The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-21
IT LOOKS LIKE WAR.

Russia Preparing to Seize Herat-Demands
Which England Cannot Grant.
LONDON, April 2O-The Warsaw Tagblatt
the Russian official organ for the government of
Warsaw, states that Russia is making the
necessary preparations for the taking of Herat.
The English Cabinet has been summoned to
meet to-day to discuss important measures. 1t
is stated that Russia declines to subscribe
on no account advance her forces beyond the
boundary settled by the joint commission
which England proposes as the only stable set
tiement.
Meshed advces of April 20 say that the Rus
slams are still at Aktapa. General Komaroff
has gore to Sarakhs, and General Alkhanoff 70
Youlatan. The Russians are compelling the
Sariks to construct military road towards
Herat through Pendjeh. The Afghans evince
great anxiety to learn the English policy in re-
gard to Afghanstan. The Heratee, referring to
Sir Peter Lumsden's boundary commission,
says it has neither the force to 60 nor the in
tention to stay
The London Standard believes that the i'm
portant communications between France and
Russia, within the last few days have been with
the object Of creating great pressure against
England to succumb to Russia's demands.
The situation of the Russo-Afghan ques-
tion has again become very serious, owing to
Russia increasing her demands to such an
extent that it will be impossible for England
to accept such terms. NJ De Giers, the
Russian Premier, who is evidently determined
to profit by his recent successes in negotiating
with the English Foreign Office, has apparently
decided not to yield single iota to Earl Gran
vile. 1t is now feared that Russia has over
stepped the bounds of British forbearance as it
is asserted on high authority that England will
never succumb to these later demands of the
Russian Premier. A large number of important
dispatches passed between the English and
Russian foreign Offices on Sunday. All the
members of the Cabinet remained in London on
Sunday, awaiting a reply from Russia to the
latest from Earl Granville
Dispatches from Cronstadt state that the
Russian fleet there has been ordered to prepare
for war instantly, and that thirty-two Russian
men of war have hoisted their flags and put to
sea.
There has been a continued exchange of dis
patches between Earl Granville and De Giers
since Saturday, and it is apparent that the
breach is widening.
The aspect of the situation, viewed from Con-
stantinople, still points to Russia assur-
edly means to touch the utmost limit Of British
forbearance before she will consent to conclude
any arrangements for avoiding war. A
very shrewd Russian merchant, who
has extensive dealings in southern Rus
sia, remarked this morning: DO you think
we have moved $50, 0G0 men to the shores of the
Caspian to obtain merely strip of desertl
Don't put faith in newspaper reports. We mean
war unless England grants all we have wanted
AS for Komaroff the government will never re-
call him." The merchant further stated that the
authorities at Odessa had received instructions
to stop the transportation of cattle that were
intended to proceed beyond Constantinople.
Ship-masters arriving from Russian ports all
speak of the immensity of military preparations,
and of the ill-feeling against England. The
neutrality. The official press. under instruc-
tions, speaks guardedly; nevertheless the notes
of certain European powers respecting the
passage of the Dardanelles remain unanswered
The Pail Mall Gazette states, this afternoon,
that, despite all the prevalent alarms and rumors
it is in position to state that the differences
between England and Russia are in fair way
towards a settlement
Tfs dispatch to the Moscow Gazette says
that Russia cannot rely upon Persia in the event
of war Some Russian tourists have lately been
expelled from Khorassan, while Engishmen
have been freely admitted.
The Vienna Fremdenblatt learns that the
English government has warned English traders
at Black sea ports to be prepared to leave
Freights on the Black sea have risen so per cent
blue book puts the effective strength of the
British regular army at $50, 900 men; that of the
reserves at $4,000 men; that of the militia at
Ia. 900 men, and that of the volunteers at
2l5, 900 men,
Rumor that De Giers Will Resign.
FRANKFoRT-oN THE MAIN, April 90 - The
Frankfort Gazette publishes dispatch from ST.
Petersburg stating that the resignation of NJ
De Giers. Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs