The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-04-08
ENGLAND AND RUSSIA
The Two Countries Actively Pre-.
pairing for War.
Queen Victoria Calls Out thu Re
serves IN Militia.

A fresh impetus was given on tho Goth t.
the threatened war between England nnt
Russia, arising out Of the lattcr's advance
toward the Afghan frontier. On that date
Queen Victoria sent the following message t.
tho house Of calling out the British
reserves and tho British militia for perma,
men. service:
"The present state Of public affairs and tho
extent of the dcmanl Of her majesty's null
tary fc ices for the protection of tho Interests
of the empire having constituted, in the opin.
ion Of her majesty, n case of great emergency,
her majesty has deemed it proper to provide
additional means for the military service.
She has, therefore, thought it right to COM
municate to the house of commons that she
is about 10 cause the reserve forces and such
proportion of the militia as might be doomed
necessary to he calle1 cut for permanent SER
vice.
In accordance with the message, the war
office called out the reserves and the militia.
The preparations for war continue with
great activity. Orders have been sent to
Portsmouth to put the steel dispatch vessel
Mercury, ten guns, in readiness for immedi-
ale service. 1t is stated that tho arInor-
plated turret ships Devastation and Colossus,
tie corvette Bacchnnte, and the sloop Cor.
morant, together with the troop ship
OronteS, are also under orders for tho sen.
Orders have likewise been sent to the armor-
ers throughout the kingdom to return imnle.
diately to the Tower of London all the Mar
TIM Henry rifles which they have in stock.
The object of having them sent to the Tower
is that they may he inspected, after which
they will be dispatched to India. Fourteen
thousand rifles will be forwarded to India
froy, porfcpopYfh 0r6ars bo VIC haan canf RI
Chatham to supply Immediately 5,0OO,00
cartridges.
The calling out Of the reserves and militia
increased the excitement over tho Anglo
Russian dispute, especially in English military
circles. Orders for thousands Of Martini
Henry rifles and revolvers have been sent to
Birmingham. The arms are to he shipped to
Bombay as rapidly as completed. The fac
tories ut Birmingham arc working night and
day.
A Especial cabinet council was held in the
afternoon at Windsor castle by command Of
the queen. Just as the ministers were leav-
log the castle a messenger arrived from the
foreign office, bringing dispatches for
Lord Granville from Sir Edward Thornton,
British minister to Russia, and Lord Dufrerin,
viceroy of India. Tho ministers returned to
the castle anil a second council was held.
Mr.. Gladstone stated in tie house Of com
mons that the Russians have advanced no
nearer to Pcnjdeh than Pull khatun, which,
he said, is eighty miles distant from Penideh.
General A%likhenof, Mr.. Gladstone added,
has established q post Of Turcomans at Pull l.
khutun.
Reports are current at Aldershot that or
ders have been received there providing for
the raising of $1,000 troops for India. One
latterY OF horse artillery will proceed from
Woolwich to India Immediately.
The government Of Burinah, is sending
1000 camels to India to be employed OH the
frontier Of Afghanistan.
The council of India has been authorized to
raise a credit of 81 $40, coo on account for the
Indian treasury for war purposes. Earl Duff
the amer of Afghanistan the grant
which he demands to pay the Afghan
troops and allay tho discomfort Of
tribal lenders. The Ameer promises to place
so, 600 troops on tho frontier and in the forts
at Ballih, Penjdeh and Herat. The prcpara-
tions now being made at Rawel- Pindi and
Quetta indicate that IN early advance will
be made via Quetta and Sill with the object
Of reaching Herat before tho Russians.
Polish newspapers print dispatches from
St. Petersburg stating that n council of Rus.
sian generals, including the Grand Dukes
Nicholas, Vladimir, Peter ard George, has
been summoned to consider tho practicaiility
Of employing regular cavalry in Central Asia
in the event of war, where fodder anu water
arc scarce.