The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-05-30 00:00:00

ENGLAND, RUSSIA, AND
AFGHANISTAN.

A Vienna correspondent writes: In a stmi-official
communication to the Politit,ehe CorreTonclenz, it is
explicitly asserted that nothing has occurred in the
coarse of the Anglo-Russians negotiations to justify
the report as to the critical aspect of affairs. Nothing,
it is maintained, is farther from the intentions of
Russia than to put forward at the present time claims
that would be likely to complicate matters.
Reuter's telegrams on Saturday were as follow:
Simla: The British officers who have arrived at
Herat have been warmly welcamed in that city.
They report the fortifications of the place to be
stronger than was supposed.—St. Petersburg: The
Official Messenger to-day declares that. there is no
foundation . for the statement made by some news-
papers that the Wotiaks in the Malrnysh district, in
the Government of Viatica, attempted to sacrifice an
Orthodox priest to the Evil Spirit. The shallows dis-
covered recently at the point where the Neva enters the
sea-canal, but which form no serious impediment to
shipping, will be shortly clear of mud. The Com-
mittee of the Exchange has fixed the 13th inst. as the
official date from which navigation is to be regarded
as open at St. Petersburg. Moscow: It is announced
here that the battalion of Engineers which arrived at
Sebastopol a few days ago has commenced work on
the fortifications of that city. The completion of the
ironclads now building at Sebastopol is being has-
tened.
A Paris paper announced that an Indian who is
represented to be a son of Nana Sahib, and ia treated
with Princely honours, is an officer in tha Russian
%MN.

Correspondents telegraphing trom Berlin on Sunaay
night said: A telegram from London published in
the National Zeitung of to-day, states that Russia now
insists upon having Meruchak comprised within the
Russian frontier, as a compensation for renouncing all
claim upon Afghanistan. The question of the present
and future of aerat is said not to have been touched
upon in the negotiations.
• VIENNA, Sunday Night. -
A telegram from St. Petersburg states that the
Russian Government intends to set on foot extensive
irrigation works in Central Asia.
St. Petersburg telegrams, dated May 23rd, state:
—A notice from the General Staff announces that the
formation of the Transcaspian Ride Brigade was
completed at the end of February last in conformity
with the orders issued by the Ministry of War on
Nov. 22 of last year. Three subaltern officers have
been appointed to the second Transcaspian Railway
Battalion. The .Yovosti to-day states that draught
proposals referring to the administration of the
Navy, to changes in the staff of the Russian
Admiralty, and of the harbour administrations, have
been submitted to the Council of the Empire. A
special commission lately inspected at the Moscow
railway tation several baggage vans of a new
model intended to be used in the military transport
service.

On May 24, Renter's telegrams were as follows:
The General Staff of the Navy has issued a notifica-
tion to the effect that in consequence of an order. of
the King of Sweden, the northern and the southern
passage of the Faro Sound have been closed by means
of torpedoes since the beginning of May (N.S.), and
that consequently the northern passage will be abso-
lutely closed to all ships. Vessels wishing to go by
the southern paesage will be required to take on
board pilots in the service of the Swedish Govern-
ment. The I?neski Invalid states that during
the manceuvres at the Guards' camp at
Krasnoo Selo and Ust Ishora a brigade of
Sappers and two batteries of Artillery as well
as the students of the Officers' School of Artillery
will be vucentrated near Ust Ishora. The manceuvres
will be carried out so that as much time as possible
will be saved, buE on the other hand there will be no
undue haste. Orders have been issued that as far as
feasible the operations shall resemble real warfare. The
same paper also publishes some further appointments
of officers to the second Transcaspian Railway Batta-
lion. According to the journals the latter will com-
prise 1200 men, and will be formed in Moscow. The
construction of the Transcaspian Railway as far as
the Amu Dania is to be completed daring the pre-
sent year. The Journal de St. Petersbourg to-day
reproduces some of the documents in the Blue
Book on the Afghan question, and after mak-
ing a reservation in regard to what may be
incomplete or incorrect, observes that accuracy is im-
possible when a matter is looked at from one point of
view only. The journal adds that it understands
that the Russian Government will shortly publish a
collection of diplomatic papers referring to this ques-
tion, and then light will be thrown on it from both
sides.

Sir Peter Lumsden arrived at Baku on Sunday on
board the mail steamer Alexander 111., and, after
visiting the naphtha works of Messrs. Nobel, pro-
ceeded for Tiflis.

At Cronstadt on Saturday the Grand Duke Alexis
continued his inspection of the fleet. The Corn-
mander-in-Chieof the fleet hoisted his flag on the
steam frivate Olaf.

SECRET TREAIi. WITH RUSSIA EY. TUE
KHAN OF BADAKCHAN.
(Reuter's Messages.)
Sr. PETE:ISM:MG (via Grunbinnen), May 25.
. _ _ _ . _

Advices from Astrabaa mention a report that the
Khan of Badakchan, a city of Great Bokhara, situate
on the Amoudaril., has concluded a secret treaty with
Russia, ensuring his friendly neutrality during the
Russo-Arizhan c)aflict. Badakchan occupies a pqsition
of considerable importance, and lies on the direct
caravan route to Cabal and China. It is the capital
of the Kelan9vince.
THE RUSSIAN WAR PREPARATIONS.

ST. PEI EItSBUTIG (via. Gambinnen), May 25.
Advices from the Black Sea ports, just to hand, do
not by any means bear out the reports of relaxed
energy in the special war preparations. We hear
vaguely and occasionally of movements of troops to
the Caucasus, and thence towards Central Asia, but
such is the vigorous censorship still exercised that it
is almost imp.s:ible to obtain definite information
thereanent.

The work of Improving the fortifications of Sebas-
topol is proceeding with the greatest energy, and the
military engineers expect to finish all the batteries
within two months.
THE PRESS IN ST. PETERSBURG.

ST. PETERSBURG, May 25.

After a long period of severity the Government
have at length been induced to take into consideration
the grievances of the press in this city. After due
deliberation by the Government the matter has been
referred to a commission under the presidency of
Under Secretary Brocherof, aud it is fully expected
that the immediate result will be a material modiZ,
cation of the existing press law.
A correspondent telegraphing from Simla on Tues-
day says: The troops comprising the 2nd Army Corps
have been informed that they are no longer required
to hold themselves in readiness for active service.