The Portland daily press., 1885-04-13
WAR PREPARATIONS

Reported Council Of War Held at st.
Petersburg
LONDON, April 11.-There is no Improvement in
the feeling here this morning, and although affairs
have settled down to the usual routine the convic
tion is general that with Russia is inevitable
as nothing short of complete backdown by Russia
will appease the wrath of the people. The answer
Of M. de Giers to Englands demand for an explana-
tion of General Komaroff's action gives anything
but satisfaction, and is looked upon as another dip
lomatic ruse to gain time fer further preparations
Little or no faith is placed in the Russian govern.
ment's protestations of entire ignorance of the
causes which led to the conflict on the border and
in political circles the opinion is freely expressed
that Mr.. Gladstone will find himself sorely pressed
by the Tory and Wing leaders in the House unless
he moves quickly in assertaining at once what Rus
sa intends to do in the way of reparation for the
action of Gen. Komaroff, or whether any is intend
ed.
The Times says that subsequent developments
have not lessened the gravity Of the situation The
couHtry will not be satisfied with M. de Giers reply
which commits Russia to no condemnation of Gen
KomaroHs g action, provides for delays when days
and hours of vital consequence and leaves Gen
komarof at liberty to frame such excuses as will
most likely Affect European opinion. 1t is impossi-
BILE to doubt that Gen. Komarof's act had much
larger aims than the election of tile Afghans from
an important position.
A despatch from st. Petersburg says that decora-
tons and rewards have already been conferred by
telegraph on the Russian officers and soldiers who
took part in the battle with the Afghans. Various
rumors are afoat to the effect that some English
officers were killed in the Russo-Afghan ENGAGE
ment and that the Afghans have risen against the
English.
Singapore despatch says Russian transport
left there on Monday and that another arrived here
ON the same day.
The Tories ridicule Russia's reply to England,s
demand for an explanation of Gen. Komaroff's at.
tack upon the Afghans. They argue that it will be
in less than 16 days, and that Russia will occupy
that interval, as she has occupied the past seven
months in reinforcing her army and Strengthening
her positions on the Afghan frontier. The Nhig
section OF the liberal party has joined the Tories in
demanding more vigorous measures. They are urc-
ing tne government to send engineer officers and
troops to occupy and strengthen Cantahar the capt.
tai of Central Afghanistan. which is Connected bv
rail with Quetta. and which commands the most
practicable route from Afghanistan into northern
India. The preparations in all departments Of
the military and naval services continue with un-
abated vigOr.
ST. PETERSBURG ,Arril 11.-The war ceiling here
Is Overwhelmingly strong. The Czar appeared at
tne theatre last evening. The audience still enthu-
siastic over the news from Penjdeb on the general
assumption that Komareff's conduct had the i'm
perial approval, arose when they saw the Gar
plause. " P
dispatches announcing that the Russian oicias are
hurrying troops to the frontier rapidly as possi
pie. The force at Penjdeh, it is stated, has been
reinforced by three regiments of infantry with cav
airy and artillery from Tiis. The Russian posts of
observation on the. Persian frontier south OF Pu-i
AnaIun nave Is also reported, been reinforced by
Two regiments OF infantry, with several squadrons
of cavalry and artillery Reports nave baen re-
eeiSed from Persian sources that the Russian caval
ry nave been seen within 80 miles of Herat
Two men-of-war belonging to the channel sauad-
ron now at Kingston. Ireland, have been ordered
70 portsmouth to take torpedoes board 1t is re-
ported that they will then proceed Immediately to
the Baltic. w
Advices from Odessa state that there is great mil
itary activity in that city. This is manifested NOT
only BY the garrison but also by other troops sta
TONED there. Numerous battalions of Cossacks are
reviewed every day The garrison at Kertsch is en-
the works at that point, and the Touring mills are
worked at their full capacity in the preparation of
provisions.
ST. PETBRsBURG, April 1.-THE Noyoe vremva
says the Black Sea fleet has been ordered to nrenara
for immediate service. eN0
BOMBAY, April 1.-THE nresidancv of Ranaal
has offered $500 900 to aid in preserving the in
fund is increasing enormously.
VIENNA, April 1.-THE Gar has informed both
sne vienna and Berlin Cabinets that he does not
desire war. The English demand for the retire
ment OF General Komarotf's forces from their pres
ent position will, however, not be acceded to- since
VUQ
the provocation leading to the recent attack This
view OF the matter entertained by Russia ia also
held by Austria and Germany. Both these powers
of S ane hussan government in this explana
1t is noteworthy fact that Katkoff's Mosksuer
Journai, on the TN OF April, published landscape
battle. o0A'
Russia continues her naval and military prepara-
lions with great energy. Admiral Shestakotf has
ordered all torpedo boats to be sent to the Baltic or
tne BLACK Sea. Torpedoes have just been sunk at
me canal binding st. Petersburg with the sea.
hronstadt, st. Petersburg and the palace at Kras-
noe Sele are now connected by telephone SO that
the Gar will be informed of every movement in
case OF an attack by the English feet. The Russian
heet has been in thorough state of readiness since
april 2. Komarotf's brosher, the editor of the
Russian journal Svet announces that Russia intends
to send 100000 men to Herat as soon as the Eng
lsh advance to Pischin.
LONDON, April 1.-THE war Office is overwhelm
eo Win offers OF service, sent in by army militia
ana volunteer officers. The recruiting dspots in
London and in the provinces are daily besieged by
men anxious to enter the military service An the
aolIais % OF the British navy have been notified to
hold themselves in readiness for active service
special injunction has been sent by the admiralty to
Admiral Lord John Hay, Commanding the
British squadron in the Mediterranean to hold him
self and his fleet ready for service.
very determined and grave position has been
assumed by the English government toward Russia
concerning the Penjdeh incident. The ministry it
appears have been coerced by the aggressveness of
public opinion into determined attitude of nn0na
city At first, Mr.. Gladstone satisfied himself with
demanding OF Russia an explanation of Gen. Kom-
arotts attack upon the Afghans. He felt sure it ia
stated that Russia sincerely desirous of peace
and ana would olscontenance the action of the COM
mander. no matter how thoroughly he might have
represented the bellicose policy of the ST. Peters
burg war party. But when the Czar answered that
ne would explain to England as soon as Gen Kom-
aroH explained to him the British premier was fore
ed to conclude that the Czar was trifing to lqain
time. To-day therefore, Earl Granville advised
British government had decided that whatever the
mature OF the Russian explanation of Gen. Koma-
r1ns M action might be-. Great Britain would not
allow any further discussion concerning the deljmi-
tatlon OIL the Afghan frontier to go on until the
Russian troops have been withdrawn from their
present outpost in the disputed territory back to
the positions which they occupied at the time Eng
land appointed her part of the commission to adjust
Afghan frontier. AS this was nearly year ago. and
as al most all OF the Russian advance has been made
Ia the interval, it is difficult believe that Russia
VIII seriously attempt to reach amicable under
S'e%1s Counts Won Munster the German .ro,....H -
states that, at conference upon the Afghan situa
ton held yesterday, Earl Granville declared that
England had resolved that it was impossible to con-
sent to continuance of diplomatic discussion with
RUSSIA. unless England was guaranteed security
against having the results of the controversy ina
perlled Dy collisions on the disputed frontier such
as had occurred on the Kushk. England, Lord
granville said, must refuse to accept Russia's
assurance that she desires peace unless the assur
ance was accompanied by withdrawal of troops to
nne drawn from Tepe to Sari-Yaz. 7esA
At the German and Russian embassies here the
OPINION IS expressed that the dispute between the
Gar and Great Britain has actually reached its
nnal phase in diplomacy. M. de Giers Russian
prime minister, through Baron de Staal has offer
ed M TO abandon the Russian proposal to extend the
nne Oh the debatable zone proposed by England so
as 70 include the Paropamisus mountains, and re-
cur 10 the line suggested in the Lessar proposal.
Inns oer on the part of the Russian premier while
apparently containing concession is considered to
pc really ruse toImodify the effect of Cen Kom-
aron attack and to gain time. AS Earl Granville's
oemand Tor the withdrawal of the Russian troops
was teiegraphed to Sir Edward Thornton at st.
fetersDurg after the receipt of M. de Giers' pro-
posa u is inferred that the Russian premiers over
ture mas not met with acceptance, and has made no
impression upon the English government Both
hussla and England are busily engaged in CORES
ing alliances. w ~
zen. stephenson, commanding the British forces
on Inc Nile above Cairo. reports to the government
tnat IL VIII be practically impossible to move the
British troops from Dongola during the summer
because they woulo have to proceed so slowly,
Inc recent mail advices from India differ signif-
dFom me ofhcial kilograms recently received
concerning the loyalty to England of the native
cnle1s and people, There is feeling existing
pretty generally among the Indians which under
certam circumstances might prove ANYTHING but
aoVsntageous to British prestige in India in the
evene OF Stubborn and prolonged Anglo Russian
connlct. Ine native Indian press is to be sure,
nearly unanimous in favor of war, but the careful
observer can discern in this newspaper advocacy of
war, Wherever it Is unhampered, more of national