Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-14
AN AFGHAN AGREEMENT.
NEITHER RUSSIAN NOR NATIVE
TROOPS TO ADVANCE.

Resu1t-PreparatiOns for Hosti1i-
ties Still Being Pushed by the British
War Department-The Czar Expresses
Himself as Bent on Peace.
LONDON, March 13.-The War Depart
ment is making preparations with view
to the possible occurrence of serious
trouble in Afghanistan. Orders have
been sent to the aTsenals in Bombay and
Bengal to prepare all kinds of ammuni-
tion. Details for two army corps have
been already completed. Each of them
will number I 500 officers, 81, 300 men and
1880 horses. The admiralty is making
arrangements TO have fleet of transports
in readiness.
| AN AGREEMENT.
In the House ofCOmmons this afternoon
Premier Gladstone announced that an
agreement had been arrived at between
Russia and England by the terms of
which neither the Russian nor Afghan
forces would advance any further on
either side of the frontier.
IL is believed that the delay in the
withdrawal of the Russian outposts on
the Afghan frontier is possibly due to
| their distance from the terminus to the
telegraph line, as dispatches ordering
their withdrawal would have to be car
ried for the remainder of the distance by
messengers. The supporters of the gov
ernment still consider peace probable.
Sir Stafford N0rthcote asked whether
this agreement was permanent or tenn
| porary arrangement.
Premier Gladstone replied that the
| agreement was without any specific
time limit. The best description
he could give, he said, was that
the agreement was to last as long as there
was occasion for it. Laughter. This
| agreement, he said, provides against a
rupture of friendly relations between the
| two governments in the event of a col
lision between the Afghan and Russian
outpOsts, which might possibly occur
| While instructions are being conveyed to
| the opposing commanders.
William 4. Forster, Liberal member for
| Bradford, asked whether this agreement
was new one or one which had been
| supposed to be in force for some time
past.
Premier Gladstone replied that it
was a new agreement, one that had grown
| out of recent correspondence and new cir
cumstances. He said that be was unable
to answer questions regarding the posi-
| tion assumed by the Afghans.
Denzil Onslow, Conservative member
| for Guildford, asked whether the Ameer
of Afghanistan had accepted this agree
L
| stone made no reply.
SIR LUMsDEN's WORK.
Advices from Teheran state that Sir
Peter lIumsden is encamped on Persian
territory, not far from Herat. The ex-
pectation is that he will enter Herat in
| case the Russians make any further ad-
vance. Public feeling in Teheran is in
favor of Russia. The Gazette published
articles in disparagement of England,
but apologized for them afterwards when
complaints were made by the British le-
cation. The Shah has telegraphed the
Governor of Khorassan, ordering him to
do all that lies in his power to assist Sir
Lumsden. This telegram was drawn out
by complaints made by Sir Peter, through
the legation at Teheran, that the Cover
nor had refused to give him aid, and had
lnterfered with his courier and escorts
between Meshed and the British camp.
SIR LUMsDEN's ORDERS.
Sir Peter Lum sden has received certain
discretionary powers touching his course
in the event of a dangerous Russian ad-
vance. He is nearly six days march dis
tance from the nearest telegraph station.
What his action will be in the event of a
Russian attack upon the Afghan strong
holds has not been allowed to become
known, but it is believed that he will send
officers to Herat to organize the Afghan
troops while he himself assumes a posi-
tion not necessarily Warlike at Robat
pass.
RUSSIAN VIEWS.
The tone of the Russian press of St.
Petersburg continues extremely bellicose,
Open declarations are made that Russia
intends to have Herat. The N0UOe Vrenlud
calls the approaching meeting of Lord
Dutferin, VicerOy of India, and the Ameer
of AfOhaniGtau q military Of ra fiov,
on the Russian frontiers. "Russia and
England" the writer continues, "will
soon meet on dry land, and the result will
be that the isolated security hitherto en-
joyed by the British empire will be de-
stroyed."
BARON MOHRENHEIM'S VIEWS.
A Paris dispatch says that Baron Mob
renheim, the Russian Ambassador. had
been interviewed in regard to the present
Anglo-Russian situation. He expressed
the opinion that Emperor William would
exert his influence to avert war, and that
he would also endeayor to induce England
to make some concessions. He secuted
the idea that Russia would withdraw her
troops from the positions at present occu-
pied. Such action would reflect dishonor
upon Russian arms. In case England did
not declare war it was certain, in his
opinion, that Russia would not do so. He
ShO ~ S@AtAChACty Ahl1hClf JudO
land would declare war as she has her
hands full already. NJ. de Giers, the Rus
sian Prime Minister, was animated by a
desire for peace. The influence of the war
party in Russia had diminished since the
death of Gen. Skobeloff.
GERMANY NOT TO INTERFERE.
The Berlin North German Gazette re-
pudiates the idea that Germany will i'm
peril the friendly relations now existing
between herself and Russia by venturing
to place her veto upon any regulations
Russia may choose to make on the Afghan
frontier.
THE CZAR'S COMMENTS.
ST. PETERSBURG, March 13.-The Car
of Russia said tonight, during an infor-
NAL talk with several diplomats at an
Imperial levee: II cannot conceive that
any but the widest dreamers could think
that l would declare war against Eng
land. Our end can be attained, and will
be attained, but it will be by the gradual
power of civilization, and not by force"