THE OUTBREAK OF WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND AFGHANISTAN

Kumara Times, Issue 2678, 22 April 1885, Page 2

THE OUTBREAK OF WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND AFGHANISTAN

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. THE ANGLO - RUSSO - AFGHAN FRONTIER QUESTION. DESPATCH FROM MAJOR - GENLUMSDEN. THE RUSSIAN ATTACK ON THE AFGHANS. RENEWED ANXIETY AS TO PROBABLE RESULT. WITHDRAWAL OF GEN. GRAHAM'S FORCES FROM SUAKIN. ACTIVE PREPARATIONS OF RUSSIAN BALTIC FLEET. (Received April 21, 5 p.m.) London, April 20. Ir. (he House of Common* to-day the Hon. W. E. Gladstone announced that Government had received a further despatch from Major-General Lumsden, but it was not in reply to the inquiries made in his communication of the 10th inst, wherein the Government asked

the British Commissioner to report all the circumstances connected with the Penjdeh incident. Lumsden'a present despatch, Mr Gladstone added, conflicted with the version of the affair recently published by the Russian Government from Komaroff, and the Cabinet, therefore, must await further details before communicating Lumsden's despatch to the House. The statement made in Parliament to-day by the Premier has caused a renewal of anxiety as to the probable result of the Russo-Afghan difficulty. (Received April 22, 1.30 a.m.) April 21. The Daily News to-day announces that it is decided to withdraw the force under the command of Sir Gerald Graham from Egypt at once. (Received April 21, 5 p.m.) St. Petersburg, April 20. The Russian Baltic fleet, now rendezvoused at Cronstadt, is making active preparations for sea. [SPECIAL TO MELBOURNE AGE,] London, April 10, ■ General Komaroff offered his protection to the officers of the British boundary Commission. The Afghan troops after their defeat retreated to Mernschak. The Agent-Generals are making every effort to complete the purchase of war material for their respective colonies and hurry on their despatch. There is a report in circulation that the British Government have warned the Australian colonies to be prepared for war being declared at any moment. The British Navy has been ordered to carefully watch the movements of all Russian warships. A number of swift cruisers are being got ready by the Admiralty for immediate despatch. A decidedly warlike feeling prevails throughout England. Russia is arming. The Russian authorities have purchased a number of steamers trading between San Francisco and Honolulu for cruisers. It is reported that 100,000 Russian troops are being massed on the Afghan frontier. Sir Peter Lumsden has determined upon retiring upon Herat, which he will endeavour to hold until the arrival of British troops. It is generally believed he will be unable to hold it should the Russians attack it. [special to press association.] London, April 16. The Daily Telegraph Vienna correspondent states that the Russiau reply to England says the Czar considers that war would be deplorable, and hopes that prompt arrangements may be made for a pacific solution of the difficulty. It is stated that in considering the Russian despatch, the British Cabinet gladly accepts the terms of the communication. The "Journal de St. Petersburg" contains a report that the Afghans intend to revolt in favour of Russia. April 17. If the colonies pay the necessary cost, the Admiralty are willing to supply men and maintain the men-of-war belonging to the colonial navies. April 19. General Komaroff admits having received the news of the agreement between England and Russia before the 28th March. It is officially asserted that the Ameer of Afghanistan would rather abandon Penjdeh to Russia than permit the British army to occupy Herat, and yet the Ameer stated on Friday that he would never surrender an inch. Troops from Candahar will reinforce Herat. General Dondonkoff has been ordered to advance from Sarakbs, and pursue his march close to.Herat. Mr Gladstone states that an honorable settlement of the Afghan difficulty is probable. April 20. A number of torpedoes have been procured in Germany. The Admiralty have engaged the Orient Company's Lusitania as a cruiser. The London correspondent of the Argus writing on March 6th says:— The Soudan campaign is all-absorbing, but it has been momentarily eclipsed by the danger with Russia arising from the Afghan frontier question. Lord Granville, replying to questions in the House of Lords on the 3rd, said the Russians occupied the Zulfikar Pass, twenty miles south of Pulikhatum and Akabat, between Zulfikar and the river Khusk, and also Sariyazi. A Cossack post had been established at Pulikhatum, and two miles north of Penjdeh. Earl Granville concluded by

stating that the places above-mentioned were regarded by Her Majesty's Government as within Afghan territory. Mr Gladstone declared in the House of Commons yesterday evening that the policy to be pursued by the Government in the Afghan frontier question would be the same strictly national policy in regard to which a general and even a unanimous accord prevails throughout the country. Previous to the above declarations the Government had ordered the inspection of the troops at all stations in the United Kingdom in order to ascertain the number of men fit to take the field a month hence. Recruiting is going on at the rate of about 900 weekly. Six battalions of militia have already been embodied, and 1700 of the reserve meu have volunteered for active service. Military and naval preparations are actively proceeding at Woolwich and all the dockyards. The Indian Native States of Hyderabad, Bhopal, Puttiala, and Jheend have offered contingents should the Central Asian crisis become graver. Some of General Graham's forces now on their way to Suakin will possibly be ordered to India. This is all the more feasible since Lord Wolaeley will now maintain a completely passive attitude until the autumn.