RUSSIA, AFGHANISTAN, AND ENGLAND

Kumara Times, Issue 2695, 12 May 1885, Page 2

RUSSIA, AFGHANISTAN, AND ENGLAND

[REUTERS TELEGRAMS.] By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. >— —< FORTIFICATION OF HERAT. RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT AGENT IN CALCUTTA. THE AFGHAN FRONTIER QUESTION. SATISFACTORY AGREEMENT BETWEEN ENGLAND AND RUSSIA. (Received May 12, 1.15 a.m.) London, May 11. A report is current that a British Commission will proceed to Herat to erect fortifications there, the consent of the Ameer having been obtained. The report, however, lacks official confirmation at present. It is stated in some quarters that an agent has been appointed by the Russian Government in Calcutta. (Received May 22, 1.15 p.m.) Night. In the Huuao of Lords to-day Earl Granville. Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, announced that a conference had recently taken place between M. de Staal, (Rusibiun, Ambassador to Eug-

land), M. Lessar (Russian Commissioner), Earl Kimberley (Secretary of State for India), and himself, and that the conference resulted in an agreement on the Afghan frontier question which was perfectly satisfactory both to Engand Russia. Earl Granville stated that Lord Dufferin, Viceroy of India, concurred entirely in the arrangement that had been come to.

[Per s.s. City of Sydney, at Auckland.]

San Francisco, April 12,

The morning newspapers throughout Russia, with very few exceptions, in commenting on the recent battle, are very bellicose in their utterances, and charge Earl Dufferin and Sir Peter Lumsden with provoking war by advising the Afghans to advance on Pul-i-Kisti, which the English officials knew was a part of Russian territory. The Afghans say also they fully understood that that Pul-i-Kisti was Russian territory, and would never have attempted to advance their pickets to that place unless strongly urged to do so by the British officials. The war party fully eudorses the assertions of these newspapers, and is very pugnacious over the affair.

The Paris "Gaulois" publishes a telegram from Berlin which says Prince Bismarck has assured the bankers that in spite of the incident of Penjdeh he hopes to preserve peace. Earl Northbrook, First Lord of the Admiralty, has decided to organise a great cruiser service of swift vessels as part of the British Squadrou in Chinese waters, which has been ordered to rendezvous at Port Hamilton on an island in the Coreau Archipelago recently taken possession of by England. Port Hamilton commands the entrance to the Sea of Japan, and largely commands the way to Russian ports on the Pacific. This order has been issued, it is believed, with a view to attack Vladivostock, if war with Russia be declared. British transports are being rapidly prepared for conveyance of troops, and several have already received orders.

It is learned from St. Petersburg that the plan of the Ameer of Afghanistan of a campaign in connection with the English Army io case of war with Russia is about as follows:—The Ameer's troops are divided into four corps d'armee, one of which remains in Cabul, while the other three have taken up a position against the Russians. The three corps embrace 27,800 infantry, 8800 cavalry, and 116 guns. These three corps d'armee stand at present in Herat. In Tenetapul and in Sarispul, together with the troops in Cabul, the Ameer has an army of 67,000 men.

Russia has mobilised sixty divisions, which have been sent to the TransCaspian. As an indication of the feeling in the Caucasus, it is asserted that Mussulmans are convinced that Turkey stands on the side of Russia. This notice is the first positive information received here from those regions. A grand review of British troops took place in the presence of Abdur Rahman, Ameer of Afghanistan, Earl Dufferin, and all the native chiefs, with a brilliantly uniformed staff, on April 6th. The march past the point of review occupied two hours. The troops presented a splendid appearance. The parade was one of the finest spectacles ever shown in ludia. The Ameer was profoundly impressed by the ceremony, with the power and glory of England. Earl Dufferin gave a grand banquet in honor of Abdur Rihman in the evening, and ihe Ameer made an enthusiastic speech, wishing success to England, and ending with the sentiment " Mav her Majesty's armies ever be victorious?' Lord Dufferin called for three cheers for the Ameer, which were given with a will.

When Eatl Dufferin, at Rawul Pindi, was informed by telegraph of what had occurred at PenjrJeh, he at once told Abdur Rahman, Ameev of Afghanistan, and the native chiefs who were in attendance at the Council. The native chiefs unanimously recommended the immediate throwing of troops into Afghanistan, and this recommendation has been placed before the Home Government in London. The surmises of the Government in regard to the movements of Sir Peter Lumsden were substantiated l.y the receipt of a telegram from him at Gulran. This telegram was dated April Ist, and completed the broken despatch. It states officially that the Prussians attacked the Afghans entrenched at Penjdeh, and slaughtered 200 of the garrison. Seventy thousand British and Indians who ate now stationed along or near the northern Indian frontier, may, it is thought, reach Herat in time to pie- , vent the capture of that important noiut by the Russians.

Rawul Pindi, April 10. The news of the battle between the Russiaus and Afghans was received by the Ameer quietly. He has long been confident that Russia means to advance to Herat.

A hundred tons of supplies are going through the Bolan Pass daily. Orders have been given to increase the supplies to 200 tons daily. Candahar, April 10. The Turcomans have distributed proclamatious through the frontier towns of Afghanistan, urging them to form an alliance with Russia. Russia continues her naval and military preparations with great speed. Admiral Sheshakoff has ordered all torpedo boats to be sent to the Baltic and Black Sea. Cronstadt and St. Petersburg and the palace at Kaisnveslo are now connected by telephone, so that the Czar will be informed of every movement in case of attack by the English fleet. The Russian fleet has been in a thorough state of readiness since the 2nd of April. KomarofFs brother, the editor of the Russian journal Svet, announces that Russia intends to send 100,000 men to Herat as soon as the English advance to Pishin. The advices from Odessa state that there is great military activity in that city. This is manifested not only by the garrison, but also by other troops stationed there. News received from Odessa by way of Varna •state that transports on the Black Sea are busily engaged in the work of carrying troops and munitions of war for Sebastapol, Nicholaeoff, Batonm, and Batolo. Extensive works are being constructed for the defence of Batoum and Nicholaeoff. The new works of defence at Sebastapol have been for the present suspended. Numerous battalions of Cossacks are reviewed every day at Odessa. A gamsen at Kertch is engaged night and day hasteniug the completion of works at that port, and the flour mills are worked at their full capacity in the preparation of provisions.

Russia is fully alive to the importance of the control of the Dardanelles, and threatens to propose at the next session of the Suez Canal Commission that the regulations proposed for the neutrality of the Suez Canal shall also be made to apply to the Dardanelles. St. Petersburg, April 11. The feeling here is overwhelmingly strong. The Czar appeared at the theatre last evening, and the audience, still enthusiastic over the news from Penjdeh, and, acting on the general assumption that Komaroff's conduct had the Imperial approval, rose when they saw the Czar, and shook the building with ovations and applause. The Czar and Czarina, and other members of the Imperial family attended this evening at the Grand Theatre at a performance for the benefit of invalid soldiers. The presence of the Czar aroused the greatest enthusiasm, the National Anthem was sung by the whole audience, and when the Czar advanced to the front of the box, and bowed his thanks, he was greeted with cheers. The ovation was continued outside the theatre, and the Imperial party was followed by crowds of people to the gates of the palace. The Minister of War, speaking to a number of officers to-night, said he had the assurance of the Czar that the Russian troops might advance, but they would never retire.