The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-04-17
s.uLANo AND RUSSIA.

LONDON, april v-1nc HcWS VI tno cir
gagement on the Afghan frontier between
the Russians and Afghans has caused great
excitement here. The people are incensed
at the Russian duplicity. pretending to be
anxious for peace, while the object was
merely for the purpose of gaining time.
The fight on the frontier is generally viewed
as the first step by Russia In the long-con-
templated struggle for supremacy in
Asia, and that bloody and desper-
ate war between her and England
il inevitable. The feeling in financial and
commercial circles is panicky. In the Stock
Exchange the gravity of the situation is re-
Elected by heavy falling off in consols and
Russian bonds. The former have de-
clined fully two Per cent since yesterday.
while Russian bonds have declined nearly
ten per cent. The Egyptian securities are
down four per cent. The whole market
is off. There are fears of a panic.
NOT SURPRISED.
LONDON, April 9.-Baron de Staal, the
Russian Ambassador at London, was called
on by Central Ne,rs reporter this morn
ing. He appeared not to be surprised by
the news of the outbreak on the Afghan
frontier. He said he only wondered it had
been so long deferred. 1.-THE affair is seri-
Ous," said the ambassador, "but l
fear the worst is not known and that the
fighting has been on larger scale than the
dispatches Indicated De Staal would not
venture on an opinion as to the result. He
refused to talk on the subject until he had
received official advices from his Govern
ment concerning the affair.
WILL DECLARE WAR.
LONDON, April 9.-On receipt of the tele-
grams announcing the outbreak of bOstili-
ties between the Russians and AfghanS, a
hurried consultation at headquarters of the
staff took place. The wires between Lon
don and India were instantly cleared for
dispatches between the Indian Office and
the Governor General of India. The Secre-
tary of State for India wired for eOnfirma-
ton and full information. The reply is
mOmentarily expected. If the report tele-
graphed from Meshed is true, it is believed
that q formal declaration of war will be
made.
LONDON, April "a dispatch from
Meshed confirms the report that in battle
between the Russian and Afghan outposts,
the Afghan camp at Murghaub OH the
Murghaub River was captured by the Rus
slams after a brief but sanguinary battle.
Five hundred Afghans were killed. The
Russian loss is fifty killed and wounded.
The camp contained large quantity of
arms, ammunition and military stores, all OF
which fell; i'm the hands of the Russians.
A STUBBORN BATTLE.
LONDON, April 9.-Latest dispatches
from the Afghan frontier state that the
fight at Murghanb was most stubborn bat
tie. 1t was fought in driving rainstorm
which rendered the arms carried by
Doth inefficient. The Afghans fought
with desperation. They bravery opposed
step by step the advance of the Russians.
Two companies of Afghans defended one
position until they were completely ami
Inflated by the deadly artillery fire opened
on them by the Russians. The
Afghans retreated in perfect order. After
inflcting severe losses the Russians
were evidently surprised by the stubborn
resistance. They did not follow up the adj
vantage. being evidently content with the
capture of the camp. The British officers
present during the fight are loud in praises
Of the valOr displayed by the Afghan Off
GERS and at once proceeded to the head
quarters of Sir Peter Lumsden, English
Commissioner, and made full report of the
fight.
AFGHANs TIE AGGEEssoRs.
LONDON, April 9.--Lessar, the special
envoy of the Car, was called upon and
viewed the news as serious. He regretted
that a conflict should occur at this time.
Matters" said he, with regard to
the Afghan frontier were progressing
nicely There was a fair prospect of a
peaceful adjustment of all disputes. But
now can only hope for one. The Afghans
must undoubtedly have been the aggressors.
[ have the best authority for knowing
that the Russian commander had strict
instructions to keep the peace.
What Gladstone Saws.
LONDON, April 10.-Mr. Gladstone, in
the i,ouse of Commons, last evening, in
answer TO interrogations, said that on Sat
urday the Cabinet had considered Russa's
reply to England's proposal to limit the
zone of survey to debatable points. Russia's
reply was an agreement to do this, pro-
vided the zone of survey as marked out by
England was extended southwark, so as to
include the Parapamissan range of noun
tains. The Government considered that
this reply did not advance the question to-
ward conclusion and was dissatisfied with
il. within the past twenty-fOur hours,
however" said the Premier, "a subsequent
communication had been received from
Russia, and this appeared, in the opinion of
The Government, to place the matter in
more hopeful position" The Government
had been informed, Gladstone further said,
hat the Russians had made every endeavOr
70 induce the Afghans to begin the fighting.
Russian troops had even twice
ATTEMPTED TO FOECIBLY PASS
through the Afghan picket lines. After
1ne of these attempts had failed to provoke
an Afghan attack, Captain Yates met 4
Russian chief of staff and talked to him
about the conduct of the Russian soldiers
being an evident violation of the Russian
agreement to not advance pending the out
come of the negotiations. The Russian
officer stated that he had no knowledge
hat any arrangement existed against a
Russian advance. Captain Yates referred
% the official dispatch sent from st. Peters
)nrg OIL March II assuring England that
orders would be at once sent to the Rus
sian officers at the front directing them to
iorbid any advance and To do all in their
power to prevent prOvOcation OF the
Afghans. The Russian officer declared
hat he knew nothing whatever OF
any such arrangement. Being asked
what the value of this subsequent coE,mu-
nication was, Mr.. Gladstone said that it
would be impossible at present for the Gov
.rnment tn make any further statement con-
,erning the pending negotiations about the
Afghan frontier in view of the grave oc-
,urrence just reported.
The Union League.
NEW YORK, April 10.-The Union
aapue Climb meeting last night was one of