The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-29
AN OMNIBUS RUMOR,
UPON THE TRUTH OF WHICH HANGS
PEACE OR WAR.
The Afghans Reported to Have Wiped
Out Force of Russians.
Great Excitement in Lond on-Conse-
quences of Another Eusso-Afghan
Fight Discussed Gladstone's speech
in Parliament Approved on All
Hands-France's Opportunity.

NEW YORK, E-ri 29.-The following
liable have been eceived here:
LONDON, April, 2S.-London is ablaze
excitement this morning over the dispatch
published in The Daily News from its
St Petersburg correspondent to the effect
that another encounter has taken place
between the Russian and Afghan forces on
she frontier.
Mr. Gladstone stated in the house of COM
mons Tuesday afternoon that the govern
ment had received no confirmation of the
battle reported to have recently occurred
between the Russians and Afghans, ending
in victory for the latter.
Mr.. Ellis Ashmead Bartlett, Conservative
member, asked whether Russia had with .
irawn from the undertaking to occupy
Herat, to which Mr. Gladstone answered:
NO."
There is no great confidence in these
rumors, although the story is thought to
have some foundation. According to the
reports published in this mornings Daily
News and in The Independence Beige the
Russians lost nearly 1,700 men in the
skirmish and the remnant of the force was
compelled to retire. before the ameer's
troops. Tidings of this engagement are
anxiously awaited.
At the war Office the opinion is unanimous
that IL such battle as reported has really
taken place, the question whether there is
to be peace Or war between Great Britain
and Russia has been decided in favor Of
war, and nothing her majestys ministers
can now do will avert the struggle. The de-
feated Russians will of course be imme-
iiately reinforced and a campaign against
the Afghans in overwhelming strength com
menced. The policy of her majesty's ministers
it is asserted win be to watch the
course of events and proceed as rapidly as
possible with preparations for the defence
of the Indian frontier. In the event Of a
crushing Russian victory, which is looked
for as a matter of course, the British will
probably reoccupy Candahar and block the
only practicable road into India The
probability of peace between Abdurrha-
man and Russia is discussed. In the event
Of Russian occupation or protectorate, it
S the general opinion that the Afghan tribes
hostile to the ameer's rule should be reused.
| No doubt is entertained here that the whole
Of Afghanistan would be plunged into
| civil war and anarchy with the
first Russian victories, and that the
whole of the country between Cabul and the
Caspian sea would become the seat of active
operations against the Russians. This is the
prevailing view in London, and further tel
sgrams from the supposed scene of hostilities
are awaited with deep interest,
| Mr.. Gladstoue's utteraucss in the house of
commons are locked upon as proof hat he
| is no longer DESTROYS of concealng the
gravity Of the situation and of his own in
clination to fight Russia if an honorable
way out of the difficulty cannot be found
for England. 1t is safe to say that the
premier has risen 50 per cent in the popular
favor since the publication of his speech.
Never in his long and brilliant career did
Mr.. Gladstone make more telling, power
full speech that which he delivered in the
commons Monday hight. Even the most
bitter Tories were for the moment carried
away by the matchless eloquence of the
"grsnd old man" The fact that the war
credit WAS voted with nut any one
venturing to reply to the premier
is something unprecedented. Mr..
Gladstone's speech says the
Conservative Standard "was wholly worthy
to convey more than he thought well to say.
The upshot of the whole is we take it, that
Russia declines to admit the conduct of her
officers in question" Mr.. Gladstone stated
that he did not feel callei upon to define the
degree of danger, but he would say, in re-
gard to the sad contingency of an outbreak
of war or a rupture of relations with Russia
that her majestgs government has triven &c
conduct the diplomatic controversy in such
way that if it unhappily ended in q VIC
lent rupture they might at least be able
to challenge the verdict of civilized man
kind, whether or not they had done all mer
could do and had used every just and hon
orabls effort to prevent the plunging of tive
such countries into bloodshed and despair
Mr.. Gladstone spoke for an hour. He wa
listened to with deep attention, and hi
words created profound sensation. The
premier suffered much from hoarseness, bu
he was cheered again and again while hi
speech on the vote of credit proceeded, ant
at its close there was a perfect storm Of ap
plause, while on leaving the house OF com
mons he was also greeted with the warmes
manifestations of enthusiasm.
A dispatch from St Petersburg says tina
an eminent Russian statesman referring x
the difference between France and Egyp
made the following remarks:
"France now holds splendid trump card
by which she can regain all her lost prestig
and obtain carte blanche in Egypt. If sh
has no statesmen of force and nerve to plaI
it then tant pis pours Ia France Sh
has 40, 600 troops IN China a
the present moment. France afte
this slap in the face by Egypt, shout
now turn from England and say; 'Russi
is eager for our alliance, and offers an,
price for our fleet, saying nothing of tn
Russian feet far stronger than yours i
eastern waters. We can throw our 40, 90
} troops at few days notice into lndi
| simultaneously with Russian advance o
Canbahar or we can land them in EYE
where you have only $1,000 on our wa
home through the Suez canal. Now
Russia offers any price for our alliance
Give usscarte blanche in Egypt, else we G
with Russia"
9 The Russian statement, after a shol
/ pause. added: "Remember also that
. Franco Russian alliance against England
, who is cordially hated everywhere on I'll
continent would in no way clash with I'll
, principles adhered to by the car last yea
at Skierniwice."
The governor of Odessa declared to IL
Odessa correspondent of The Vienna Tia
Blatt that Lumsden was the real cause
the conflict in the Kushk Russia does NJ
desire more conquests, but cannot submit
England's impertinence. Russia is qui
prepared for war. England will not |
e able to subdue us with I, 800, 600 pounds ste
n ling" the governor said.
Good Reason for Activity.
NEW YORK, April 90 The English a