The Portland daily press., 1885-04-30
England Must Accept the Pro-
posed Boundary Line,
Or the Russians Will Proceed to Occupy
Herat.
Railroads Ordered to Prepare Car
rlages for Transportation of
Troops.
Work Progressing Night and Day on
GunbOatS.
English Officers Notified to be in
Readiness to Join Their Ships.
The Russian Advance on Herat 0iicialiy
Confirmed,
Belief that War Will Ensue With
in Few Days.
Belief that War Will Ensue With
in a Few Days.

sT. PETERSBURG, April 29-The Czar has
sept his altimatum to Great Britain, demand
ing that the latter shall accept Russias pro-
posed boundary line between Turkestan and
Afgbanistan. II Greet Britain refuses to
accept this boundary, Russia will proceed to
occupy Hsrat.
LoSDoN, April ga despatch to the Daily
News from 81. Petersburg confirms the state
ments of the Independence Beige, that in the
recent engagement with the Afghans, the
Russians we're defeated with heavy loss.
ODESSA. April 29.-The whole of the mill
tary division stationed here has been ordered
to the Caspian Sea. The division will be re-
placed by troops from the interior. Half q
million roubles will be devoted to the imme-
diate construction of 6efencss commanding
the roads and quarantine harbor here.
LONDON April pa gloomy feeling pre-
walls bere this morning, the belief being gen.
era. that the commencement Of open hosTilities
between England and Russia is now only
matter OF a few days. The Duke of Cam
bridge, Commander-in-chief of the army, in
spected the troops who have been ordered out
for active service in case of war, at Aldershot
and their fine appearance called forth many
remarks of admiration from on-lookers. The
Duke, in few words, complimented the SOL
diers and expressed the hope that in the event
of war they would acquit themselves as nobly
as their predecessors did in the Crimea. The
current belief is that Russia is preparing for
war much more rapidly than she appears to
be, the Russian papers being warned to
secrecy. It is reported that the Khan Of Box
hara earnestly warned the Ameer not to neglect
nalIx fla uke
Herat, as the Russian army was massing in
Turkestan, near Samarcand, with the inten-
tion of marching on Balkh and proclaimiDg
Ayoub Khan as Ameer, while the Afghan
army was engaged at Herat. His letter to the
Ameer concludes: "I know for certain that
the Russians intend to march beyond Herat,
but will cut off your line of retreat to Cabul,
and England's line of retreat to Candahar."
ST. Petersburg, April 29.-Nine thousand
troops and six batteries of artillery belonging
to the 9Th army corps left Moscow Tuesday for
the South There was the greatest enthusiasm.
AT least 90 0O0 people thronged the streets,
wildly cheering as the soldiers marched to the
railway station. The men looked in splendid
fighting trim, with their long butternut great
coats, Astrakhan fur caps and heavy boots.
Monday night 10 companies of engineers,
with 200 carloads of railway telegraph plant,
left for Askabsd, there the greatest activity
prevails. Telegraph lines that only few
weeks ago ended at Askabad now extend to
Sarakhs, which is 2C0 miles beyond and only
100 miles from Herat. 1t is said th at sufficient
railway material has been already collected
at Askabad to build railway to Herat via
Ssrakhs and Penjdeh, distance of AGO miles,
in an incredibly short space OF time. Extra
ordinary preparations by Russian engineers
are being made to follow up the advance OF
the troops by the immediate construction OF
railroads.
LONDON, April 29-There is great uneasiness
&. IL. r. l.
ordered her army to advance. A sharp decline
has taken place in continental and national
securities.
In the House of Commons to-day, Lord Ed
mund FitZmsurice, Under Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs, confirmed the report that
Maruchak had been occupied by the Russians,
and that they were advancing on Herat in
force.
LONDON, April 29-Adviees from Allahabad,
HindooSt2n, say: Tirpul dispatches state that
supplies are reaching Sir Peter Lumsden's
forces slowly and in small quantities. Sup
plies for one month are stored at Rindi, Killa
and Abdalls, while provisions for two corps
for three months are stored at Quetta. Six
teen field hospitals are ready for service In
addition to a large general hospital at Quetta.
The London Standard, announcing the report
of the Russian occupation of Maruchak, says
it is not stated whether or not the Afghans
resisted.
ST. PETERSBURG, April 29.-After the re-
ceipt of General Komaroff's cipher despatch
yesterday, at the parade of the TROOPS the
Gear had detected look. Owing to the great
scarcity of coal here, it is feared that the stock
now held by the merchants will quickly be-
come exhausted. There is plenty of coal in
the interior, but the enormous freight charges
prevent the citizens OF this place from obtain
ing it. The manufacturers are trying to obtain
supplies OF wood instead of coal, but wood is
also becoming very dear, and this threatens to
nal ,f foo 70 oI0 A lonn
despatch in cipher was sent to General Kom-
areH yesterday. The pay of the sailors in the
Russian navy has been raised to the war rate
The military reserves Of Denmark are being
mobilized in expectation Of the necessity OF
preserving Danish neutrality by force.
LONDON, April 29-At dinner of the
eighty Club" in this city last night, Mr..
Ohamberlain, President of the Board Of Trade,
in a speech, said:
We have met at time overshadowed with appre
tensions of grave conflict which England has
neither sought desired, and which, il it should
occur uld be misfortune to civilization. There
FORE it is the highest obligation of patriotic gov
erDment to exhaust every means to preserve pence
1t is impossible to speak on the subject when the
isaues OF peace war trembling in the balance
An ungnarded word might be productive of much
mischief. If, however, the government found
themselves confronted with Determined policy OF
aggression, their summons would be answered as in
past times, and the English democracy would show
itself patient resoute and enduring exhibiting the
the ADgloSaxon race. 1t ia matter of regret thai
such questions should be delayed. We need polti
cal reforms, but are fortunate that we have ye
arrived at the stage requiring us to abandon al
hopes of peaceful settlement.
LONDON, April pa despatch from Tirpu
states that Gen. Komaroff, having written al
| open letter to the Afghans in which he ex
pressed surprise at their conduct in forcinG
| him to wage battle against them, the Afghan
have become indignant at what they term thu
| Russian commanders uience, and are be
coming more cordial towards the British.
| is stated that the populace of Herat, however
| appear to be just as well inclined toward
| Russia as towards England. and the question
| as to which power the Heratians would lenS
their assistance in the event Of war is declared
| to be at present one of absolute doubt.
ST. PETERSBURG, April 29.-The Novol
Vremya. acting, IL is believed, under imperia
| inspiration, has attracted attention by publish
| ing an article with the startling headline "OI
| the Eve of War" This article declares tha
'Russia, in the event of war, will settle mat
| ters with England in India and not in AT
ghanistan alone"
LONDON, April 29.-The channel feet is re
turning from Ireland.
Two firms at Cowes are working night AMI
day on the 40 torpedo boats ordered by thu
English government.
The Admiralty has notified the officers anC
men at all coastgusrd stations to be in readi
ness to join their ships at moments notice
and general call has been issued 30 thu
officers of the Naval Reserve now serving il
the mercantile marine, asking them to serv,
| as officers of the new cruisers.
The studies of the graduating class in ar