Morning journal and courier., 1885-04-16

also injured internally, but he will probably Fireman Dixon escaped with but few bruises. No other person was injured except George $. Sadler, whose ankle was sprained. The tracks were cleared at 10 8. m.
 RUSSIA TO HAVE PENJDEH If She Will Satisfactorily Explain
 Komaroff's Action Meanwhile
 Preparations For War Go Vigor-
 ously On-Persia Offers England a
 Large Force of Men.
 LONDON, April 15.-The result of to-day's Cabinet council is stated on good authority to have been as follows: Subject to a satis- factory explanation by Russia of the conflict between her troops and the Afghans near Penjdeh England and Russia have agreed on the basis of frontier delimitation between Afghanistan and Turkestan This arrange ment includes the cession by Afghanistan to Russia of Penideh. It is understood that the Ameer has given his consent to this proposi- tion, he acknowledging that his title to Penj- deh was in doubt and declaring that in order to reach peaceful settlement he would con sent to waive his claim.
 The admiralty have been preparing for the possible closing of the Suez canal by shipping large supplies of coal stores, provisions and material of war to the coaling stations and dockyards between England and Calcutta by way of the Cape. The distance by this route is II ,937 miles. The stations are St. Vim cent, Cape Town and Colombo. The naval forces at these harbors are also being strength ened
 Unless the result of to days Cabinet coun- cil leads to suspension of war preparations, the embarkation of the endorsements de- manded by Lord Dufferin for India will be- gin at once as per the programme heretofore agreed upon. The twenty thousand men ready to be sent consist exclusively of sea- soned troops and picked reserve men with volunteers from the militia Ar engagements have been made, however, providing that in case of immediate necessity attachments from the battalions duty at Malta may be forwarded to India for active service, leaving their places to be filled by drafts from Cyprus and Gibraltar, the latter vacancies being supplied temporarily by the relief from England. In view of the urgent applications of native Indian princes for the employment of their forces it has been de- cided by the war office to allow twenty-five per cent. of the recruits for the native army of India to consist of volunteers from the armies of the so-called independent States.
 Charles Marvin, author of ''The Russians at the gates of Herat," writes to the Times that he has learned from a semi-ofdcial source that the telegraph wire from Aska- bad to Merv is in complete worA- ing order. General Komaroff is therefore by the assistance of his military tslegraphs within twenty-four hours distance from the Czar far as the communication of orders or information is concerned. This fact is important in view of the excuses which the Russian government has constantly made for delays in negotiations, namely that it re- quired ten or fifteen days to get information to and from the front.
 The government has decided to create a valuable reserve corps in India of five thou sand men. A distinctive uniform will be provided for these volunteers, but it's use will not be compulsory.
 The Daily Telegraph has information from source which it considers trustworthy that the Shah of Persia has offered England fifty thousand men in the event of war with Rus sia.
 Much discussion has been caused by the statement in the Teheran Gazette that Persia has consented to Russian troops being sent across her northeastern frontier into Af- ghanistan. Such step is regarded in mili tary circles here not only as impairing Per sia's obligations as neutral power but as exposing her to great dangers ir case of actual warfare. The entire Persian border west of Herat northward to | the Russian posts, of observation is open te invasion from the tribes who acknowledge the au hority of the Ameer, and the whole T of defense against British war ships cruising | in the Persian gulf or Arabian sea- Int | foreign office is understood to be in commun I ication with the Persian envoy on the sa6 l iect with g view to learning what the Shaf | is disposed to consider the duties of a neu l tral power.
 Mr Gladstone's apparent hesitation over | the Kushk river affair has emboldened Rus ] sia and she is now taking her turn in de manding explanations and withdrawals. Tn ] report is confirmed that M de Giers ha demanded an explanation of the presence O l Captain Yates of General Lumsden's staff 8 | the Kushk river battle and of the part he i
 said to have taken in provoking that engage | ment. Special dispatches from St. Peters | burg even assert that Russia has demande' | the recall of General Lumsden himself on tn | ground of his pronounced sympathy with tn 1 Afghans in their hostility toward Russia, bu this statement is doubtful.
 A special from Lord Dufferin says tha ] Komaroff's attack on the Afghans appears t
 have been entirely unprovoked. While an ] xious for peace, Lord DuHerin cannot Sc | how it can be obtained.
 l VIENNA, April 15.-It is learned here tha
 the harbors of Odessa, Taganrog and Kertc
 are crowded with British vessels loading wit
 grain. Eighty. seven British vessels passe
 through the Bosphorus last week similarl
 laden and large numbers of other foreig
 vessels are crowding the Black Sea for graf
 cargoes.
 TORONTO, April 15.-Requests have bee
 received by Colonel Gravely and Captai Snelgrove of the Fortieth battalion of G
 bourg from the British government askin that Canadian contingent be raised for SCI
 vice in Afghanistan in the event of war tal
 ing place between England and Russia. Tn battalion at Cobourg offered it's service |
 the Imperial government to go to Egypt an
 the latter are anxious to know if the offer (
 Canadian troops will hold good in the ever of a war with Russia.