WAR NOTES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2006, 5 April 1878, Page 4

WAR NOTES.

The Greek army was withdrawn from Thessaly on assurances beinv? received from England and the other great Powers that at tl.e Conference the rights and expectations of the Hellenes should receive favorable consideration. Many English journals advocate the increase of Greece as a Power as a counterpoise to the Sclavs. When the armistice was signed 7000 Turkish troops under Mukhtar, Mehemet, Ali, ancl Baker Pashas, were all that were available for tho defence of tho Tcheklnedje lines ; and Hobart Pasha was superintending the naval defence. The Malta and Gibraltar garrisons nnmber 11,457 men, and immense quantities of supplies and war material continuo to be sent to both fortresses. * Captain F. Burnaby has published an account of Baker Pasha's defence of the Turkish rear guard at Tachkisen. At Genulachiira, the Bulgarians attempted to poison both Burnaby and Baker, bnt failed. A London publisher hss received a large order for works on India, to be forwarded to the Grand Duke Nicholas at Orenberg. Of the six million vote half is for warlike stores, provisions, clothing, transports, &c. ; two millions for naval stores, coals, purchase of ships, transport, &c. ; and one million for contingencies. The Daily Neivs of the 7th published a long telegram from its special correspondent at Adrianople, stating that m an interview with Servier Pasha, on the 28th, the latter distinctly asserted that notwithstanding the official despatches of the English Government, both Mr Layard and Lord Beaconsfield privately, both at the Porte and to Musurus Pasha, promised England's eventual support. The Earl, Mr Layard, and Musurus Pasha have given the most emphatic contradiction to the statement. In London, enthusiastic meetings m favor of the Government were held at the Guildhall, under the presidency of the Lord Mayor, at the Cannon-street Hotel, the Stock and Corn Exchanges, at Lloyd's, m Trafalgar-square, and m all the suburbs. In the country, meetings of 20,000 persons were held at Sheffield, Leeds, and Manchester, and numerous gatherings at nearly all the principal towns pronounced m favor of the Government and the vote for £6,000,000. On several occasions The Times and Daily News were publicly burnt. Many of the meetings convened by the Opposition supporters were turned into enthusiastic demonstrations m favor of the Government. For several days Lord Beaconsfield was received by a tremendous ovation on reaching the Parliament Houses, and the excitement has been greater than at any time since the Crimean war. Two regiments of cavalry entered Adrianople on January 20, and the Grand Duke Nicholas arrived on the 26 th. Before leaving, the Turks blew up the ammunition stores, and burnt the seraglio. For several days before and after, tens of thousands of fugitives left the whole country around for Constantinople, enduring frightful misery on the journey. It is believed thousands perished, and women killed their children to prevent their perishing of cold and hunger. Accounts from numerous correspondents, including those of the Daily News, show that the Bulgarians massacred the Turkish peasants duriug their flight to a frightful extent. A remnant of Sulieman Pasha's army having reached the Bui air lines, the army that had before concentrated at Adrianople retreated to Kirkikilissia, and finally to the lines of Boyrke to Heiskemedjie, abandoning the whole country between to the advancing Russians, who speedily occupied every part of importance from Midiaon to Ogen, including Rodosto aud Silivofa, on the Marmora Sea, but keeping about fifteen miles distance from Bulair. A few unimportant skirmishes took place with the Russian vanguard. After the capture of Chipka the army of the Lorn also advanced, occupying Rasgrad and Osman Bazar without fighting. General Zimmerman's army also moved forward, entering Bazirdjik on the 27th January, and Pravady on the 3rd instant. After the retreat of the Turkish regulars the Circassians, prior to the arrival of the Russians, pillaged and outraged Mussulmans and Christians alike, and even m Stamboul their cond net was such that the ambassadors requested the Government to send them away m numerous instances. Requests were sent even by the Turks to the Russians to hasten. At Burgois the sailors from H M.S. Torch had to protect the inhabitants. On the morningof the 20th January the Russian forces before Batou m attacked that town, believing the majority of the garrison had been sent on by sea to Constantinople. After nine hours' fighting they were repulsed, with a loss of 3000 killed and wounded. The Russian administration is being organised m Armenia, which the people believe to be permanently annexed. Among the prisoners taken by the Russians at Plevna was a Paris Communist named Olliver Perm, who was secretary to Rochefort, and one of the most notorious characters m the May day of 1871. Ho had cscapod from prison, and was, inconsequence, condemned to death. Though an officer m the Ottoman army, as a Frenchman and newspaper correspondent, the Russian authorities would have handed him over to the French Ambassador but for his decided preference to remain a Turkish prisoner of war. In seizing the Plateau of Kilia place, the Russians are within easy reach of the fort of that name which guards the passage of the Bosphorous into the Black Sea, and whose possession wonld render it difficult for a British fleet to undertake operations m that aea. Gallipoli is still m Turkish hands, with a British force ready to pounce npon it should it be necessary ; and the Russian approach to Fort Kiba, seems to be a counterblast to the movements of the British at the mouth of the Dardanelles and m the Bosphorous. It ia worth noting that wheu the British fleet entered the Dardanelles, Russia, though ahe abstained from entering Constantinople, advanced towards Kilia, to guard the Black Sea entrance.