THE TURCO-SERVIAN WAR.

Tuapeka Times, Volume IX, Issue 607, 11 October 1876, Page 4

THE TURCO-SERVIAN WAR.

HORRIBLE ATROCITIES. • The inquiries of the British Commissioners show that the reports of the atrocities in Bulgaria have not been in the least exaggerated. Children have been roasted alive, and their flesh thrust down their parents' throats; pregnaut women ripped up ; ■women, children, and girls violated by thousands ; men impaled, skinned alive, flogged to death, tortured in every conceivable manner, not alone by Bashi Bazouks, but t.> a greater extent by the regular trcops, who were rewarded instead of punished for their cruelty. The English Secretary of j Legation (Mr Baring) and the American Secretary (Mr Schuber) who were sent to investigate the matter, report 60,000 Chr»stian noncembatants murdered. The American Secretary suggests that the Foreign Commissioners should see that the leaders of these outrages are hung. Thousands of bodies were strewn about in every direction, knawed by dogs, and in a horrible state of putrefaction, with a few half-starved women sitting in the midst of them, bewailing the fate of their dear ones. One woman was fcund moaning over three small skulls with the hairs clingiug to them, which she had in her cap." These revela tions caused an intense feeling throughout England. Meetings held in all the chief centres passed resolutions calling on the British Government to stay these atrocities. Canon Liddon, from the pulpit of St. Paul's, said, " While they were listening in that sicred building, the loud cry and bitter wail of anguish and despair was rising to heaven from thousands of desolate homes— from mothers and daughters whose whole future life would only be one long memory of agony and shame. What made the voice falter in speaking of the subject was that the Government to which Turkey was turning for support was free, humane, Christian England. If God was the same as he had ever been, he hated cruelty, and would punish those who enact and those who abet it now as of old." John Bright stated io a letter to a public meeting at Rocudale, convened to protest against the cruelties, that England was the sole cause ©f these cruelties and of the Servian war, as, but for her support, Turkey dared not have been guilty of them. Mr Gladstone, in a pamphlet on these atrocities, says, " The British name has been more seriously compromised in these deplorable events than was ever known before." He urges the people to insist on the Government excluding the Ottomans from the administrative control of Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Bulgaria, redeeming by this policy the honor of the British name. In a debate in the House of Commons on the 7th, respecting the atrocities in Bulgaria, Mr Anderson read long extracts from papers about the alleged atrocities at Constantinople, and the indifference of the English Minister. He charged the Earl of Beaconsfield with treating the subject with le\ r ity and apathy, and with exhibiting a desire to palliate the conduct of the Turks. Mr Mundella supported Mr Anderson strongly. Mr Coehrane deprecated the exaggerated tone of the speakers, but urged the House to support the Government in an endeavor to suppress the outrages. Mr Hayter repudiated Mr Cochrane's tone, and contended that England was bound to bring all her diplomatic pressure to bear to suppress the outrages. Mr Taylor denounced the practices of the Turks as disgraceful to humanity. He was fallowed by Messrs Jacob Bright, Cowan, and others, who spoke in the same strain. Mr Beurke, Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, defended the Premier and Turkish Ambassador against the charge of apathy, and assured the House that the former took more interest than might be supposed from the allegations which had been made. There was not any man in England who more strongly vindicated the cause of humanity than Mr Disraeli. He denied that the Government had shown indifference, and read extracts to show that the statements of the { Daily News ' were in many respects wild fables and colored partisanship. In regard to the mission of Mr Baring, he was satisfied that he was conducting it in faithful :ind efficient manner, and had done nothing to justify the reflection cast upon him by the ' Daily News ' correspondent. The matter might be safely left to the Government. The Marquis of Hartington contended that although the Government might not be open to the charge of indifference, still they ought to have placed themselves in a better positioß for obtaining reliable information, and suggested the advisability of further debate before the prorogation. Mr Bourke said that consequent upon several representations made to the Porte on the subject of the atrocity which had caused so much indignation, the English Government had instructed the ConsularAgent at Philippoli to place himself- in direct communication with the Consul at Bulgaria. THE WAR OPERATIONS. Fighting between the Servians and the Turks before Alexanitsa commenced on the 18th August and continued until the 4th September. The Servians gained several successes, driving the Turks across to the left bank of the Morava river. The fighting was hard, with great slaughter on both side's. The Russian volunteers specially distinguished themselves. Russians officers drove the Servians to battle with pistol and sabre, shooting down the laggards remorselessly. On September 3rd the Turks bom.' barded Alexanitsa, firing the town in several i places. A severe fight ensued, in which two villages near Alexanitsa, held by the Fervians, were burned, and an engageme it resulted in great disaster to the Servian army, which became completely disorganised Alexanitsa was crowded with wounded and mangled. A stampede from thence took place, and for ten miles on the road to Belgrade there was a compact moving mass of vehicles, cattle, and people, running away as fast as possible. The Servian loan was eagerly subscribed at St. Petersburg. The British Ambassador has presented a demand for tfce conclusion oi the armistice^

to be followed by negotiations for peace. The term of armistice demanded is one month England's declaration, that if Turkey's refusal shall lead to foreign intervention, the Porte must not reckon on the British Government, caused surprise and disappointment. No secret was made that Russia was likely to interfere. After tfeis declaration it is said that the Turkish Government looked to Austria to repel Russian agression. It ;s; s asserted that slavery will be abolished. The latest telegram dated London, September 12, says: — The 'Standard s ' despatch from ' elgrade says that the conditions of peace have been received, but not officially communicated. Russia will not permit Servia to accept. The quest:on is now, when will Russia throw » ff the mask, and openly prosecute the war she is actually waging, while pretending to be merely Servia's friend ? A Vienna special says that General Manterffe, who went on a mission to Warsaw to persuade Russia to check the warlike aspirations of her people, has received Prince Gortsehakoff's reply to Germany, laying down the conditions under which Ifussia will uphold peace under present^circumstances. The Belgrade correspondent of the ' Daily News ' is informed that over 3,000 Rnssians of all grades are in the Servian army.