Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-04-29
The Two Powers Still Preparing
for War-COmments of the
London Papers on the
Situation.
Gladstone's Great Speech in the
House of Commons on
Special Preparations.
The Gear Presides Over a Council Held
at st. Petersburg-Rus>ia N tains
the Tenor OF Former Des.
patches.

LONDON, April %.
The news of another battle, though not as
vet confirmed, has greatly increased the dan
ger of war. The London Times says that
the rumnr is probably the first o 'zing out o
| the news which has been officially sup
pressed.
At present, only the Independet Beige and
Daily News have re ceived a report of the bat
tie. 1t is presumed that a body of Russian,
| followed the body of retiring Afghans; ant
that while scouting in the country for ,ht
purpose of collecting information, perhaps
pushed on to Chameinbeide, thus coming into
contact with the Afghan troops on the direc
| route to Herat; or similar movement ma,
have been made from Zufhar or Akr ,bat.
At present there is nothing to show where tn.
conflict occurred.
A declaration Of war is not expected to fol
low directly upon the rupture of diplomats
relations. Baron De Staal and Sir Edward
| Thornton would be recalled and Russia woult
then probably order Gen. Komaroff to ad
vance on Herat-England occupying Canda
har in the meantime.
The admiralty has ordered all able seamen
to be enrolled in the royal navy. The Duke
of Cambridge presided over the defence com.
mittee last night.
The conservatives had intended to move
the adjournment of the credit debate in the
House Of Commons, but seeing the effect o.
Gladstone's speech, they refrained. Lore
later, was surprised to find that the vote OF
credit had already been agreed to.
The government has no information with ref
erence to the report that the Gar is going te
| Moscow.
| Condie Stephen, who is coming to London
with information regarding the Penjdeh Incl.
dent, is prominent official in the foreign
Office and is especially acquainted with the
| facts bearing on the present situation. He
WAS second in authority of the British repre-.
| sentaton at Teheran. He is expected to
| arrive at London in a month.
The press arbitration society has issued q
strong appeal in favor of arbitration to settle
the differences between England and Russia.
| The London Standard, q conservative jour
nal, in an editorial saws:
Mr.. Gladstone's speech was wholly worthy
of the occasion. 1t was manifestly intended
to convey more than he thought it we'll t.
say. The upshot of the whole matter is, we
take it, that Russia declines to admit the con.
duet of her officers to question.
The Times edltoriallv SAYS:
| If Russia's policy Is founded upon belief
that England will submit to any exaetions
rather than rupture existing relations, Mr.
Gladstone's speech must dispel that alusion
The cheers with which the speech was greet.
ed will be re-echoed throughout the country
The Post editorialIy says:
The fact that the war credit was voted
without any one venturing reply to Mr..
Gladstone, is Unprecedented in this or any
other country. Mr.. GIadstone's Language is
too significant to require comment. The at
tack upon PenjIeh must either be justified or
atoned for.
The Telegraph cannot believe that such a
spectacle as the decision of the House will be
lost upon Russia. Such speeches as that de-
livered by Mr.. Gladstone will raise politics to
high level.
The News in an editorial says:
There is a strong hope. that matters have
not reached a war point The negotiations
between Eugland and Russia still continue
and may result in a settlement. Mr.. Glad
stones speech is of profound historical inter-
est.
ST. PETERSBURG, April 28.
1t is reported that Russia is meeting with
great opposition in her endeavors to purchase
| transport animals in Turkestan. A decree
was issued levy ing animals for transport ser
vice, but when the orders were being execut-
ed there was some rioting.
The present state of suspense at St. Peters
burg is almost intolerable. The people show
the utmost impatience to hear the statement
of the British government in Parliament.
Cases are being sen: to Helsinefors, the
capital of Finland, in which to pack and re.
move the archives of the Senate and the COL
lec,ions Of the museum. The coast of Fin.
land is being rapidly put in state Of de-
fence.
tung from Riga, says it 10 reported there tina,
the first division of the Russian army has
been secretly mobilized and ordered to defend
Cronstadt.
Thirty-Three corn laden vessels have lef,
the port of Riga within the last two weeks.
The vessels remaining st Riga and other
Russian ports in the Baltic are striving ia
complete their csrgoes 90 % to be ready for
immediate departure.
The decision for peace or war is expected
today or At least by the fret Of May.
LONDON, April 20.
special despatch from Tirpul, dated the
10th, says that the Russians occupy Ak Tepe
and are actively at work making q military
road from Penjdeh to Herat.
The commissary department of the Indian
army has completed arrangements for furn.
ishine the transportation and provisions for
Two army corps.
In the House of Commons on Monday even.
ing in the committee of supply, the vote Of
credit rs the whole being up, Gladstone pro
ceeded to explain the governments object ia
asking for it, He disposed of any probable
discussion of the Soudan question by a short
| and powerful argument, urging that it was
nov the paramount duty of the government
| to hold the British forces in the Soudan
| available for service whenever the call of
duty and honor may take them in the service
of the British Empire.
Mr.. Gladstone continued: 81 now come
to the subject of special preparations, with
regard TO which I have heard with great salts.
faction the assurances Of the honorable gen.
tlemen opposed to the government that they
are disposed to forward in every way the
grant of funds to us, (cheers from the oppos.
| ition side) which, to the best Of our mind and
judgment, are required for the maintenance
of vhat l on former occasion described q,
. 2AkI