ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 129, 16 April 1885, Page 2

ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

MB GLADSTONE'S STATEMENT IN THE COMMONS. IRONCLADS FOR AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON READY IN MAY. AFGHANS LOST] 080 KILLED * AND WOUNDED. (bkvteb's telegrams.). vr Londok, April 14. In the House of Commons to-day Mr Gladstone made a statement to the effect that the Russian Foreign ■ Office had renewed the recent pacific assurances as to the policy of the Government with regard to ■ the Afghan frontier, and had stated ' that any change made by the Russian . : commander in the position of the troops ' near Penjdeh would be contrary to the intentions and orders of the Government. ' '•••■■•; . v ' ! It is feared that the Russians will attack Meruchak rod Gulfikar. ; The European Press urge that Prince Bismarck should mediate in the settle* raent of the Russian difficulty. ; -. -■• The Russian squadron stationed at Naples has been ordered to proceed ' to the Baltic. .......: In the engagment between , the , Russians and Afghans on the 30th of March, the loss of the latter was 93ft killed and wounded. , „, The ironclads which have been selected to strengthen the China and .. Australian squadrons will be Beady in May. •. ; ,' ! y April 13 ,'■ It is feared that the Russians will make an attempt to disable the ' Sues Canal. ; - ,; .. ,, Admiral Hornby will probably command the Baltic fleet. The Morning Post states that the Emperor of Germany considers General Komaroff the aggressor in the recent action against the Afghans. His Majesty urges that the Afghan'difficulty should be settled by arbitration at the annual meeting of Emperors at „ -• Skiernievice. Further details of Genets! Kowa- T off's explanation in connection' wittt rj his action in engaging, the Afghans, states- that on finding the Afghans,; , entrenched on the Russian side of the Khusk River, General Komaroff '•* halted some distance from them., JThe .^ Afghans then menaced a reconnoitering company of his, and also occupied^: •; a height commanding the. flank of his forces, refusing to retire; behind the Kliuwk River when requested. The Russians have sent to America! - : r a an order for six eruisersof the Esmer- * ' alda class, and are endeavouring to purchase the steamers plying between i San Francisco and Honolulu.! > '-* Two Russians transport vessels, now - at Port Said, have been ordered to - proceed to the Amoor River, and are also instructed to avoid all British ports en route. ; £ The Afghans are sending' vast quan-- *-*■ tities of military stpres and munitions of war to Pisheen, and the troops are massing at Quetta. : The Russian men-of-war *^ladimir ( and Monouieh are believed to oe' in/ the vicinity of tiie Gape. ■.- h'uj The English Press assert that, by his explanation,: General' K«maroff>i V convicts himself . '" Received April 16, 0.40 aim. ''" v : : ■....•:; i Lo»Doic..Apri? 1^. /V It is announced tl^at the' Penin^ulsjp^ and Oriental Company's new steamship Massilia, and another vessel belonging: ( , to one of the large ocean lines, are being equipped to serve as armed cruisers on the Australian Naval Star . % ~, tion. ; ____^____ <>^__ : ! Meceired April 16, 10.30 a.m. • ; > BoMßir, April 15. T ' ; 7 Earl Dufferin, the ..Viceroy, wl^o.is. now returning from Rawul Pindi to : Calcutta, was to-day presented at Lahore with an address. . Replyingfto the same his Excellency took oocasioti ?~ to say that the dominions of the Ameer 1L of Afghanistan hare been the sdsii«r<# an unprovoked attack on the part of the Russian forces, and he rejoiced 'to ' find that the princes, and people,. ,of ... India were rallying to the /British^ -, standard. It was impossible, i Excellency added, to foriaee the'end'of ° the present crisis, but if war 'resulted. it, would be in despite of efforts of moderation on the part of Engiaiid.

. ■■ • ■'■<.: [PKB VXITXD ntU ASSOCIATfeV.I ;.. . >' WiLUKOTdwi April 15. The fovenment have i^ivediron*? the Agent-General a telej£ram stating! that the position of ja£aii» between., , England andßuflwa is ftilljTeryseriow;? and that it behoved New Zealand, in , common with all other piartsi f of ' the '4 Empire, to hasten the completion o f her defence preparation?. „.„ ■• r.* | A telegram received for the Agent i . : ■.« General by the ' Government Mates:-- - Np^ejtfura, . -^ mada of > p r«aeou,tio*- /- ■m^:':k ;'■ ■'■■ : n- :^l^nl." The Government Uvertceivei'th,* following telegram ittfip. the Agents General, "It is quftenn<^ain>heflie* / peace Vm be preyed: lfc ; Gpi. h etoseV statement la#t. -..night w^i/aoT re-assuring and naralpreparationß»r* a <