The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-03-23

| Each VIII number 900 officers,
80, 300 men, and IL 800 horses. An
enormous transport is collecting in
the Thames, at Portsmouth and
Plymouth. The size of the fleet far
exceeds any possible needs of the
Soudan campaign. The Woolwich
Arsenal workshops have been hur-
riedly enlarged by the erection of
temporary structures. The work
men at the arsenal are on double
time. Within the two days pre-
ceding latest news the war rates
paid on British vessels en- route from
San Francisco and other distant
| ports, and on those en- route from
the Baltic and Black Sea ports had
been increased in England.
Baron de Staal, Russian Minister
in London, protested against Eng
lands active war preparations.
A London despatch of the 14th
says: Sir Peter Lumsden, British
Commissioner on the Afghan from
tier line, has again changed his
camp. He has fixed it at Zurabat,
on the Persian side of Herrirood.
Sir Peters present position is in the
rear of the Russian advanced out
posts. AS Russia claims that these
outposts are inside the boundary
line claimed by Russia, Sir Peters
position has been made the subject
of official representation to the
British Government. Baron de
Stael, the Cars Ambassador to
England, has asked the British
Government to order Lumsden' S
camp moved within undisputed AT
CHAN territory. The request has been
refused and Sir Peter instructed to
keep his present position and main
tain communication with the Afgh-
ans at Robat pass.
The London Daily Telegraph in
a bitter article upon the agreement
says: The two Powers are as much
at war with each other in the eyes Of
Asia as though they had already
crossed swords. Russia has struck
her blow against England by hel
advance into Afghanistan. If Eng
land does not strike back by enforc
ing her rivals retreat the Asiatit
conclusion from her quiescence vii
be unhesitating, and its Asiati,
effect, we fear, disastrous. The
races who witness this struggle are
little likely to trouble themselve
with the diplomatic pretexts or geo
graphical controversies which ma,
: amuse the minds of some Englisl
politicians. They will look solel,
at the broad physical and materia
: facts Of this case, and from thes
they will draw the inference tina
while Russia dares to act, Englan,
can only parley. They will regar'
the former as rising and the othc
as declining Power.
The latest news is despatch fror
Teheran, March 18th, giving a re
port that Sir Peter Lumsden ha
arrived at Herat and that the Afst
ans were actively fortifying the city
The Russians occupied various STRAIT,
gic points on the way to that place
Merv is occupied by battalion {
: infantry, regiment of dragons
s and some Cossacks. At Askaba
e there are about 5000 troops of q
5 arms. One Russian brigade and
convoy of military stores are {
: route from the Caucasus to Ask,
: bad.
u An Askabad letter of Feb. "a
: tells of Russian troops and stor,
II going forward daily to Merv. "Tl
soldiers are previously blessed l
Il the priests, who tell them to fig
l. valiantly against the Cars enemie
9 Civilians and military men open
y discuss the likelihood of dcclar
; ton of war against England. The
l. is great excitement here. 1t
'e stated that 10000 troops have BET
u ordered to Mcrv. The railway fro
! Risil-Arvat to Mcrv is being push'
y with the utmost rapidity. Gre
= difficulty is experienced in inducil
10 worLmen to so to Merry, rs they fe
Il they will be killed by the British
% Afghans."