The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-04-22
WAR CLOUDS.
British Officials Report the Attack
on Penjdeh Unprovoked.
Mr.. Gladstone Asks a Credit Of Fifty
five Million Dollars.
Portentous Statements Made by
Earl Granville and the Premier.
The First Glass of the English Army
Reserves Ordered Out.
An Important Despatch Sent to
st. Petersburg.

LONDON, April 2l.-Advices received from
TPu under date 9f ABg 1t tat Eh taek thtk t6s 6n
Penideh by the Russians, was absolutely an-
provoked. Captain Yates, who remained at
PeDjdeh, in order to see that the Afghans re-
spected the agreement of March 17th, had an
interview with the Russian staff on the day
previous to the battle. He pointed out the
fact that the Afghans had occupied the west
bank OF the Kushk river on and since the 18th
OF March. The Russians complained Of the
demeanor OF the Afghan troops, and of the
aggressive preparations apparent in their lines,
and also that the Afghans had detained some
Tekke Turconaan troopers employed at PULL
Khisti in the Russian sarvice. They further
accused the Aighans of reconuoitering. They
then summed all up with the sweeping charge
of arrogance
The facts we're that General Komaroff had
pushed 5000 troops forward to commanding
position before the Afghans who naturally pro-
ceeded to strengthen their weaker outposts
This led to the Russian talk of alleging AFRO
gance. The Russians evidently wanted to
deal telling blow to the Afghans in order to
restore their waning prestige In the Turcoman
country, and were obliged to invest themselves
with this pretext to break the truce. The atti-
tude of the Afghans was studiously moderate
and there is no color to the pretence that their
movements were even irritating. They even
allowed the Russians to inspect their arrange
ments at Pul Khisti.
Gen. KomaroT's troops are reported to have
withdrawn from Penideh after the battle.
Their withdrawal, however, was mere ruse
by which they sacrificed nothing, and which,
it was calculated, might moderate the resent
ment that was certain to be shown when the
news reached England. In India the effects
of the Afghans defeat are already painfully
obvious.
Another despatch from Tirpul states that
the Russians are compelling the Sariks to
build military road through the Penjdeh dis
trict to Herat.
Advices received from Meshed Persia, un-
der date of April 20, state that the Russians
are still at Ak Tepe. General Kormaroff mas
gone to Sarakhs and General Alikhanof to
Yulstan. The Afghans evince great anxiety to
learn the English position in regard to Afghan
istan. The people of Herat, referring to Sir
Peter Lumsden's boundary commission, say it
has neither the force to go nor the intention to
stay.
ST. PETERSBURG, April 21.-It is rumored
that Ayoub Khan, formerly Ameer Of Afghan
istan, who was arrested at Teheran, Russia,
was taken into custody by order Of Persia, and
that he will be kept at the disposal of the Rus
sian government. One of the uses to which it
is said he will be put, if it becomes necessary,
will be to produce dissension among the
Afghan troops.
GLASGOW, April 21.-Two cruisers have been
ordered to be at once constructed on the Clyde.
This order practically rsvives shipbuilding on
the river, and has already resulted in the en-
gagement of 5000 men.
LONDON, April 21.-The Pail Mall Gazette
reiterates the statement it made yesterday that
the Afghan frontier question is as good as
settled. Only question of "amOur propre,
it says, remains to be arranged, ana although
this may prove troublesome it will not provoke
war.
Earl Granville, in the House OF Lords this
afternoon, stated that the government has
come to the conclusion that the position of
affairs justifies putting the army and
nd fhnx rhn1n 0f tl.a
in condition of immediate readiness for SER
vice.
The Earl of Morely, under secretary for war,
announced that the whole of the first class of
the army reserves had been notified that they
are liable to be summoned for service at very
short notice. The government had no inten-
tion at present, he said, of summoning the
militia reserves
The vote of credit was passed by the House
| OF Lords without division.
Mr.. Gladstone, in the House of Commons
| this afternoon, announced that the govern
| ment had received Sir Peter Lumsden's answer
| to the government inquiries of the 10th inst
The message arrived to-day" said Mr.. Glad
stone, "And it shows how serious Sir Peter is
| at issue with Gen. Komaroff. We cannot en-
ter into details or state the effect of this diff
| ference in a few words. The whole matter
will be laid on the table here early tomorrow
Mr.. Gladstone in presenting the government
| request for vote OF credit said' "The govern
| ment teel IL is necessary to hold all the re-
| sources of the empire including the forces in
the Soudan available for instant use wherever
required. The credit does not include any
provision for further offensive operations OF
military preparations for an early march or
Khartoum." The premier requested that de.
bate be had on the credit Monday next, and
that the consideration of the budget be post
| poned until the 30th. He concluded as fol
lows: "The government rely upon the
patriotism of the House but our intentions
have been and are now based upon strong
desire that pacific means should be used to OBJ
| tain Just and honorable settlement of what
ever controversies England might be involved
in."
Mr.. Glandsione explained that of the $22,
100000 wanted for the Soudan, So, 700, ,0Ot
would be devoted to the Suakim Berber rail
way, So, ,000, 600 to the Nile or Wadyhalfa rail
way, So, 800, 600 to the naval charges in connec
tion with the removal Of our troops from tn,
Soudan, and the balance would be used to de
fray the military charges in connection will
the Soudan.
Mr.. Gladstone said although the Suakim
Berber railway had been commenced, any con
siderable extention of it would have to be sus
pended. 1t would be necessary to hold par
of Suakim and one or two places in the vicinit.
Tor health considerations, until some perma
nent arrangement shall have been effected
The Suakim. .Berber railway, he said, wa
merely work Of military necessity. The Mil