Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-17
RUSSIA'S ARRANGEMENT.
GLADSTONE EXPLAINS IN THE
HOUSE OF COMMONS.

st. Peterburg Still Protesting Desire
for a Peaceful SOlution-An Actual
Collision Between the Russians and
Afghans RumOred at CaIcutta-Bis-
marck Trying to Avert War.
LONDON, March 16.-In the House of
Commons this afternoon Premier Glad
stone, in answer to questions regarding
the settlement of the Russo-Atghan from
tier difficulty, said that the only founda-
tion he had for the'announcement that an
amicable agreement had been arrived at
was promise wired by NJ. de Giers,. the
Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, from
st. Petersburg March 5.
REPORTS OF AN ACTUAL COLLISION.
There are reports at Calcutta that an
actual collision has occurred between the
Russians and Afghans. The government
is very reticent concerning the frontier
news.
FEARS OF THE ''TnIEs."
The Times expresses the belief that
Gen. Komarotf has gone from Askabad to
the disputed territory, and says: ''If
Russia is allowed to gain the territory by
trickery we shall have war little later
both with the Ameer of Afghanistan, dis
gusted with our folly and Russia strength
ened by the valuable positions gained"
GLADsTONE's ARRANGEMENT.
In the House of Commons this
evening the Government announced
that a telegram had been received
from st. Petersburg fully confirm
ing Premier GladstOne's view of the An
glo-Russian arrangement regarding out
posts on the RussO-Afghan frontier.
Lord Edmund Fitzmaurice, Under For
eign Secretary, in The House OF Commons
this afternoon said that England had pro-
tested against the treatment of lead bv
France of cOntraband of war as instanced
in the arrest of the British vessel Glenroy
and the seizure of the lead in her cargo.
Lord FItzmaurice SAID that the govern
ment hoped that their protest would be
successful, and would result in the re-
lease of the GlenrOy's cargo.
Premier Gladstone answering several
lnterrog atOrles concerning the exact ma
ture OF the announced agreement with
RUSSIA said that England and Russia had
agreed as stated on Friday last that Do
further advances should be made in At
ghanlstan. The statement of this agree
ment, the Premier said, was based on an
interchange of communications between
Russia and England, carried on through
the British Ambassador at St. Petersburg.
AS yet no reply had been received to Sat
urday's message. Continuing, Premier
Gladstone said that there had been no
time to obtain the assent of the Ameer of
Afghanistan to the terms of the arrange
ment made with Russia. The expression
agreement" said Premier Gladstone,
conveys somewhat fallaciOus
idea OF what has been OBJ
tained. prefer the word arrangement
The telegram sent by Earl Granville on
Co 1nvr 20 Il
merely to ascertain whether our under
standing of the details of this agreement
or arrangement was correct. There is no
question as to the substance of it,"
Lord Harrington explained that the
Russians occupy Katan and Askabad and
that the Afghans still occupy Penjdeh. He
refused, on the ground of public policy, to
make any further disclosures.
STRENGTHENING THE NAVY.
In the House of Commons tonight
Sir Thomas Brassey, Secretary to
the Admiralty, in moving of the navy,
including the reserves and the navy
estimates said the total strength
pensioners, was $4,000 men. The men on
the active list was $1,000, and would
probably be increased this year to IS, 900
In the event of war the admiralty had
other and immense resources in the mer-
chant service. He assured the House
that his department was working it's
hardest on additions to the navy. The
plans for new vessels were being per-
fected and modified so as to
admit of contracting outside for
two single turret irOnclads in
stead of one. The whole scheme would
include irOnclads, 5iron-belted cruisers,
Z scouts, D gunbOats and ID torpedo boats.
Ten torpedo boats would be of powerful
type and able to go to sea in all weathers.
They were not intended simply for coast
ing duty. Sir Richard Brassey said that
the government was about to build a new
dock at Malta, and to increase the dock
facilities at Hong Kong and Bombay.
THE ESTIMATE AGREED TO.
LONDON, March II, A. M.-The House
OF Commons last night agreed to the navy
estimates. The amount this year is 913,-
090,4 ,44O, against ell, ,646,0CO last year.
BIsMARCK's PEACE OVERTUREs.
BERLIN, March 16.-Prince Bismarck.
it is stated, has, ever since the amicable
adjustment of the AnglO-German colonial
dispute, been actively eXerting all his
influence with Russia to avert the threat
ened war with England.
AN AUTHORITY's VIEWS.
VIENNA, March 16.-Dr. Armenius YAM
berry, Professor of Oriental Languages in
the University of Pesth, asserts that Peni-
deh and the whole country between the
Herri road and Herat is now and has been
for at least three centuries an integral
part of Afghanistan. Prof. Vambery is
the greatest living authority of standard
literature upon the countries and peoples
directly affected by the present Russian
advance, and spent the time between 1860
and 1864 travelling among them as a
dervish.