Daily Republican., 1885-04-29
The War Very Near
TINE DANGER OF COLLISION In.
CREASIG g. THE RUSSIANS
MAKING A MILITARY
R DAD TO HERAT.

LONDON, April 2S.-Mr. Gladstone
stated in the House of Com mons this
afternoon that the government had re.
reived no confirmation of the battle
reported to have recently occurred be-
tween the russians and Afghans, with
victory for the latter. The news Of
another battle, though ct as yet con-
firmed has greatly increased the danger
OF war The Times says that the rumor
is probably first oozing out of news
which has been officially suppressed.
At present only the Independence
Beige ard the Daily News
have received q report of the
battle. 1t Is presumed that body Of
Russians foil owed a body of retreating
Afehans Will Q scouting ia the country
for the purpose of collecting ipforma
tion and perhaps pushed to Chaneni-
beide, thus coming into contact with
| the Afghan troops on the direct route
/ to Herat or q eimilar movem ent
may have been made from Zulfikar or
| Akrobat. At present there 10 nothing
| to show where the COL flict occurred.
A dispatch to the Independence Beige
FROM st. Petersburg Gays a council held
at the palace to day, at which the Car
presided, rejected proposals made by
M. de Giers TO adopt conciliatory mea.
sures toward England. The reply of
the Russian Government TO Earl Gran.
vile firmly maintains the tenor Of the
former disI Iatches.
| ON 10 HERAT.
A declaration of war is not expected
to follow upon o rupture of diplomatic
relations. Baron de Staal and Sir Ed
| ward Thornton would be re called and
Russia would then probably order Gen.
eral Komaroff to advance on Herat,
England meanwhile occupying Quetta
and Candahar. A special dispatch from
Sirpul, dated April 16, says that the
Russians occupy Ak Tepe and are alrea-
dy actively at work making q military
road from PeDjdeh to Herat. The fact
that the Russian transport, which paes-
ed through the Suez Canal and then was
Iordered back, is still waiting at the en-.
trance of the Suez Canal causes some
anxiety.
The Standard's correspondent with
Sir Peter Lumsden states that the BUS.
ltiaus have occupied Maruchuk, twenty
miles south Of PeDjdeh, on the Murghab
iriver.
PREPARING FOR BATTLE.
During the last few days it has been
reported that the whole Russian coast
. of the Baltic had bean strongly fortified
} and that the approach at any point ia
dangerous, owing TO the presence oftor.
pedoes and sea mines.
Four torpedo boats lyi ing at Sheerneas,
England, have been ordered into com :
miss ion for immediate service. hmm ense
quantities of coal are being shipped to
;. Cape Town, South Africa, for the use OF
I British armed cruisers and men of-war
. in the event of the Suez Canal being
blocked.
4 The Beslia National zeitung says
I present crisis in the relations of Eng.
land and Russia. adding that no quest
has been received for mediation. The
National Zeitung also denies that the
Czar wrote tie Emperor of Germany
that the chances for peace have dimin-
Iished. A special cisratch from Berlin
! to the Journal des Debats states that
lGermany Is not disposed to become tho
mediator betwof Russia and England.
The dispatch also states that Russia
:. even refuses arbitration as a means of
settlement OF her present differences
with England.
In the House of Commons this after
] n Don Mr.. Gladstone stated that Russia
r has made more rrss entaiions to thesgov-
D ernment anent the British occupation of
Port Hamilton.
1t Is understcodl that the budget for
| 1885 will prov ide for the imposition of
an increase Of the duty on foreign
(; cigars.