The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-15
Another BattIeI British Bull and
Russian Bear Begin 10 pull
Hair! A Furious Fight
Followed by a Foot
Race!
Race.

Our readers are doubtless aware Of the
long standing ~antagonism between Eng
land and Russia, which bias resulted In
two wars within the present century. 1t
is a case Of hogeish gTeediness on both
sides. England has for forty years thwart-
ed Russia : alm to sSailJw Turkey; and
Russia has for forty years kept England
continually on the watch 10 protect her
Hlndoo hen-crops. The Crimean war in
1854 checked Russia's c~ncroachment
upon the SICK Man" Gas the Sultan of
Turkey was called at the South; but she
at once began to create another Sick
man in the East by e~ncroaching upon
highlands ludian possessions. Year by
year she has pushed her ~conquests east
ward, climbing over vast ranges OF noun
tains, travcrsing immense deserts, Selling
town after town, until now she is tres
passing upon the -oil Of A~fghanistan, the
last strip Of wild mountain territory H.
| teryening between her advance aud the
rich plains Of British India. The AT
ghans are under British protection, con-
sequentiy any enc~roachment upon them
Is virtually stepping upon the toes of
England. Thus 1t will be seen that the
two greatest powers on earth (Russla
powerful by ner millions OF soldiers and
her vast territory; England powerful by
her millions Of money, and her magnif-
cent modern machinery OF war; have fin
ally come face to face, IL the widest re-
gion on the globe, at al altitude Of 5000
feet above sea-level, and with only an
insignificant brooklet separating the two
camps
Many of our readers may not be aware
of the rapIdity Of the march Of c~iyillza>
ton in the East. Twenty years ago a
trip from London to Calcutta required
three months. Ten years ago the open
ing Of The ouez Canal reduced the time
to about M month. The trip can now
be made in half that time. There is a
continuous line Of Railway across Europe
to Odessa; and steamer connections with
the Railroad to OIenburg Gu the Eastern
border Of Europe. 1t is only four days
ride thence to ~lIerat, the gate way into
India. A splendid Railroad, 1, 100 miles
in length, traverscs the indian Empire
" NdiCutbi, diu ID DtlBb tAltUuCu lutO
Aighauiotan: though we do not know
how neal TO Herat 1t is completed.
Any way England sees that she must
not let Russia get too close; else She will
make trouble with the conquered Hin
docs, as well as rob her Of much of her
shipping trade.
WHAT ACTUALLY OCCURRED.
The Russians, under Gen. komaroff
moved to within three miles of the At
CHAN out-posts, and acted In a threaten
ing manner. The Afghans, encouraged
by the presence Of two English officers,
moved to an hill not far from the Rus.
slams. Next day the latter attacked the
Afghans, and utterly routed them; cap
turing 500 prisoners, s cannon, several
battle flags, etc. the British officers
escaped; and one of them galloped night
and day tor $50 miles to carry the news
to a telegraph station. A few days after
the battle. the Russians occupied the
town of Penjdeh; so hat they are cow on
Afghan soil.
The Russian minister of war has sent
a congratulatOry message to Gen. Roma
rolf, and has directed him to thank the
troops in the name Of the Gar, and to
to them that all who took part
in the battle will be rewarded according
to their rank.
The news of the battle created greater
excitement in England than the Fall of
Fort Sumpter in America. All parties
unite IN demanding Immediate war. The
Government IS straIDIEg every nerve to
get ready to fight. All the Cunard and
dozens OF other ocean steamers, have
been chartered to carry troops