The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-04-27
England Orders the Construction Of
Forty GunbOats.
Earl Granville Reiterates the De-
mand for an Inquiry into the
Penjdeh Incident.
Russia Dispatches 10000 Troops Across
the Caspian Sea.
She is Advised to Immediately
Advance on Herat.
Rum0rs of Another Conflict Between
Russians and Afghans.

LONDON, April 25.-The suspense regarding
peace or war, which is sickening and madden
ing everybody, continues, the only bre ak be-
ing the new difficulty with France. For many
days past Englishmen have been left absolute
ly -qithout news of any kind. The secrecy of
the Gladstone government is more complete
and prolonged than ever was that of the Bea-
consfeld administration, even when Mr.. Glad
stone was howiing about Lord Beaconsfeld ig-
noring the rights Of Parliament. Only por
ton Of Sir Peter Lumsden's dispatches have
been published, and none from M. de Giers, ,ex-
cept those obtained by the enterprise Of tho
cable news. Thus the country is kept in igno-
rance Of vital facts which will possibly eventu-
ate in war.
The government has decided to increase the
number of armed cruisers to 20, and has char
tered the steamers Coptic and Alaska, and the
Pacific Company's steamer Britannia
A despatch from Tirpul, dated April 20 says:
Persistent statements are made here that largo
Russian forces are coming from the Caspian to
the Afghan frontier. 1t is reported that in
Tekke Tnrcomans, who were regarded as hos
tile. The present situation is critical. Only
very firm British support will restore the con-
fidence of the Afghans The Afghan troops
engaged in the Penjdeh battle have nearly all
dispersed.
British transports at Woolwich have been
ordered to load in the future, until otherwise
instructed, all their war stores for India, in-
stead of Suakim.
The government has ordered the immediate
construction of 40 gunboats. These new gam
boats are to be according to the admiralty spe-
cifications OF new type of naval architecture
They will carry light shell guns for the pur-
pose OF destroying torpedo boats, and will
have coal stowage capacity which will rem
der them capable OF steaming 1000 miles with
out Tecoaling In addition to the charter of
the steamers already announced the govern
ment has also chartered the steamer Energia.
The Energia will be converted into an armed
cruiser.
sERAsToPoL, April 25.-It is stated on the
highest authority that the two tnrret ships
Popoff and Mini Novgorod, which are now
here will be put in commission. The captain
OF one of them has been transferred to anoth-
or post because it was known that he was oi
English descent. WoTkmen are employed day
and night in the construction of the two new
men-of-war Already $150,000 has been ex.
pended on these vessels. The electric light is
used by the workmen at night.
LONDON, April 25.-Despatches from st. Pc
| tersburg received here this afternoon, state
| that the Gear had issued an imperial ukase
sanctioning the raising of large force OF Tur-
conan militia by Gen. Komarof.
1t is rumored that several British men-of-
war have appeared off Vladivostock. The
| river Neva is clear Of ice. The harbor 81
CroDstadt however, remains ice-bound. All
newspapers here assume that England has de-
manded satisfaction from Russia for the Penj-
| deb affair.
A despatch from Paris to the Exchange Tel
egraph Company states that is believed in the