPor'c6mbatabtii?is - must'er'fcg W 'the; Caucasus, J- and; ft is; t 'ie}£'hci« l ''iHdt^^re.^e\Bu^sian'att-a6k..^^b.e!. directed'to that: pjair^ of the; Turkish Ifrpn tier' - Erzerponj, ; whicK.weredesscribed:as,!fat-least;• 90,pPp8trong, bnt;W.hieb.';are:knttwn:Bot^to ; lexceeiivS'PvCJOior^COPyiConld hardly beiex-' ' ■pecoed.t6:pfferrny efficient resistance.':::Y6t • \thinldng_'fmien ap'pea'ir;to;lbbk'uppn'yrAr'j 'even/Hnth' bucU odds' , ;aga!n3.t"Turkey,j"as'-the';wbrst^ , : 'calaustiea;°; Einan'cial.i'exhattstipn:'' rncT.tiie.. almost lio'tal ' c^satipn' ,ofr,,.trade-•and iabour,.,,are; the- crying. ,*vlls|v and; the; ■: distress.,, is -. 7SO, ..gjeatii .that; <s &t;j ;Hb.e ■Palace iitselfj nothing r but ■,paper money is currentj'to the great'disgusttiand- dismay of tneSultan; ;-^o onecan'fore'see tpiwhaV ex-i tremea'dispair may drivethe suffering people,' 'iand'the'l'dißcpnteut aWou^'th'e 'reOent Upup^d'' ' Mat, is "great."!'TheJcomplicalion' of ) intbrnal ■ andextefnaldiiCßiculties neverw.a'a-greater;.,^

;THE. WAITING (ATTITWDa;

> !Wasl inll'ebruary;rthe vfa3hi6.nsble cry of .tHe/Russian-'Presß: ;';Papers,-the\Gplostin. particular/;; endeavoured ;Vto. ■prove:1 to\tte ftussnan ''peopleI '.] that'! to; \ maintain I'^'ajipe'i altitude; ?jva'3.a'surer. iand J, saf er ;'pb]icy ■ for' • ;^em than .tp.'.atliack'.KrJiey. the: (xblo? fiiitimates,'; the,- Rutsians ,go; : ifo warji they-will be. stopped; on.-the,.road.to ,Con-V ■Btantinople - by] jmpenbua; telegrams^-froii Londonj- Viehna,:Eerliri,--Paris,; and' JRome";" whereas a waiting'poliby-is, ■puriai''.t(>i'leacll''tpi the"^de'coinposition of ■ Turkey, and'Jpkve1 'th^ way;for safe and unimpeded,aetioV;"!(

'i }That'.forniidablej:Raßsian.iArmy,;gathering' stroflgeiriand stronger on-thb'frontier of:Ithe jPrutft wa'swa'swords-hangingJby a;-thread' over the Turk'shead, forbidding ,e.yecy wink', of sleep,;; yetallowing- no "imniediate. action;' lot'%oM^ only'had'the,.enemy.thk^ssuea.'pf ,war and 'pea.c^e jn bufc the choice of ;the:.battle-field ; and.lth'e.-hourjipfvattack.dei pended- ojn; hw gopd, pjeasure,;, ;No onein Turkey/seemed; diappsej to adyiserofFensive operations^ unless'it be Hbbart^Pasha,. ml whose discretion ■. the -Turks '/ have' ■ not,' per'hapsj asmuch'conQdence'as-inhiar .;;';-'<-i"/:"'-f. ';: i--!''-!'!''V'''--.;*,-'^^iPNO!Vi^j^:';p.:!^'; r :^.^Y', ! • ■■' I Admiral Hpbar b.rP-a^na jsionall joeoaaions. ;thel,nian; fornbold,. measures/----He

suggested, hot withoat gpod_ reason, ; that; haßila;right;'either with or ■without •the support of «th'e!-Westera'PffwerVtbiidi-flress a peremptory demand;:i6 riKdssia, calling on her to explain her real intentions, and ;o remove her mobilized I';army1';army from the, borderland •place ii; bnr»a^peace!. footing." /If: .Russia^^ riafusbdj "Hobart^Ta3h^-adyisejd; i,I,-r ■ staht '"declaration 1; of''wa?:^ ":s&'. \ thV^ p'^rt 'Ml iTaJkey/'forihiß'/^mirai'v'tnoug^^ ' tliat /Any. , 'ibf '.[ 'the' ./Epssiana ; ,oa ! ; the .pan^beMould "be a 'gauntlet ;ihrpw!a<doVn,! :n6t M oniy!,-^..v : !l{irke7 J n>buti.irißos^^ii3tri&,'r ! Grermtoy i ,.iapdf!even,jEnglapd,; <ahd!: that,' wjiib./ all-;.-i her- •• blustering,'-- Russia is'^not 'e<jual- v.tb; > an';■ enterprise-,irt 'which'" sEe irVight^ -have- to'f;contefld ;-Vith;,Buch';;ene-., 'inies' on'"her fl^uk.'.'/^'lTi^ktey^/fo^.^h'er/ •owii;r part,' .-'would'!- be .'ready J'for! imme^tafeei waf^i'^ least;'; jb^sea^ her, TSMglishJ^d," ;'tnirM.^k^g ? - i up^u'^.4|nu^f v . r iK>--,s.Tfoep^'{'thej RupHanrsquadronsioff the.BlackSea,'tb;de-"' stroy.Jhe .enemy's tradej land blockade,' ifnofc: 16 bombard, tbeenemy/sports. -- < .;;V :;:.-i.i r! [If iss;dariag^plan/:and wonldbe plausible if lit *did', riot' leaVe- the frontier of; the;:C!aji--c^usus atid r' Siffiießia ' b,ut;: of, bSissideratibn, ■for ;oti;tHe eastern'fridr Aualn^atf^l^ermany, :wioui!d! ijpjt'/hliV.e^He, BanVe.'.interejtVtheyifiaye '^6the Panub'ato covert fr|omßussianyaggres'siqn,!an'4" it .is;not: ea3y to..aee ;^whatV Englandrwould. be: able to. do r !iri :that^.quarter <wer,e'! fshei-ever^so-wUling;' There; "isV*"besid'esji thei^great''' objectibu^to; ; tMs> -course-fthat'■-* TurkeyNwouM'thereby ■iijour'-:the r-odium of being;;dr seem^g'toibe' 'the^gtessqr.' % 7AfrothJß^ele^ht:ri^the; <ipjni/. plioatioaißV;^ .'v"; ; ";!!;". i;.'.:,'[, '::'..''.':".' !^'ll':~ ,[ 'f Tcfsguess-Austria'd-real itnuid ■■'■. cr toJknoWLjyliat'i and 'whercE<Aaatria--iB-'-iio'ma : W!ai':C6n^' stantinople IS' deemelcompetent:'/All-that )^rt^ i'in|!W'iß;;tliat;i'thy^aMnSß^-at I|est&l rand 'ifjennS. 'are ,at 'loggeriie'ads^ :the ';SUwoVrPa^'.fß.';;.^|iWn!g*jat/,,^el JKi«BeIr?^; -QotirtV Hihat' RbdicU^jVin|^mmana''"iii j(?J[>' •'^atiaj^aad^that'&ereaW'barelyliSiOCp'Ottb-''' nian'trbbp3 in all Bosnia, and Herzegovina? .^Phether the presence-of-thoEe-big Austrian on the r Dalmatian border bodes ,good or ill the Grand Vizier could not tell; .put what he need nbtsay is that .if Austria's designss areI' eyji;; Turkey 'Kisi1 n.V present I means of' opposing" them. Auothergoint to biejcoiisideredis-.the. ■ ;r ~■;•-;•:---;•■.'-;.'>;' :. j 7: ■•■'-■ 'ATTITUDE OS''GERMAJSy i :-i ' h';^»;H f j The' Tides' Berlin 'correspondent writes i-^-; ;'!' The oac'tivity;;!recently ;disglay6d 'Tjyl'lhe. German' Ambassador "'iatj' 'Constantinople would be;; jiy3S osufp^ ■ so "lojig-. Te'mained: mV the-iiacky -grdu'nd: ' :Yet'*ib 'ißf'easil^' accpunte'd'fdr.i ■As'lprig-'a'si'/ilHsVa; thbugh^herspft .'strbtig briough.tb.cbp1 e '\i, ith.Turkey'single hahded,1' ; there-wag no'.reasotito' aaticit,ate"th9i:po&-'r - s;ble epnclusioa'fof ' AfliancW preju:dioial i'o this country;;; "^hi?'e. now, it -appeafs that 'Russia,' ntsitatei5 to gB*!W wat :!witho.ut! foreign support, jtbere" is r&;' chance; of. h.er^ looking 'out for lielp in' morb r:4uarterß;tKait! one, chatic'e,of .such a''contin'o'ency": seems 'to^^ have'called'forth^the^^ yigiiatTc'e pf ! Crerman Boat^mea.'. 1, Also; in the ey^nt'oi war.-becom'ihgge'ne'ral,' l'•:'' - ■■": ! V,.".. i _;,":,', ".' . '^iTAL^'AsiiArsTKijV."- t!'".,',':.-.:-----will.j ljaye diißiculties*to settle,; r and^Austria is iprtijEyisg the Dalmatian chore against an ftalian, attack,, regarded-as possible An. ; the eveot cf an Italian war.,,-, ; 'i, ~•,■(;;.,- ;■■■.' ;;j i THR ATTJTOT)S-Or TKAKCE. . .France appeals to have actod'with-'great caution; and had rtfustd to put"ady officers' of the French gendarmeriejat-ihe dispos'al'of the;' Portej'': after consui tiiioii1. with' Aa'stria and England. ';■* '" [ '[' ~ ■.".'._ ':-'!'^'::'['" ':'\. ,;;

; '■ , . ."nqwN TRODDEN POLAND": j ,f even 'is making >■ her voice heard,' and; as usual:before1 impossible: war, the rPoien are: allowed to'h'o'pe'for concessions at the handa OJ the St, Petersburg Goyernment, ;

j j ;V "y-: iktssiaV; BiPECUNi6stiY v ? }'. . ;',} : i i [The .Russian .Government will; in any A case; be very Bobh forced.again .to /rase } money, ,tbe, last ■, ICD,OCD,COO roubles' Joan .< bein^ already spent. .Tho Military Intend- '* aiioe ,is no longer piyiog for. eupptlt3 so "| promptly as formerly, ' even with. . bills. ' Another voluntary ioaa will/probably be • tiecfded'on,l'o'ily thistime the persons hav-. ■ irig^tbe'honour to subscribe, will.be selected, ( 1 and the amounts fixed'according to their ' |- means.,';'. .'..".' ■..■.. ..'.■ .;"..' ■ ■ ■.'-.' -:■ -1 ;: \ ",,V;.. .. -A contkast. . , -.." '..; -.. j I While, in England a Russian officer yisitiri^a dockyard for the; first time is able to. tellpneiof the dockyard officials ,whc did not know!%at certain,; destructive instruments of war. were stowed in it, the particular spot in which; the^werejtp be found, a.more reticent policy is adopted, .in Russia.' -A. clerk: in Xhe. Russian. Ordnance Office at;:Alexandroppl has. just been comdemued to penal servitude for. life, for selling -a plan of the "fortress there to the, Turks , for th» sum of 600 roubles. ; The : (Russian Military Police arrested • the; clerk inj v question on .Turkish; .territory before he had time to. part /with theplan.-j <:; '•.-.■;;■.. <-.—: - r .-.■]■■■ \ ■•, .;: ■. , : -■ "i . . -..:.,: THE; WAITING .GAME.;:-:, -\\- ,-." - ■ 'In.the various capitals of Europe during f)he last two weeksi:of January and till the'> mail left, the publication and ■ circulation by; telegraph of ,a few: Russian leading tviticlea breathing the resolution of four weeks before ..was not regarded as indicating an; immediate 'return to warlike sentiments. -: For oft-ex--plained reasons,. Russia, it was thought, for the present; will be: content to increase her 'available troops,: and, perhaps, will cross the Truth; butiwill .hardly, attack' the: Danube; It is in the indefinite prolongation of this undecided . state. that there: is, danger for the Turkr. .■ ,• :^),:-^- -...; ' ■::<-.: ;. : : .... j j :.•-■■- WAR PREPARATION'S. ■■■■> '■"■ '.- • iOf&cialcommunicayion'received at Berlin; ■.from Russia intimated', that,.the Biy of .Odessa is.'now unsafe for' merchant, shipping. owin;j to torpedoes-.and mines; which" had been laid for "the defence of the. harbour,; •Pilb^ vessels have; been .stationed'at the' entrance of tKe bay,'and:also at the'mquths, of the Dnieper, at Sebastppol, and at Kertoh, to guide fpreign'Vessels.; through, those^ .hindrances,^/ Foreign Vesselis are cautioned against aitertipting td enter any 'of /,ihe v;lu7boursj>pr;;Ti:ver^:.iadicate;dV,wii!a6ni;:; ; fuch .'guidance!"" ':" '""■ ' -r :r' r.:, ;_• ;A^,large iiussian squadron, ; cominanded by' ;the_Graud Duke Cciustanttne,- Nicpiiievitch, :who ha-j under his orders the. w'eU-known; • .Admiral 1?opoff, is (a Qopenhagen coryespdndent;,writeß)'expsctect.ajb Gopenhag6ri as soon ■■bd the ice break3,'and "preparakib.ns for coal,ing"and \ictualiing','the.Eiiuadr6n are'aiready • beibg.made.'J.' \.!, : '^'' 'j..',.'.I.^ . ..-'■■'["..?':.'"], '.- .'. jThe'.i'uyks were making great sacrifices to .prepare'for 'the" expkc^ed^waA; ; : 'They.were .freely giving1 to tne authorities/ supplies ,bf -pro.yisiona,' fppge,'' clothiug,' mphty,' .and (horses. Thfey "had estabiishied' a'steam, flour; mill at Brozka^ ia coi\feec[uerice of 'app.reheiii siosi's that the crdiuir'y- water mills of the ' PrpyijaceVwpUid.bp insufficient to'supply r the wants of. the' fdrcfes' tol^b'e raised in Bosnia, .Rberuitiiig was energetically prosecuted'in all . military districts. ' X ; •'.",■." '..'..'. ,j American indu.Etry;'will largely profit,!'.'',*-, .•deed was profiting, by the .demand uppn-it. -from Russii atfd .Turkey for small 'al'tns and ■• iearlfcridßes^; r A., supply "of Colt's. rifle', ma; "chinery had '"arrived -in ''^Russia,' where it is' .turmng"outlarge,! numbers: o£:;riflq3, for; the use'of the aridy! : aud'.'.thali.\,iip; : t6/;Cbrisim : a3 i ' S.O.Dp.pCOh^'beentaWufactured by thent. During "the {j"a*;fc"' year "Rnssia'impbrtsd iErom' another American firm 103,Q30 pistols. In: 20,Cp6;003pf.'the'.co-called';;''Rde-:aian cartridgeji'.'"have;been ' made in'^ridg^-'; ~p6rfc,\,.Cpijiie<?ticut;.'and machiuery!to,make ■themhaying;•.be'en;, ) :s;;nt. to}' Russia, :.4CD,600, ■cartridges' -were • Ibeiii^;; ;made,*'daily at .SV, 'PetersburgandjßipSsow-^ iOntheot.herhand •fche^'Turkish Gpvernme'nb.had 'contracted' to be "supplied-by ; a. Rhl6d"e}iaiand..^Company >i^BoP,<)oQ'Martuii^ .•^OiOpp,h'ave;a.lready:.been shipped.'. r "/:-■/•' ; .„; :s -The} Amounts, expended' during'tHe'.past, j year..in^Kewtifork! and the^iaanufacturihg" itpwns of New! "England by'diffefenti^ European- Goyernmente, principaliy the, Turkish ,; ■is variously estinjated at - from' 15 ) CP0,Ct)pdol ;to 25,000,Cp0d01. ;The:Turks, nptwifhs^anot;irigj their'financial difficulties at", home,,pay 'for their'arms In J"cash at Bigh^t," aud.^ are' .considered the-,best of customers,, ' "

• 'From Cbnstantirippje; comes'news that the ,Pprte_has ,given Z^Lt r Y^eaiiae_ Baker carte, btanclie' to frame a' soheme for' t'he'orgariisk-* tibn of a gendarmerie^ of '60,000 meti, in which foreignj officers be employed.* v/i •'• ;■ In one'respect,-- retribution appears^to be Turkey for atrocities in Bulgaria.' It is • stited thfct'1 the' Turks find difficulty, in .provisioning tli^if^trppps in Bulgaria, pying 'to the • exhaustion' of the'resources rof that

Province;

i. The.Pprte has just received from. America. several .< hundred :: thousand. Martini-Henry: riflea and.'4ooi(soo,ooo; cartridges^ Another large!transport ;with riflßS! and'cartridges is (in theroad.'":- '-:- >■■;■■ --^ '-;; •'•■; ■; ■ ':"::>[-: v: }^:-

■- 'A;: telegratri/oii: the 16tH Tebraary, Irbiri Silistriaj1 iays, ;thatvr" the whole 7 JTurkisJi army; ia,."'Bulgaria' 1' on" ' ttie;^Sefcmn', bovjier. ,ia Jnpt'JmncK^'ov.er'.lOp/OpO' .consisting, of 133/^aQsry.._batallionß, Eeven ; caviqlry -regtinßftte,,;:,Biil .aboub 120.0.;iBeld; guns.,; ; .; The: , (main: ? force ,;is >; a ;lWiddin.; The- -sanatory >;Btatei is .: unsatisfactory.' The Hospitals are fall;? of; Boldieis '■ from; the South,- '^Mccuatomed" ■ to1 !the :r;oold! add1 eait- wind;/' ;Tliij:- artillerylacfe'fiiumtions and'■''lioraW^.ar sufficiency; ofWiiicbi.'pantiot.'jbe;' found.::' Kbtw^thßtandipg these;'defibien6ies,'i thai temper"pi th.9'.trpops-.is^.excellenli,|y,tfiey! ueeager!fpr2'^ri:,aad':ci}iinti/pn^a^nejv^;.pfi 'hostilities against Servia and./ Montenegro, byjßussiah intervention. There is igteat activity in-works.of forbificatioD." .+ {The employment ;o£ the: .Oirca r;siansjha9 ;just been deliberated on abShutnla, and the decision .is to call "them out, 'oply atrthe lasfe They; ■will.be'milibarily^organizedj. batf.willj'.haves their.^dwn^officers,, regular, cavalry...officer^^being, added« • - v.The, Gircasf ; r rsikna/25,G00i'str®ng, .will chiefly be stationed' 1 bitween'Snumla; and-yarna;'; 'jl'-j;;:; %«<•<■:■ :i: '■ \Wypm,. i :&.. Ijicture,■,} j>y. ' ,sjr iPredriojiJ. Gol.demid.oiv-'tislani'from-Conr 'ptahtinopietoGalcutta^.' w.e take the folldw«

I ThefpreSent jailitary^fofce *of ex^1 elusive 'of r ;whafc Hs-'called ■'»/• f5 Sedentary' &rmy,"; or ;;atf;^imate4;:fcbtal Jof^C^CCO^ ffa'a'JEujrfcher^^ Uable'to be'■caUedjout'ln'tß.Q'event of! war,jn;. 1875) '6n7t)io;.p.eace f ;eßtablisKmeni;, .consisted 'I for j the JReserve,: 75,000 for. auxiliaries^ and. 87,000 for irregulars?thus making -the;.totaii of fortses-459*360.' The fleet 'of war'con-' listed," rthe!erfdr of \theiyear: '1875; bf"2o--irpnpiad'Bhip|'&d;:^7o .'Other'steamers! ■ Thel irbncl^ds' 'afloat' 1 'comprised .'seyen 'frigates//; eigHs cory^ftep^ari)^ steini;fleefe|we^-madei.up'^of fiye'shipsof^tiie; Uiie,.fiyeifrigateß jr Jls^ borvettes,, and ;: 55 'dcs;"; pitcb and'gupboata. fB"or ; manning the Nayy*,-. tliere i'were cemplbyed, ::in . the laairie uyear ■3p,OQp;sail6f3!and!4ooo maririeer■; Majdr St.i Jphn;c of the Royal an pffiper- wiio l has;resided\for:;iii6ny;yearsvrin;Tei;Bi^^^^ s«p-; ppses ; 'thV;PPP,ul£^]6tfthere; .to^ fiy§'; miljitonis, '," ev|a^^.'a jteWVthe, Ip'Bses.''i'n':lat9, yßars-jbyl' : iamine!,''^]rhe,^E«Ji*sia^^^ BUp^so^l'''toI'VonßißtH,ofriQs,(WP';inen/;'pp^-". pj-sed of 30,000 cavalry, 70,000 infantryj an<|; 500O.artillerv."c;i)^th'eje, Jess thsn or.e-thirdj ;or 30,000 men^foi'med^therataniiiDgjarmy on Itfie peace ..foptihgrihus^distiil?^tetC—lo,soo 18;000 infantry,' Wnd;i;soo artillery. ;If the population;!bf'Pe-si^ 1 Ue Treckoned at ,six"Tnil)ions,';"aß. rth'e' lecturer ".'wyurd :prsfer^ 'thli'e's'hdiild'be'of^tKe^^ofe.'tfire^m^ ',oiJ'Shiah ' I Mahotn§d'a.ns,:'j^oltisiyely^df'^iSr;l '. menian''Ohr)stia,ns, j ,^ewsi:"' and .Earsees'/.tl^e irensainder.l-'wjdiildf^eV pq^posed.y'pf -Sur.d,'.and :^ p'thfcrj'KaDderiiig■. ; trifc3S.._ ! ;f : Hp\Y. .many : of;<lie,iaß.t.would ;,weld togetherl.into. ,a| national force- in-ther,event: of meed would ; depend. so much !u'iioh?circumatartdes 'thatit' r^ere:riowidlßto vha2ard:;a'coDJebtn!'e'pn the :subjedt.^;:Asi the'f> e:sian'Army^;'on?its'.^ea'pe; footing:is<not'a'[q'uai'ief 'as'large!"as: that' V>£ .Turkey,;'so' we,'might; ttie '■BJhble , numerjc4liy expressed *' physical st/ength. the Shah,-could, /put :f or ward ; ., in - ca'^e of han :. .emergency .. tp : -i. :be ; 1e35 ; ..; than' a ;,qua>;ter K ;that of : ,hia ; Suuni Bus in-this,case, neighbourhood ;is:nqt brothorly lov'o or- even ordinary friendship; 'The. ■ f|eud which ;has existed 'from-ti'tti^ 'itatfif mo-' rial between 'tlitße'tWo"Mdsleiii'States has fopg been a' -b i t ter: ope,. I and is' ever rpady 'j- tol tereneVed'atiVa'coiiyehient' op^rfcu.riity, ,''!?'. the WoVld of ;ia^ml above the 'nottliieastern frontier: pf Persia and .generally east, of. the CBspim''.BeaV,t^ereVare.i!tir'b.!iyn:.:i(tlgathVt^.a i variety of. tripsa of the inajori'ty-i are,Sunnis, ; and far rnOro disposed than -Persians to • admit' the rspiritual- sovereignty of the Sultan of the Gttomaiig, There is, moreover, here affinity-Of languagejtogether with a common creed. The Bultan of OonstsritV nople is tea^racd as C'hjof of ths Mahowedffß

religion and Khalif, and as it was the practice in the Middle Ages for each of the three Khanates'of ,Tnrkista,n to receive, as badges of investiture from the Khalif of Baghdad, a sorb of Court office, this old system of et:quetie has not been' abandoned. The Khan of Khiva assumes his .rank as!' Cupbearer, the Emir of Bokhara 'as Heir' (bmardian of Heligion), and the Khan of Kh'okand as Constable. Sultans^ however,' cannot exercise any political inflaeniie.upon the three. Khanate 3. ;Colonel M'GrVgor estimates.the total population of .Afghanistan at sometting short of 'ifiye millions-^-a sum. which includes Badakhshan, 'KuudiiZj .and what ara called the jcur; GlriVdoms. His tribal /divisions appear under 35' heads, of which the large figure, of/250,0W-for the Aimaks, on the West, .bontrasbs with- 85,000 Afreedees; on the East..'.; Colonel M'Gregor thinks 20,000 a fair'number of tighting men to give the Afreedees, or a Quarter of the whole tribe.. ; All the Afghans are Mphorocdans, as . are generally .the inhabitants "of Afghanistan, with the exception of tlfo Kafir Siahposh. ; and,the Hindus S3a);tered here and there. . Of ihese, eight tribes are Shiahs, six mixed Snnhi and Shiah, and the remaiiider *ir Su'nn;< In ;India, common, report, arising from statistics, gives the cumber of ' bur.Mosletn subjects at 40,000,000, or a perrentage of 2145" on the grand, total of 190,000,000,"a' larger figure ;than-we can assume :in Asiatic Turkey,'"; Persia, and. Afghanistan together. "' Of course, if we add' the Khanates of Central Asia and Beloocbistan, we raise the amount considerably j. but surely, with 26,000,000., to, be added to 40,000,000, we may be eatiafted'that Islam itf powferfully represented between Gonstanti-' riople and Calcutbai The great: schism'apparent in the whole line is the Shiah, which istha State religion,, as it were, in Persia ; but in India the votaries of Islam ate mostly' Sunhia, and the Turani/ or Turkish: Mogols,' all so. It hai been questioned'on competent authority, wjieth'er Indian •Wababeeiam is: identical with the Arab revival of that riame^ in thelast century,1 hut the gerierar opinion' seems to ba that they arei alike 'both-'in-principle and spirit. uThe character of" their loyally may be judged'from the com'para-; tiyely recent decision' of their learned nien, that it is' ->nly incumbent on them to" display it; ■when rebellion has ■no chance' of "success.Let us loo.k to the possible result of^war'to' Great BritaiTi, iinder a threefoldhyppthesi3—-' that of neutrality, of active opposition- to Turkey, arid of-active alliance. withFTurkey,-. Were England, to take no part with -Russia or any other; European iState at/_war;wibh: Turkey, such attitude would not, - in;;tho; ordinary, course of events,•: bring upon the Government any; serious : dmger from Moslems. •.' Were "England i to ijoin .in active opposition* to-Turkey^; there is;~ddubtlc3's danger ta'be apprehendedin.'lndia!;. but this isa kind wMch1 may be -grossly exaggerated. ,X)f-iwhat would;be the;re3ult upon-- ihe~ Islam.l oi- India.'Aiwere ,■;• we tto enter into ;aetive alliance ■ with Turkeyi; and Bupportr'her .-against' a -coinmon:;.Christian enemy, -we are:: not'i without precedent .to judge in thei mutiay..which immediately fol« lowed tho Grimeau war. !■■> ;■:,■:- ■ .

■I jTKe action i of- Germany 'in; refusing to exhibit' at'the forthcoming Paris Exhibition,: : the; captious' spirit of • -the GermaaLPress, the . jealousy m ith. which- Germany viewis' the construction of the scicond'French kae'of-forti-(which' at t Germa'i Representations'. , were' discontinued),'are1 all straws 'pointing •how ttie. wind' blows. ■'•"On. the :other^harid i ' .the1 '.obliging,-'1 conciliatory disposition^ of; France has peeo) /the theme of admiration. | Commenting on the recent recriminations be-; jween' French' arid •" German ';semi-official .papers;''- the' /Berlin;: cbrresp'ohdeiit i ofs, the. Debats forcibly remarks ":—", Germany is-not in a'position to disdain the talk of which she is the subject;/ Surrounded on all sides by;: firaii class States] she 'has1 not forgotten Count' .MoltkVs 'observation] that her successes have •gained- her more fespeet- than sympathy. Any thing tending; to; cherish in the 'gerieraL .sentmjut'6f< -Ettrope the: 'se'nttment -of; diatrust/naturally; inspired in the weake'r'by'the; Eeighbourhoodofitheatrorig-is.const'rufcdby' her as^a proof 'of'hostility; arid her-diplomacy ,as a nighttnafe of coalitions';. 'Of late,-rsoine; literary, pf bductioris—a 'false apiece- of "news ..from Constantinople; too easily accepted,- not' forgetting the active .participation of her; diplomacy :"at';tlie :Confere_n(!e; .and ;'a;lefcter' relative to the 1878 Exhibition^—have'snfßeSd ,to excite"the'ill-humbuV!'of / her1 's:eini official' journals.' -' 'Tlie s "ill-hunibap,';;howeyar,-■'6£ ' 6fßcicius '■ Germany is!a th'rig Franco musb"' g4_t 'accustomed • to; pnt?-np'i-withi':- witaout; : thiinkibg herself constantly menaced w:th ah' .attack bn her frontiers; lTKera are certairily.! /BtUr^:-nuinber-'of''people'Mh>.iSerma'ny;--who/ : consider feSr '• the only -basis for peace? vi re; • >ktio;ns between 'the ;twb "countries.'1- .The' .faraous dderyit durri vietuant -was'paraph'raJed'-rjadt'lbng_"ago'ih'''a':''ie^er?.s'sht'''&bm<;.bere.-td the Moritags -Revue—a very unsafe sy'steniih for, in trying to sb\v fear,; there' iss a: risk of r reaping'EbinetKiDg els6;'but,;in'reality■'the' .dbminant. feeling ;iri!G r ermany' js - one bf icpu-: iciliaiion';' b;: The German -p'eople-havei very ■ good, 'reasons for lof •other- things: ithan'w'ar aniibonqdests."' ■'! ';? -■' :; [:: ->>- 7"'s iThe'Berlin'semi-official ProvinciaPCorre;.: -sporiTlehce bf'Jauuary!3l9t'repfihtsiiun<lerjitie vheading of ".French.. Snspieions .and Agit^i--istibn''1 a'gainsif Germany.'"-1 the '-contents' qf-'an' article published 4u'-:the last :issue L'bf'';the: ;ORevue?deb' Deux-Mbndes/ This /article diS-r! ";cussed the'"'sirength of. the'-'secondtrate 1 fleets' ;in ■the';;Baltic;-ahd ;ithe»North')Sea;'_wato^ %f eden'' and' vDenmark;- against^Gerni'iliyV ,lußß-'bf 'conquest^ atid Called'lupbh.th'em-tb-; ; irm fof defence;againßSthe dangcr%"tHre r at6n"^ ing^them;' and; to aseek imp port- in - tKeir .- clpsely'-'alliedrintefe'sfai vi -' The^Pr'd^ncia^Cor-: respondeiic3~-b6iisideVs'iit''saperfldoui^ a jwbfd; in^Teply^ toi 'these' Bus'picibnsV^^'^ which} arefonrided; upori. nothing," 1 and it 'concludes'l its arficle as 'follows i— <• Th'e'friyblousipame: carried on two years ago *n'the FrenohTress1, ,of insulting'and challeDging;'Germany is-n'ow' ibeing"l repeated 'with'the^fiebret'reserVationT1 :of '-tompißiiain'gJ-'afterwar'da^oT i:threat3'':''and:> ,coe^cibn'JwhevnI.theEeSinsttlt^;'aß liß. n^tdr'al/' "are repelled1i bn nthe: part' of Getminy';"J ■ - "> -^ | REGIONS; blia", icr '.: ! ;. f , r J ENGLAND AND aEEMASy. ." f V A"i-^ J' vj jTlie "Official ;-G'aze'ttioi 'tne^erpiaaTEm-', ■pi.re, ..penti^ning ; the ,deapatch .of "an^ngJisli; 5 inaniof-war.' ■;for/; theu'protec{ioii ; . of "Gerhian., 'Bubjectfl wha^ad"su,ff^^^ '^icaragUa,''.aHda i-^^T^e^rea^iiieaa^wital ■which! 'England "With" her' haval 'poy^er;^ behalf^^^.of c Germans al;,a,place,.where ;MBrman i sli>pa';oj' r rwaic. were^npi'jinmediafe^ ;ava?lable;js.worlfty.of.aU'our^&aMs,1; SDhe^ principle ."of : '^sblidarily^DetwAeK-'-'.-ineiidly.' ippwjrs."^itß." regard^tq tbie matualpifpt^ctlon' Lofj tiie'ir'subjficts^^ iii'.clistant la^idSihas'jjWebyj. ibeen'.^g^VwafirmeS.?^';'^;'. I..^''T7;^^-''.l-!'"- IIJ t'j '('.THBI-SOSOHIEVOUS. EOLICYsOF ,COEBCIbS.''ri:

> -Speaking afc:-a- Conservative dinner* Feb.; !28tfi, "at^Portsmouth; 'Mr Lowther; "Under jSeoretary i of' State for ■ the' Solonies,; aaioy < ;under ho circumstances •would the iniscbiev-' pus policy pi coercion tie adopted in ihaEasii; •and;noudea!yas?likely toienter the;head of' Vacy *adviser ;;of' 'Her -Majesty; whereby-a Biogle-butfcon ofcrar sailors'jackets' i .would be placed mc' jeopardy-Jjroinv any mat^f ,iors -rarisingidut of i the- internal admuiiatrav ■tipn;of theTurkisli Empire.^' .&?■■:*'s?^ •- ,j !In ntne~Hbuße of" Commons* Mi■ W.■.Wltibr ,w>rth; Mkedjthe.Elirst Lord;o£j;he Admiralty' w^^heir';he'!^ouWf!(^y|||p'cn;ipß tabl«,o£'tb.e Hoiise a'cp'pyiof 'fcjie-Minute^ o^Prder'aut^o-1, rikin^the^cpus'tructron'prl'pth^ of the.lA^mir&Tfcy'to'furm^K W'thojEusßian' Qoyerninent^preyiausf to'.and.'uptp the.com':" njettceroentoi: x^ and'detailedjprorking p'laias p|^pur'Vir! sliips. builditig IJor ab'out Jts bebuilL.'ana' 'also if in:.' iormatlpn of j. this,.description could. ~8.1511 'be 'obtained Isy!that Goveramen,tj"' ,V': T ■..■-.J | i Mr.HunXsa'id'searc^ ■ba#i.\as^iß4B,^W^ ; niitiute; ai in \tbe''-que'?tip'a' could,, :be':found "at-iti'e Adrairaity.;',' WiM;regar'd,tp. j ■thei sebond' parj pt 'tHe"questiofi,'bei liad.'tp. ;say there r was;h6 general'rulo"j)r, or|ier"aß to giving 'ij&iiiUd. plans;br"ships^builfc!pr.aß6ut,l tob'eTjiii'tiio GoveihraentsV. TPbenV ever' an'app'ioitio'n was' made ""it •''vvas coh--1 sideredoh its 'merits. .''.: .'.'"■.',",.'..;.'; ' ......

! BKITXSH .OFFICERS IN, FOREIGN; ;SERVICE.

y\ March:.stb.—Sir .Gecrga^ Campbell: rose, acccrdiug to: notice, to callatteutiou'.fo the embanassments and dangers that.might re-, "'Bulfc-rif' oißcers w?re -allow(d;to obtaia,i;by. ,way o^icpminutation or pthertoise, ,the full, ' pepuniary'yaiuej.of. ;retir«3d^oisi "half-payj;; and; ;a!t.tho s^nie!litue: to (rfee themsolveßir.om.the, :dbligatipES and- control ..attached, to::tlioaa, dllowaacesii; That,? he sai'i, was a;very iui.Iportant ;.matter, raising; no less; a questioa. than ; this—;that individual officers, might: : poEsibly drag-.England into a war into which the. epuntry did not desire. to go. Not- far. from that House r-afc;lhe;residenceof a great, nobleman—a Committee had been formed.to; giyepectiniary agsißtauce:by,.Bubscriptions to tll9 epldiw of Turkey, Tvnp were colleofced

together for' the purposes of' a possible or - probab.'e.war against.UuES'a ;. and they had also lately seen ia the newspapers :ipara-< graphs stating that -a' certain number 'of■ •*■ British officers had. gone to takoeervicesome in the Turkish, army and others in the - Turkish navy. Whether those. statements were true or not, they were likely to have a >.: disturbing effect -unless . they were officially contradicted.; andheaaked whether there was not some ground for Russia supposing that '■■~ Turkey was receiving some ac3istance..frora Englijndj.-and whether that wa3 Dot an -impression'calculated to inj'ire the friendly concert, -tetwetti the -two-countries.. He hopad that the Government would be pre- . ■ pared to shoiv that there were means at.T their command ;by which, British, jofficei s : might, ba:prevented. from' taking,service, un- m dor a foreign Power.. "The danger, of•; the present state of things was illustrated by the ; case of.Admiral.Hobart, a British officer who had entered the Turkish eervice,' contrary, to '•■ the rules of his own service, contrary also to ;•■! the will and wish of the : heads of our Adniiralty,>. and with an impunity the reasons for which had yet.to be, explained. In the j Times the other day appeared a letter from.- '•'■ j its correspondent1 at Pera, in which it was stated;.that Etobart Pasba—a man who fa-' ~ voured: ; boW,,and decided measures on, alt bccasioasr-suggested.: that Turkey :had. a< : .right peremptorily to. call on Russia to ex-v, piain the intention of'her armaments, and that if .Russia refused, Turkey should /.C instantly : declare .wax*. . - It: was . added that Hobart Pasha held Turkey v. to ;. be prepared , for immediate war by sea,; i ahd-that he would ; undertake: to sweep'the Russian leet irom the ..Black. Sea, and to bombard the Russian ports. These were the , threats, ascribed ;.tq Hobart Pasha. ; When statements^^ of,that kind; appeared iaia great 1 pjb'lic; journal,- it;was r surely.time for ,the ' Qovernmeat^to take .^ome steps in "tho~i.matter. At the present time, Hobart 'Pasha",,; -was, drawing retired pay froth; this hbuntry,and might;at;any.moment apply- to have it ft commuted for a capital .sum, so aa.-to place himße]U: beyond, the power of Her Majesty's :■■ .'Government altogether; and there miyht be . other" officers similarly; situated. :? : Under, these.: circumßtances,: :ho. hoped \to I\ear a V declaration, from the Government i that Sthey intendedito -put a-check on ;the.:power o£•.; • British officers to take Btrvice \in Turkey or.'. • '■~ elsewhere and carry : on an unofficial' war: 'X

! against a Power with which this country yr&S at p°ace. ~ ■".:.>•;.".■.vrt;".:-'.?-."'-:'.■=■'""':