Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-04-24
ANGLORUSSIAN SITUATION
THE AMEER's POSITIVE STATEMENTS
Afpbans will Never Surrender an Inch OF
Territory-They will Not Allow Their
Country to BE Highway for
the Russians.

JAMRoop, April 19-The Ameer before
departing Friday said that he had ordered
the tribes to repair the road from Cabul
to Herat, and that achievements had left
Candahar for Herat and that he believed
that Russia might yield to circumstances,
being unable to give good excuse for her
aggression.
Only when all arguments have failed, he
said. must war be considered, and then
the Afghans will rise rs one man to repel
the invader. His policy was determined
upon and would not be changed. 1t was
founded on common sense, not on oaths.
His people must accept it rs he had, and
must trust him as he had been trusted by
England The Afghans would never sur
render an inch of territory or allow their
country to be "A highway for the Russian
army, which would mean occupation and
protection for long line of Russian com
munication, and result in ruin and loss of
independence. The Afghans would see
this and would find that England is help
ing them to maintain their freedom,
Russians Retiring to Their Former Posi-
tons.
LONDON, April ia despatch to the
Standard, dated Tirpul, April 10, states
that the Russian troops have stopped ad
vancing, and are retiring to their former
positions. General Komaroff, the de
spatch says, has left Penjdeh.
The Daily News says statements refer
ring to the cession of Penideh to Russia
are purely imaginary.
ST. PETERSBURG, April 19.-The arming
of men-ofwar at Cronstadt continues.
Orders were issued to have all put to sea.
Advices from Samarcand state that Gen.
komarolf's victory over the Afghans has
favorably impressed the inhabitants of
Bokhara.
Eleven fast steamers have been bought
ready equipped, at various ports for use as
Russian privateers.
ST. PETERSBURG, April ia Tihs de
spatch to the Moscow Gazette says that
Russia cannot rely on Persia in the event
of war. Some Russian tourists have late
ly been expelled from Khorassan, while
Englishmen have been freely admitted
ODESSA, April 19.-In all well informed
quarters, here without exception, the good
faith of the Ameer toward England is mis-
trusted.
VIENNA, April 1.-the Fremdenblatt
learns that the English government has
van ed English traders at Black Sea OTIS
To be prepared to leave. FreightS on the
Black Sea have risen 30 per cent.
LONDON, April 20.-The premier's replies
in the House of Commons concerning the
Bosphore Egyptien and the Afghan Incl
dents were very guarded. He answered
number of questions about the Anglo
Russian dispute with studied evasion, and
in all he said in the House to-day he added
little or nothing to what had been already
known. AS evidence of the belllcose feel
ing among the members of Parliament it
may be mentioned that when Mr.. Glad
stone unequivocally stated that Sir Peter
l.umsden's telegram of Friday confirmed
his previous accounts of the fight at
Pan Iph and cnDtiictpI with those m a
about the same battle by Gen. komaroff
the dc claration was received with n low
rip L. Of satisfaction which soon develop
ed into a cheer Fears are entertained
to lead to difficulty between france and
England.
The situation at the close of the session
in Parliament this evening was one of a
general feeling of uneasiness bordering on
alarm.
1t is expected that the vote of credit will
apportiOn t3,OOO.O00 for naval purposes.
The admiralty intend to make large pur-
chaSeS of tOrpedOeS.
The Daily News this morning says it he
lieves the government has decided upon
the immediate recall of Gen. Graham 5
force from the Soudan
De Giers's Reply to Earl Granville's De-
mand.
LONDON, April 2O.-The reply of NJ De
Giers 10 Earl Granvilles demand for an
explanation of Gen. Komaroffs attack
upon the Afghans on the Kuskh river was
considered in the cabinet council to-day
The reply says that Gen. komarof's de
spatches, copies of which have been for.
warded to the British government, sufii
GENTLY explain the Penjdeh incident and
that it is therefore needless to supple
ment them. NJ. De Giers in his turn com
plains strongly of what he calls the eX-
ceSsive numbers of General Lumsden's
escort He says that this display of q
British armed force on Afghan territory
together with the military demonstration
at Rawal Pindi and Earl Dufferin's de
fiant language encouraged the Afghans tC
provoke the Russian attack by leading
them to believe they could rely upoI
British support. NJ. De Giers does moi
express the slightest regret for Gen
KOmaroff's action and he even suggests
that Gen. komarof would have neglected
his duty If Ire had failed to attack tn,
Afghans
Preparing to Take Herat.
LONDON, April 2O.-The Warsaw Trag
blatt, the Russian official organ for tn
government of Warsaw, states that Rus
STA is making the necessary preparation
for the taking of Herat.
The Ameer Reluctant
LONDON, April 20.-The Ameer, owin
to the opposition of his subjects, is re
luctant to allow British troops to ente
Afghanistan which it is feared woul
cause rebellion, the Amer being uI
popular. The Amer is willing to ICED
Penjdeh to Russia in return for her evaC
uatiOn of the Iulfcal passes which CON
mand the road to HeraU. A difficult
arises from the refusal of the Russian wa
party to consent to a withdrawal fror
Xulfcar. 1t is believed that NJ. De Giers'
party are inclined to support this policy
believing that. the English Cabinet is il
clined to give way.
The Breach Widening.
LONDON, April 20.-A continuous int
change of despatch es has been kept u
since Saturday between Lord Granvill
and the Russian minister of foreign a
fairs, De Giers. The indications are NOR
war like. The breach is widening and tn
possibility of an amicable settlement
considered more remote.
The Dardanelles to be Closed to Memo