Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-04-10


between officers of the Navy and the war
Office; orders being telegraphed to all ships
of the cruising squadrons within reach not
to leave post until further orders. The
board are understood to have submitted .
report for the concentration OF powerful
naval forces in Turkish and Russian waters.
II is stated at the war office that the Indian
government has reported having taken the
initiative by ordering the formation OF q
iying column for immediate service.
These troops will be followed by another
division.
VeluL teers for Active Service.
The concentration of troops on the Pun
isub and in the Quettah district has been
accelerated. Orders have been wired to
Gibralter, Malta and all points in India,
stopping the reliefs and changes of troops
homevsrd bound.
The Horse Guards are receiving tele-
grsphic offers FROM the commanding officers
of the auxiliary forces urging the claims OF
the battalions under their orders 10 volun-
teer for active service. Returns from the
War Office show that the last call for volun-
teers from the auxiliary forces and time
expired men, was responded to BY upwards
of 70. 900 men. Ii is understood that an
order will be issued allowing time-expired
men and men Of the auxiliary forces to
to volunteer for active service.
Orders TelegraPhed General Lumsden.
Instructions have been telegrsphed to Sir
Peter Lumsden to proceed instantly with all
the forces at his command to occupy Robat
Pass the approaches TO which have already
been fortified by the Afghans under the di-
rections of the British Royal Engineers.
Robat Pass is 45 miles south of Herat, and
through tits the only practicable road for
large military force to Herat. Sir Peter has
with him about 2,2O0 British and natives,
and the Ameers force capable of concer-
tration at this point number between TO-
600 and 10000 men.
The pass is 900 feet high and the noun
taius are impracticaRle for small force.
The country east of Robat Pass and south
of Penideh lying between Herat aad Penj.
Deb, is held by the Afghsns in considerable
force, and is so difficult as to be inaccessi-
bic by any force not holdig the lords and
passes.
Those Br1tlsn OmcerS.
The British officers reported to have been
present at the ssnguinary battle between
the Russians and Afghans are believed to
be members Of the Afghan Boundary Com
mission, under Sir Peter Lumsden, and are
stated to have been engaged in their duties.
These officers with the boundary force are
Msior Bax, in command of 200 officers md
men, and the Eleventh Bengal Lancers,
Captain Heath, Lieutenant Drummond and
Lieutenant Wright; Major Meiklejohn, IN
command OF 200 officers and men OF the
Twentieth Pepjaub infantry Captain Cotton
and Lieutenant Rswlins. Sir Peter Lums-
den is reported to be engaged with a large
force OF Afghsns, and a body Of picked men
of the British and Indian armies, in pushing
forward the Notifications OF Herat. There
is body of British Royal Engineers at
Penideh. and it is feared that they cannot
escape fighting with the victorious Russians.
Reinforcements are being pushed forward
towards Penjdeh BY the Ameer 8 officers,
and tits supposed that among these will be
q small force Of British.
Last Evening in London.
LoxDoN, April 9.-Evening-The day
tas been one OF unparalleled excitment and
his evening there is no abatement. The
streets are even more crowded than they
we're during the day, aud the sole topic OF
di,cussiJn is the probable action of the
Government, now that Russia has thrown
down The gauntlet. Nothing has as yet
transpired as to the doiugs Of the Cabinet.
Numerous dispatches have passed between
St. Petersburg and London, and the Rus
sian ambassador has received and answered
several communica ions from Mr.. Glad
stones Downing street Office. 1t is believed
that the Russian Government is trying to
hoodwink the English officials into further
delay by pretending to be entirely Ignorant
~ any engagement Of moment between the
Russian and Afghan forces on the frontier,
and asking that action be delayed until de-
tailed official reports Of the occurrence are
received.
Up to this hour the reported capt Ire Of
Pepideh has not been confirmed, bu: not
outstanding this the belief is general that
that place has also fallen into Russian
hands.
AL sorts Of wild Iumors with regard to
the proceedings at to-days Cabinet meeting
are current Some are to the effect that all
negotiations with Russia in regard to the
Afghan boundary line have been broken of
and tbs if satisfactory explanation OF the
affair on the frontier is not received from
81 Petersburg within o few hours the Rus
sian Minister viii be handed his passport.