THE RUSSO-INDIAN QUESTION. WAR PREPARATIONS ON BOTH SIDES. THE AMIR'S VI IT TO INDIA DEFENSIVE PREPARATIONS IN AUSTRALIA. [BY TELEGRAPH-COPYRIGHT.] [REUTER'S TELEGRAMS]

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1986, 31 March 1885, Page 2

THE RUSSO-INDIAN QUESTION. WAR PRE PAR AT IONS ON BOTH S IDES. THE AMIR'S VI IT TO INDIA DEFENSIVE PREPARATIONS IN AUSTRALIA. [BY TELEGRAPH -COPYRIGHT.] [REUTERS TELEGRAMS]

London, March 28 Tjik Times to day publishes a telegiam stating that Rusmi ia massing ,10,000 troops at Kakir, a toititied town on the western shorn of the Caspian Sea, The English (lovei ament ha\ c m tanged for thirty transpoits, which ate now being piopared foriMttyingrunforaißi.ts to Intli.i. The English Govemnie it .ue arming the steamers Arizona, \meuua, Oregon, and Alaska, whicli will be used in tlie e\ent of hostilities bieakiny out with Riibsia. Several other vessels are also to be armed, so as to be iea<ty in case of emtr gene.y. In th.' House of Louis yesterday, E.nl Gtam Hie, Secretary tor Foreign Affii>s, stated that ho had had an iutenieu ion Thursday with M de Sta.il, the Russian Ambassador, on the subject of the communication recently made by the Government to Russia lesptcting the state i of affairs on the Atfglmu frontier. [ M de Staal stated that his Government had still under consideration the reply to be made to the communication in question. General Sir Donald Stewart, Com-mander-in-Chief in India, will at once take the field with 50,000 troops. General Ilaulinge and LieutenantGeneral Fredk. Roberts will command the divisions and H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught the reservei, who number 10,000. The ordcis given by the Imperial authorities for c toned beef from Chicago, have entirely exhausted the market iv that

countiy. London, March 29. Recently the Russians have attempted to purchase several swift oruiseis in England, but they have been frustrated. Wellington. Monday. Up to midnight the Government had not received any impoitaut cablegrams from home The latest infoi mation received was to the effect that considerable anxiety was felt in London as to the result of the the negotiations with Russia, and also that Earl Gr.inville had intimated that England would not flinch from the stand she had taken in this matter.

Bombay, March 28 Intelligence has been received of the arnval of the Vieeioy at Rawul Pindi. The telegrams leport tli.it gieafc entlmsiaMii is being displaced tliioughout the Punjnub in connection with Hh Excellency's visit and the cxpei'tednr rival of the Amir of Afghanistan in the district. At the formal reception of the Viceioy at Rawul Pindi, a number of piomi'icut ' native chiefs were present, and the pioceedmgs wetc attended with much spluidour and 6clat. Earl Dufferm made a spc'oh on the occasion, in which he dwelt upon the loyalty shown b}' the vaiiou-s native piinces in odeiing n.ilitaiy assistance to limit Brit iin at the pieseut juiu'ture. Tiie^e offers, His Lordship added, proved tint the piinccs fully recognised th» fit in i espoct entei tuned by England for the lights of the Indiui native states.

London, Mai oh 28. Her Majesty's war vebacls Roquefort and Black Prince will probably be added to the strength of the uistinliau squadron.

Melw>'JK>"]:, March 29 A proclamation wag published in the Gazette yesternight, prohibiting foreign over sea vessels fioni enteiiug the Heads between sunset and sunrise. Intercolonial and other vessels are prohibited navigating the channels and bays, unless accompanied by a qualified pilot. The Victoria g'inboit Albert proceeded to the Heads last night in order to enforce the proclamation, and the Victoria follows shortly. Great activity is shown in the various branches ot the Defence Department. The Evening Herald states that th<Qovemor lias received a. tolejji'ain indicating that war between England and Russia is imminent, and that orders have .conse quently been issued by tho Government for a war ship to be in leadineas to go to Port Phillip Heads. Ie also states that work on H.M.S. NeUon, now in dock, will proceed throughout the night, so as to get her ready for sea without delay. This evening's World announces that H.M.S. Nelson has been ordered to Sydney to be ready for emergencies. The same paper states that enquiries which have been made confirm the belief that unusual activity is now manifested in the naval and military departments. It is announced that the NeLon has received orders to be in readiness on Tuestlay next for a. uriiiso alour; the coast.