The Portland daily press., 1885-05-01
Great Activity Still Manifested in
Military and Naval Circles.
Report Of q Russian Advance Upon
Maruchak Denied.
The Afghans Showing Increased
Friendliness for the English.


sesses information which shows bsyond doubt
the premeditated character of Russia's policy
of aggression in Afghsnis stan. 1t Is reported that
Earl Dufferin's latest dispatches throw addi-
tioDal light upon this matter. Earl Dufferin
throughout has been doubtful of q pacific set
tiement
10 the House of Lords this afternoon, Lord
Granville, foreign secretary, announced that
kilograms had been received from Sir Peter
Lumsden which contradicted the reports of a
Russian advance upon and occupation of Ma
ruchak.
The News in an editorial says:
If the Ameer refuses to yield Maruchak we
are bound to help him repel Russian aggres-
sion and occupation. The News also suggests
that it is a serious question whether there is
any use OF continuing negotiations with Rus
sia. The idea OF localizing tho war is chimeri-
CAL The Baltic powers have no more right to
close the Baltic in the event of war than Eog-
land and France have to close the English
channel. The News says that Turkey is en-
titled to close the Dardaneles. bet says that
those who believe that Russia will be safe
from attack iu the Black Sea must be exceed
ingly credulous anc would probably also be-
lieye that the Sultan wants to see Russia at
ConstsDtinople.
The Times says:
We have no means of knowing whether
Russia is, or is not, advancing beyond Maru-
chsk, or even nearer to Herat than that town
is.
The Standard says:
Russia gains in strength every hour by
gaining time. If we are forced to draw
the sword let us do so before the moment
for striking with effect has been suffered to
pass by.
ST. PETER BURG, April 3d. Two hundred
workmen have been sent to Sweaborg to
strengthen the military dsfenses st that i'm
portant port. The government is buying coal
abroad at any price, ard is engaging the ser.
vices of a large number of fab3rers.
The Official Messenger today publishes a
telegram from Gen. Komaroff. which is reply
TO the despatch of Sir Peter Lumsden denying
the accuracy of Gen. Komaroff's report of the
battle on March Both on the Kushk river.
Gen. Komaroff. in the despatch published to.
day admits that he had received an order from
the Russian war office previous to the battle
NOT TO occupy Penjdeh, but he says that other
officers on the frontier had not yet been ad-
vised OF the receipt OF such an order. Refer
ring TO the alleged advance of Russian troops
previous TO the fight, he says that only a
sotyna of Turcomans had advanced towards
Penjdeh. But they had no intention of attack
ing the Afghans, and withdrew when the lat
ter approached them in a hostile attitude.
General Komaroff reiterates his former asser-
ton regarding the audaoity and arrogance of
the Afghans, their daily drawing nearer to the
Russian camp, their occupation of command
ing positions on the left h4nk of his camp, and
other events which led up to the battle.
The Dagblad of Helsinefors Finland, thinks
that Russia has DO power to hurt England seri-
ously upon the sea. The paper says that four
Russian fortresses on the Baltic will require
assistance, and that any engagement with the
English feet in the open sea Is ont of the ques-
tion.
TIE Navoe Vremya is annoyed at the state
ment of the Dagblad and tries to lessen the ei-
feet of its article In referring to Gladstone's
speech in the House of Commons it says that
Russia cannot agree to an inquiry into the
Penjdeh affair.
The arsenals and sbipYards are overwhelmed
with work. The breaking mp OF the ice in the
harbors is dangerous to navigation.
Military orders have been issued calling into
service all the men liable to duty in the first
reserve
ODESSA advices mention the fact that the
Grand Duke Alexis, chief commander of the
Russian navy, is expected there soon. The
fitting out of men-of-war at Nicolaieff is
nearly completed, and it is reported that
Russia is preparing to encamp $1,000 troops at
Merv.
The Odessa division of the Russian army,
numbering 10000 men, has been ordered from
the Black Sea to the Caspian, and the garrison
in and around Odessa will be replaced by
others from the interior. The sum of ], 900, 900
roubles( 1915, ,000)has been awarded to complete
the detenses of Odessa.
NEW YORK, April 30.-it is reported in ship
ping circles today that the owners of the five
Russian merchant vessels now in port, from
fear that they might be captured By Eoglish
cruisers in case OF war, had given instructions
to the agents not TO accept any charters at pre-
sent. The vessels are the ships Equator, 1878
tons, arrived from Hull April 5; Europe, 991
tons, from Hull April /; Varadia, 1146 TONS
from Pedang April 1; the barques Curonia, 3S7
tons, from Bahia April IS, and the Toivo,
which arrived about April 1. Meme OF these are
now loading. but they are lying in berths
awaiting orders.
The probability of war and the chartering OF
the fastest English steamers By the govern
M Mt has had IS eject upon transatlantic travel
The applications for passage have not been as
numerous by some of the EDglish lines, while
the applications for passage on the fast steam
ships OF the North German Lloyd have in
creased. The dispatches from Liverpool call
attention to the large increase of emigration,
especially of Irish emigrants, in the last two
weeks. The steamships Republic, Aurania,
City of Chester and Abyssinia, which sailed
the latter part OF last week, have a total of
2O62 English. Irish and Scotch emigrants.
VIENNA, April 30-The Tagblatt's St.
Petersburg correspondent says: A council of
war was held on the Oath inst. 1t is believed
that the council discussed the necessity of &C.
Copying Herat. Eleven vessels of the Cron-
stadt fleet have gone TO the Baltic.
The Amsterdam Handelsbad says: In an
interview yesterday Prince Mirski aid-de-
camp TO the Gar, stated that Russia was un.
able to respect an imaginary frontier traced by
nomadic tribes, but desired frontier with a
geographical and ethnogrsphical basis.
LONDON April Boa despatch to the Times
from Tirpul, dated April 81, says: Large Rus-
sian rein.orcements are coming from the Cas-
plan, but the humber of troops east of the
Caspian is exaggerated. The Russians doubt
less intend TO make MAKE a dash for Herat,
rNn al.
Russsns at Zulf 1 r il untrue. The people Of
PeDjdeh are quiet and industrious. Russian
troops are close to Ak Tepe. Their command.
erS have occupied the governors tents and
issued edicts as governors. They have also
forcioly demanded the surrendos of ali pres
ents given to The Afghans by Sir Peter Lams-
den. 1t IS generally believed here that war ia
now inevitable. Although it would give Rus
sla lew successes against the Afghan4, it
would result in the breaking mp of the Russian
empire, while by waiting year or two, when
Russia will have completed her railways, the
issue would be uncertain.
Advices from Tirpul, under date of the 26th
instant, state that the Afghans show increased
friendliness towards the English. The At
ghans asciibe the conflict TO jealousy on the
part of the Russians lest England should inter-
fere actively in the affairs of Central Asia.
NEW YORK, April 20.-The Russian corvette
Streelock is now anchored in North river. The
ASioShuAA says 1uo 6tcdmS0lp owners must
view her with great deal of unessiness.
Should war be declared today the outward
bound ocean steamers OF the English lines
will probably need convoy and will the
Garnet be on hand? The Streelock stole out of
Hampton Roads on Tuesday night at mid
night, carrying no lights and in such hurried
secrecy that she left three of her men behind
In Norfolk, where she hal been coaling and
taking IN miscellaneous stores The Streelock
was being watched by q. B. M. steam corvette
Garnet which followed the Russian from the
port oil Havana. All Monday and Tuesday
the respective captains of the two vessels were
sending telegraphic dispatches to their govern
ments and the inference seems clear that
whatever may be the destination of the Stree
lock, her commanders acting under precise
orders. 1t is more than probable that the
Streelock has received secret instructions that
war has been or wilsbesdeclsred within a few
hours and has been ordered to pick ap a trans
Atlantic steamer, II is cert in that the en-.
terDrlse is BY no means as difficult as it looks
and that any one of the great ferry steamers
that sail between the ports OF New York and
Liverpool is liable to be surprised
The Ssreelock is not large vessel being onIv
OF 1885 tons register and mounting 10 guns
four of which are heavy rifed pieces. Har
crew number 160 men, minus the three eho
e. 81