The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-03
The Negotiations Concerning the Afghsnistan
Boundary Line Reach Delicate Stage,
and War Hangs by Thread.
Possibility of a Mighty Struggle Be-
tween Russian and English Hosts.
The Rich Empire of India the Prize To Be
Gained, and the Afghanistan Passes
the Probable Battle-Ground.
A GREAT WAR POSSIBLE.
Russian Demands Which 1t Is Impossible fo
EnOIand Tn Grant

Russian Demands Which 1t Is Impossible for
England to Grant.
LONDON, March 2.-During the last few days
sinister whispers have been passed around that
the highest officials regard a war with Russia as
o certainty, and that not only the summoning
of the reserves meant preparatios for this, but
that the Guards ostensibly bound for Suakim,
are really going to India, and would land at
Kurrachee, seaport town west of the mouth of
the Indus, and proceed thence by the Scinde
valley and the Bolan pass to Kandahar.
1t would be impossible to separate the wheat
from the chaff in these stories, but it is certain
that the information came from wellknown Off
GERS of the Guards before they embarked, and
that the city takes so much stock in these stories
that there has been heavy fall in all Indian
quotations Russia's representations the
subject Of Herat are entirely characteristic OF
her-affably dsclaming one day, as they do, the
bare idea of aggression, and the next explaining
what calamities might arise from an Afghan in
vasion of the Turcoman lands.
The latest news is the petitions in Herat for
Russian protectorate, and of request of Prince
Koraskoff for the Cars permission TO send a
scientific expedition into the disputed country
nous look ard to lend confidence to the story
that Lord Dufferin demanded large reinforce
ments, and is going to mass the troops AS near
the danger points as possible. 1t is highly char
acteristc of the English Intelligence Department
that London gets the most of her news from the
vicinage of Herat from Russians, and lies at the
mercy of every Moscow rumor or canard
Teheran advlces state that Sir Peter Lumsden
British special commissioner on the Afghan
frontier question, has reached Galran, or Girln
The Russians have advanced their pickets south
of Pull Khatum to Zulfugar and Penjdeh. A
Persian paper states that the Ameer of Afghan
istan has been ordered tO have the road from
Herat to Hshawur, by way of Cabnl, immedi-
ately put IA repair, to facilitate the march of an
Indian corps to occupy Cabul
A medical inspection of every regiment in the
British army was ordered yesterday, and is in
progress to-day. 1t is undoubted in some circles
that war with Russia hangs by thread. The
negotiations between Russia and England re-
specting the Russo Afghan frontier are said to
have reached delicate stage. M. Lessar Russian
commissioner, has urged such sweeping demands
that England cannot accept anything approach
ing them, and complete collapse of the delimita-
tion project and an early advance of Russian
troops toward Herat is expected
Granville, British Secretary of Foreign Affairs,
to-day sent long and very important dispatch
by telegraph to De Giers, Russian Foreign Min
ister, regarding the occupation by Russian troops
of points on the Afghan frontier His language
is very firm, and almost equivalent to
formal ultlmatum. 1t plainly intimates
that Great Britain is resolved to protect at
all hazards, the strategic points in Afghanistan.
Russia is also warned that Great Britain will
under no circumstances entertain the question
of cession of any portion of the territory belong
ing to her ally, the Ameer of Afghanistan A
copy of this dispatch was sent to Dufferin,
Viceroy of India, who is instructed to reassure
the Ameer of Afghanistan of continued friend
liness
Granville has effected an agreement with the
Russian government on the Afghan frontier
question. The final point in dispute
the right of the Afghans to occupy Penjdeh-
has been referred to an Anglo. Russian commits
sion.