ENGLAND AND RUSSIA

Dunstan Times, Issue 1205, 3 April 1885, Page 3

ENGLAND AND RUSSIA

' V London, March 26., ■ The Government have as yet’ received no answer to the communication addressed by Earl Granville to theKossian Foreign Office on March 16 on the subject of the Afghan frontier dispute. Frequent interview* hare taken place daring : the last few days between Earl Granville and Mnsnrai Pasha, Turkish Ambassador, and Hassan Pebmy Pasha, the Turkish special Envoy. The fact has given risqjo rumours that arrangement are being ooi%Mo 1 for an Anglo-Turkish alliance is thedfSht of an outbreak of hostilities be- ; tween England and Russfa. -A message from the Que'en was read to Parliament to-day. It announced that, in view of tho grave emergency which has arisen in foreign affairs, it has been decided to cal! out the Militia and. the Reserves. The latter force, mil be embodied for permanent service. ■■; >A-- -v; Calcutta, March 25. ■ It is announced that General Sir Frederick Roberts, withthaforoenf 25,000 men now being mobilised, will proceed without delay to occupy the Solan Pass. Troops to tho number of -15,000 will be drafted from England to India in order to . supply, the place of the force despatched to the southern Afghan frontier, : > • '■ -’ London, March 25. In consequence of ’ war being considered immhreut,’the officios-who have been absent on furlough are; now hastening their return to India. Russia it bidding for an - alliance with Tntkey. w > V •. March 27. Ip the House of Lords to*dav. Earl GranVillej Secretary for Foreign Affaire, stated that he had had an interview yesterday ■' (Thhfsday)Svith M-deStaal, the Russian Ambassador, on the subject of the comma* ~ nication recently made by the .British Go vemment to Russia respecting the state of J affairs bn the Afghan frontier. M. de Staal sthted that his Government had still under consideration the rtply, to .be made. to the . communication in. question. March 28. ’The mines tb-day publishes a telegram ' that "Russia is massing 50,000 troops at Baku, a fortified town on the western shore . of the, Caspian Sea, .. Bombay, March 28. Intelligence has been received - of’the arrival of theWiceroy-aVdlawe Pindi. The telegrams report that great - enthusiasm is being displayed throagbout thePnnjanb fa. connection hirExcaliency’s visit and the exTpented arrival of the Ameer of Afghanistan in the district. At the formal reception of. •V. the Viceroy At. Rawe- - Pindi a number of '.■./prominent native chiefs.were, present, and . the.proceedings were attended with much splendour and ectat. Earl Diifferin.made 9 speech on the occasion,'which dwelt upon the loyally shown by the-various native princes.-in offering: military assistance to Great Britain at the present juncture. These offers, his Lordship added, proved that the ■ princes fully recognised the firm respect en tertained by Erigland for the rights of the .Indian native States., .... , : ...- ... . ;■■ Melbourne, March 28. The'Ni/cnmy Retold states that the Victorian Government have received a telegram, i;? indicating that War- between England and Rnssta is/imminent,- and: that: orders have consequently been issued by the Governmeet for a warship to be in readiness to. go 'to'Poit'Phillip Heads.' It also ‘states that work on H. M.S Nelson, which is now in :? i,i- dock v will proceed throughout; to-night, so syt to, get her ready for .sea wjthbut delay. This evening’s World announces ■ that * „B.M-S. .NeTsbn has been qrdered to Sydney ,* to be in’ readiness” for, emergencies. The f J ‘-'samepapeSr; states, that inquiries made confirm'the belief that iihitsual Activity is now. ♦ fer manifest in. the naval And’military depart..,v 4-ments. ~, , March 29. A proclamation was published in the • Gazette' yesternight prohibiting foreign avery -.-i sea. vea'sels-from entering the- Heads he--..tween sunset; apd sunrise. Inteicolonial .and plfber vessqls are prohibited from navi‘'gating tbh dt'annels'in the bay unless accompanied by A qualified pilot. The Vic--5* toriau gunboat; Albert proceeded to the . -Heads last night -in; order to .enforce the proclamation,,, and the, Victoria follows shortly.' . Great activity is being shown’ in the various branches of the Defence Departw.. • tnent; ■ .( It is announced that the Nelson has received orders to be in readiaess.on Tuesday next to'cruise along the coast.' - London, March 28. General Stewart, comraander-in-chief in . Ind'a. will at , once take the field with 50.000 troops. General Hafdrage and Lieutenant general Sir F. Roberta will command 1 the - divisions," and H.R.H. the Dnke of Connaught the reserves, who ; . number 10,000. r i The English Government have arranged for 3b transports, which are now being prepared for carrying reinforcements to India. • The ohders given by the Imperial authorities for. canned beef from Chicago have entirely exhausted the market in- that conn- ’' trv. , .. ‘

Recently the Russians have attempted to pn-ehase several swift steamers in England, hnt they have been frns'ratcd. -■ ■ The English Government, are arming the nteamers Arizona., . America, Oregon, and Alaska, Which’will he' used in the event of hostilities breaking put with Rnisia. • -Several.other vessels are also to he armed, , so as to he ready, in case, of emergency. ; Her Majesty’s war vessels Roquefort and Black Prince will probably ho added to the strength of the Australian squadron. ’ . Lotroow. March 29. •In view-of- the present emergency in foreign affairs, the Government are chartering vessels belonging to the principal steamship lihcs to act as-armed cruisers if occasion should require. ; In ignoring Earl Granville’s dispatch of March 16 on the Afghan frontier question, the Russian Government makes counter pronosals. The Tvovoe Vremya considers that Ana- • tralia will form an important sphere for Rntfjian cruisers. The same paper advoestablishment of Russian colonies in tne Pacific. Nine ironclads, 24 gunboat"; and 36 tori pedo boats are being - equipped in the English • dock-yards. .They are intended for service in the Baltic Mp.lbouhve, March 30. Measures for the defence’ of the army are being vigorously carried on Torpedoes have been placed in' west and south channels, and several hulks purchased by the Government with the view of their being sink if necessary , to obstruct navigation. Th«sa precautions are due to the fact that . intelligence has been received of the pre« scnce of Russian: cruisers at Singapore and . . the Cap*. .Qneensoliff fort has-bem-manned; hy a detachment of the Permanent Artillery. ' Other preparations for defence am being .... rapidly proceeded with..: Twpa’om ace being submerged in various.positions in the h»y. The pilots’, certificate* of the capons : of coasting vessels iftte suspended for the • time, and. additinnpj pilots have, been ap- . pointy! in consequence. . : •. • • .'Lowpew,. March 30. ’ -Ths PdilyNtm nnhlishesadhrpafchfrom !«■ St. Petwshnrgh correspondent statfqg

that a reply of the Russian O ivernment to Earl Granville’s communication of the 16th is now on its way to London, and further, that it is eouohed in conciliatory language, and is likely to lead to a pacific settlement of the difficulty. I In the House of Commons to day Lord Edmund Fitz.naurioe Under-seoretaryfor Foreign Affairs, replying to a question, stated that the reply of the Russian Government to. Earl Granville’s dispatch of the 16th inst. was now on the way to London The Government were unaware of the exact nature of its contents, but understood, however,.that it indicated tho probability of an early meeting for the settlement of the Afghan frontier delimitation. Lord Fitzmaurine expressed a hope that the tone of the reply would bo such as to allay the excitement now prevalent. March 31.

It is believed that some Russian vessels are cruising the Pacific. Several of her cruisers are also reported to be voyaging in the neighbourhood of the River Amor. . In the-House of Lords the Marquis of Hartington, Secretary of State for the War Department, stated that the reply of tho Russian Government to the communication recently made by England to Russia respecting affairs on the Afghan frontier is of a conciliatory nature. Melbouenb, March 31.

It has transpired that Government recently received an unofficial warning from Singapore to the effect that several Russian cruisers had left there and proceeded in a northerly direction; and that they were again warned on Friday that the Russian ironclad General Admiral, of 16 guns and 4600 toes, w»s at the Gape. • In consequence of the news the Premier (Mr Service) communicated with the Premiers of the various Colonies in cypher, and this course has given rise to unusual- activity in matters of defence. Sydney, Maach 31. Measures for strengthening the defences of the Colony are occupying the attention of the Government, Active military preparations, are on foot for securing positions at Sydney Heads, Bptany, and Newcastle. Adelaide, March 31. Government are in communication: with Admiral Tryon, commanding the Australian squadron, in regaid to measures necessary for the protection of the Port Darwin ■cable. ■Wellington. March 31. ” The Agent-general cables that the state of affairs between England and Russia is not soominoos.