ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1209, 1 May 1885, Page 3

ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

St. Petesbdro, April 23. The semi-official Journal de Petersburg, in an article to-day on the Afghan question, expresses its conviction that Sir Peter Lumsden’s report to the British Government of the recent fighting was derived from Afghan sources, and It further states that the Russian Government place complete reliance on General Komaroff s report of the proceedings. The article concludes by expressing the hope that peace may still he looked for. London, April 24. In the House of Commons Mr Gladstone announced that Her Majesty’s Government were now engaged in negotiations of an extremely grave nature with Russia, and it was impossible for him to make a statement to them at the present juncture. The Daily News this morning, in a leading article on the Afghan question, says the only hope of peace that is possible is in the conclusion of an agreement delimitating the frontier line of Afghanistan, and adds that the negotiations now in progress to that end are not of a hopeless nature. Melbourne. April 23. Great activity is being shown by all the Australian Governments in matters of dodefence . Military preparations are being pushed forward in all the Colonies. The Government are in receipt of a telegraphic dispatch from the Agent-general (Mr Munay Smith) to the effect that war is inevitable, though not immediate. Sydney, April 24. At a special Cabinet Council held to-day it was resolved to push for ward the construction of the defence works with the utmost expedition. Adelaide, April 24. Sir Arthur Blyth, rdouth Australian Ag- nt-general in London, telegraphs to the Government that affairs have a very warlike tendency. London, April 28. it is expected that M. de Ciers, the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, will resign,. The New South Wales Government have applied to the War Office for a major, two lieutenants, a lieu'enant of engineers, and a sergeant of artillery in connection with the defences of the colony. Welligton, April 24. The Government have received no infor mation regarding affairs between England : and Russia _ . I The Marine Underwriters’ Association has received a cable message from London staling in effect that diplomatic negotia- . tinns between Russia and England had j been broken off, and that it was therefore necessary to charge war risk-. Lo' DON, April 24. The Australian contingent now serving in the Soudan have offered to go to India should occasion arise for their services. It is reported that a Russian squadron of 20 sail has passed the island of Gottlaud in the Baltic bound to the somhwa'd. H.M.S. Invincible has been ordered to proceed to Singapore. The Russian Press are clamouring for Herat. The detachment of Engineers which was to have been despatched to Herat will not now proceed, as the Ameer has nob given a guaiantee of support. April 25. Five Russian cruisers are reported as having passed Aden. The number of cruisers engaged by England has been increased by 20. The steamer Coptic, recently selected as a cruiser for New Zealand, will, after being equipped, be stationed at Auckland. Calcutta, April 26. There is no further news to hand in regard to the negotiations between England aud Russia. His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, who had started for England, has been recalled to Simla, where a Military Council has been held under the presidency of Earl Dufferln, the Viceroy. Details of the Conference have not transpired, but it is believed it was decided to collect ths British forces at Quetta. It has been decided to increase the Victorian Militia by 1600 men, and Volunteer corps will be formed in all townships where railway communication exists. The following cablegrams have appeared in the Melbourne Age

London, April 14. In both Houses of Parliament last night resolutions were passed thanking the Queen for the message of the 2Cth March calling out the Militia and reserve forces In the House of Commons last night, during a discussion on the proposed motion thanking Her Majesty for calling out the Militia and reserves, an amendment was moved in favour of the immediate evacuaticSa_c£ .the Soudan. Lori Randolph Church ill supported the amendment, but on a division being taken it was rejected. The Russian squadron which has been stationed in the Mediterraaean has been ordered to the Baltic. The British Government have bought two steamers to be employed as armed cruisers One was purchased from the New Zealand Shipping Company, and when equipped will probably be despatched to Sydney to strengthen the warships there. The British authorities are negotiating with the Orient Company for the purchase of the steamer Austral, to be equipped as an armed cruiser. April 16, The British Government have received a dispatch from the Emperor of Russia, in which he states that he regards the prospect of a war between Russia and Great Britain as a moat deplorable event. Earl Gisnville, Foreign Secret ary, has replied to the d' s patch, cordially agreeing with the Emperor and expressing a hope that the negotiations now proceeding between the two Powers may lead to war being averted. nember wf Afghan tribes are inserted

to be hostile to England. April 19. Ills reported thrt Pei j leh has been ceded to Russia, and that a Turcoman garrison will bo thrown into it at once. The Ameer of Afghanistan'has expressed himself unwilling to allow British troops to traverse his territory. The Press in London, referring to the rumours current of the terms upon which the Afghan frontier Question is to he settled deplore the projected surrender of Ponj leh, and assert that a conflict with Russia is only postponed There >s a great rejoicing at Berlin and Paris over the peace proposals and the unfavourable terms accepted by England. A rumour is in circulation that Germany and Austria threatened to discard the terms of the Berlin Treaty unless Turkey preserved the neutrality of the Hellespont in the event of war between England and Russia, The Admiralty are awaiting a reply from the Australian Governments to the proposals made by Admiral Tyron that he should assume control over all Colonial warships. April 20 Turkey has determined npon remaining neutral should war occur between Great Britain and Russia. The Admiralty has chartered the Orient Company’s steamer Lusitania as a war cruiser. The troops which have been mobilised in India are not to advance into Afghanistan, as the Ameer persists in the assurance that he is able to defend his territory from attack without the assistance of British troops. He is however to be supplied with arms and money by the British Government, The loyalty of the Ameer to Great Britain is regarded with doubt. Quantities of stores and ammunition are being dispatched to Quetta. April 21. The arrogant tone displayed by Russia towards England in regard to the Afghan frontier question is increasing. St.Pbteiwbdro, April 25. In connection with the military preparations now proceeding, the establishment of officers of the Army throughout Russia is being largely augmented. Sydney, April 27. The work of fitting up the Peninsular and Oriental steamship Massilia as an armed cruiser has now been nearly completed. It is announced that the Government have offered the services of the New Soutn Wales Soudan Contingent to the British Government for employment in India should occasion require. It is officially notified that the proclamation declaring the western channel closed for foreign vessels entering Port Jackson will take effect from to-morrow. The channel is closed as a precautionary measure for the defence of the city and port. London, April 27. Reuter’s Agency announces, on good authority from St.Petersburg, that in that city war is considered inevitable. The Czar will leave te-day for Moscow, where his majesty will issue an Imperial manifesto regarding the present crisis. The Times to day publishes a telegram from St, Petersburg stating that England has proposed to the Russian Government that the whole circumstances in connection with Pmijdeh and the recent hostilities there should be submitted to arbitration. In the House of Commons Mr Gladstone moved a vote of credit for El 1,000,000 for military preparations, of which notice had been previously given. April 28.

In the House of Commons last night Mr Gladstone urged the adoption of the extraordinary vote of credit in a moat powerful speech on the. Anglo-Russian situation, in which he dwelt strongly on the necesshy for England being prepared to carry out to the utmost extent the pledge of support which had been accorded by the Government to the Ameer of Afghanistan, Mr Gladstone added, however, that notwith standing the preparations which were being made, her Majesty’s Government were striving by ali means in their power to bring about an amicable, but at the same time an honourable, settlement of the diffi culty The vote of credit was afterwards passed by the House without a division. In view of the possibility of war, Field Marshal His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is returning from Ireland at once. Cairo, April 28. In pursuance of instructions from the War Office preparations are being made for the withdrawal of the British forces from the Soudan. London, April 27. The Times states that Mr Gladstone has offered to settle the Pendjeh difficulty by arbitration. It is reported that the Czar offers that General Komaroff and Sir Peter Lumsden should bo examined by a mixed Commission. Sir Saul Samuel, Agent-general for New South Wales, has, on behalf of the Government of that Colonv, offered the contingent now serving in the Soudan to England for service in India in the event of war with Russia. Aptil 28. Persistent rumours are afloat that a second engagement between the Russians and Afghans has taken place, and that the Russians were defeated with a loss of 1000. The Daily News hopes that the courageous patriotism of Now South Wales, in offering the services of their contingent to go to India, will be imitated. The cost of the contingent, should they he transferred to India, will be borne by New South Wales. Sydney, April 28. The Government received a telegram this afternoon from Sir Saul Samuel, Agentgeneral for New South Wales, announcing that the British Government accepted the offer of the services of the New South Wales Soudan contingent for employment in India if circumstances rendered it necessary to withdraw the British troops from Egypt The whole of the defensive measures for the protection of Port Jackson are completed, including the submergence of torpedoes in the Western Channel.