ANGLO-RUSSIAN DIFFICULTY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1331, 23 April 1885, Page 1

ANGLO-RUSSIAN DIFFICULTY.

Loudon, April 19. Mr Gladstone states an honorable settlement of the Afghan difficulty is probable. 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 Dondorkoff has b< en ordered to advance from SSarakhs and pursue his march close to Herat.

Admiral Tryon has has been directed to visit the several Australasian colonies to confer with the authorities on the subject o? their defence. April 20. A number of torpedoes have been procured in Germany. The Admiralty have engaged the Orient Company's Lusitania as a cruiser.

It, is expected that to-morrow (Tues day) Government will ask the Mouse of Commons for a vote of six millionu to

defray the expenses of the military preparations dow being carried on. In the House of Commons to-d*y, Mr Gladstone announced the Government hod received a further despatch from General Lumsden, but it was not in reply to the enquiries made in their communication of the 10th inst., wherein the asked the British Commission to report all the circumstances connected with the Penjdeh incident. General Lumsden's present despatch, Mr Gladstone aided, conflicted with the version of '.he affair recently published by the Russian Government from Konnroff, and the Cabinet must await further details before communicating to the House. The statement made in Parliament to-day by the Premier baa caused a renewal of anxiety as to the result of the Rusao-Afghan difficulty. April 21. M. Do Giers, the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, states that the British officers who were present at the recent engagement, encouraged the Afghans to provoke a Russian attack, and that General Komaroff's despatches, which have been received in St. Petersburg, amply justify his action, and that under theße circumstances it would have been a neglect of duty if he had failed to attack the Afghans. Despatches have been received from Sir Peter Lumsden, in which he reiterates the statements contained in his tormer message that the Afghans did not provoke the attack. The Russians are compelling the inhabitants of Sarakhs to construct...* military road towards Herat. The Standard's special correspondent telegraphs that the Afghans are studiously moderating in their manner towards the Russians. St. Petersburg, April 20. The Russian Baltic fleet, now collected at Cronstadt, is making active preparations for sea, MELBOURNE, April 20. Government are in receipt of a telegraphic despatch from the Agen'General informing thrm that things look more peaceful at Home, but that the Imperial Government are not in any degree relaxing the military preparations which have been going on for some lime past. April 21. It is announced that the Impprial Government have chartered the Peninsular and Oriental R.M.S, Rosetta for service as an armed cruiser on the China station, and the Orient steamer Lusitania for similar service in Australian waters. Sydney, April 20. Owing to recent telegrams indicating a probable peaceful settlement of the Russo-Afghan question, the Govern-: ment consider it at present unnecessary to close the western channel of Port Jackson, as proclaimed in the tjlovemment Gazette of the 15th inst. Auckland, April 20.

Major Cautley to-day inspected theforti6cations at North Head. He is highly pleased with the energetic manner in which Messrs Bell and Hickman have carried cut the duties confided to them. Mnjor Cautley, in company with Mr Sraythe and Captain Douglas, will inspect all the approaches to Auckland harbor, with a view of deciding on plans of submarine mine?.. According to the present programme, Major Cautley Bnd his coadjutors spend three days in Auckland, and then leave by the Hinemoa for the Bay of Islands, His Excellency having expressed the desire that reports should be furnished to him concerning the advisability of placing a line of mines across the entrance to bay harbors, Great Barrier Island and Whangarei harbor will be visited by Major Cautley, he being desirous of reporting on the chances of these unprotected harbors being used by hostile cruisers.

MELBOURNE AGE SPECIALS. London, April 12. There is a report in circulation that the British government have warned the Australian colonies to be prepared for war being declared against Russia any moment. The British Navj have been ordered to carefully watch the movements of all Russian warships. A decidedly warlike feeling prevails throughout England, and Russia is arming. It is reported that 100,000 Russian troops are being massed on the Afghan frontier. Sir Peter Lumß'Vn has determined upon retiring to Herat, which place he will endeavor to hold until the arrival of British troops should war he declared between Great Britain and Russia. It is generally heiieved, however, that he will be unable to hold Herat should Russia attack it.