THE AFGHAN FRONTIER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2322, 28 May 1887, Page 2

THE AFGHAN FRONTIER.

St. Pktekshuhu, April 11. It is noted here as a curious and not very pleasant coincidence that at the moment when the fourth act of the Anglo-Russian Afghan frontier drama is just about to begin at St, Petersburg the state of Afghan alfa*rs, not only as regards the internal honbjes of Abdurrahman, hut .ilyo in respect to the frontier, should nave again become disquieting and dangerous. The Russian authorities have independent intelligence which more or less confirms the report of the disturbed state of the AngloRussian buffer, and suggests that the

Ameer has placed the Ghilzais, a set of brigands, as tho ..Russians call them, along the frontier for the pi rjwse of furstrating a suspected intention on tho part of the peaceful Uzbegvs of the border to gravitate over to the Russian side—a movement which would probably not be made without tho usual magnetic influence of Muscovite enticements. In any case, there is every reason to beliovo that the Russians are taking extra military precautions. Tiio 'Russian actors in this drama have already arrived horn, and the English representatives on the Commission aro expected to-morrow. Tho Commission will in all probability meet in the Asiatic Department of the Foreign Office, under M. Zinoviclf. April 12. A letter in to-day's NovoeVromya insists that the Russian Foreign Office must claim Kilif, about 15 miles south of Ivhojith Saleli, on tho Oxus. Kilif is the gre-it ferry on on tho road between Balkh and Bokhara. This district, says the writer, must bo included in Russia's possessions because a branch of tho dried-up bod of the Oxus or the Uzboi passes there, and this will be of enormous importance when Russia carries out her intention of turning the waters into their old bed towards the Caspian. Tho Anglo - Russian Commission, the members of which have all arrived hero, will havo to wait some time before beginning work on account of the Russian Easter holidays.