Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-03-13


The Part that India is Prepared to take in
u Contest between England and Russia
The English Army to be Increas-
ed-Native Tribes Declaring
for Russia.
LONDON, March 5.-The English officers
in Afghanistan feel considerable anxiety
regarding the aspect of affairs. The
Trans Caspian railway is now probable as
near Herat as the nearest British railway
is at Quetta. This would enable the Rus
slams to occupy Herat before the British
could arrive from India. India is ready
to concentrate ri, 600 native troops under
British colors at Quetta. 1t is stated that
force of $4,000 men has been preparing
for six months to take the field mt Pesha-
wur, kohat and lIuzirch, notwithstand-
ing the sneers and encouragement that
has been thrown in the way of the home
government. The government is about
to ask the assent of Parliament to an
increase of 10000 men in the army.
The Russian ambassador had an in
terView with Mr., Gladstone to-day, and
communicated II number of important
dispatches he had received from his gov
eminent regarding the Afghan frontier
question.
A Teheran despatch says the nsurgcnt
native chiefs of India have raised the
Fiery Cross and proclaimed in favor of
Russia.
In the House of Commons this after
noon Mr.. Gladstone, in reply to pressing
questions from the opposition benches
concerning the Afghan question, said that
public policy forbade him answering the
| enquiry on this subject at this time. Lord
| harrington n tn a
| question, stated that the government had
decided to take immediate measures for
placing the army on an efficient footing
The number of enlisted men would be at
once increased.
He said that if Gen. Gordon's diarieswhen
received should be found to be in the form
of IA sort of substitute for dispatches to
the government. the government would
treat them as such. If they were found to
be of private character his relatives
would be consulted about them
Continuing, the Marquis said the GOV
eminent thought that any advance by
Gen. Graham from Suakim for the relief
of the garrison at kassala was impossible
He said the government were prepared to
state the number of additional men they
intended to enrol in the army
Advices from Cameroons under date of
January 10, say the situation there is still
very much unsettled. HickOrytown, Lock
Prizes, FOsstown, Mockoko and BelltOwn
nave Dctll burned 10 lnc ground ana tne
natives have sought refuge in the bush.
King Bell is afraid to return, although the
Germans have tried to induce him to re-
build BelltOWn. Two chiefs arrived and
commenced peace palaver after the
German admiral had sent two of his Oili-
GERS as hostages up the country where it
is understood they will remain until the
palaver has resulted satisfactorily. Dur
ing the palaver hostile natives repeatedly
plundered the English and German fac
tories.
It's reported after the division on he vote
OF cenSure the Queen advised GladSt stone
TO resign and reconstruct the ministry
which should be based upon thorough and
consistent foreign policy. Gladstone de
cllned to resign, maintaining he held
power under Il cummissiUu from the peo-
pie.
Condition of Affairs still Critical-Eng-
land Demands the Withdrawal of Rus
slams from Afghan Frontiers.
LONDON, March S.-Ths mornings OBJ
server says: We understand that the
government on Friday seu; an emphatic
demand to st. Petersburg for the with
drawal of Russian troops now in Afghan
territory. The despatch purtool of the
character of an urmatum.
Orders have been sent to Sir Peter Lums-
den, the British special commissioner on
the Afghan question, to direct the AZ
ghans to evacuutc Penideh on the with
drawal of the Russian troops from AkrO-
bat. Baron De Staal the Russian ambaSsa-
dor, has promised that the Russian troops
shall retire.
The Daily News states that there is a
constant exchange of dispatches between
the English and Russian governments
although there is possible hope of II
peaceful solution says the News "the
-
British government demands that the
Russians retire from the Afghan frontiers,
whether put in the form of AN ultimatum
or not or final. The choice of peace or war
lies III the hands of the Russian
The government has suspended the oper-
ations of the factory act limiting the mum
Der of hours during which workmen may
be employed, as it relates to the royal
arsenal at Woolwich. The object is to
allow the workshops at the arsenal to be
run at their full capacity night and day
to enable them to turn out $500, 00O
cartrides per week.
Afghan Troops to be Withdrawn-A Col
lison Feared.
LONDON, March Sir Peter Lumsden
has been instructed to withdraw the
Afghan troops from Penjdeh. NJ. De
Giers, Russian minister for foreign affairs
has offered to withdraw the Russian
troops from Zulfcar andA krobat during the
deliberations of the frontier commission
provided Earl Granville accepts principles
of delimitation, which will virtually be q
concession to the Russian requirements
1t is probable that these proposals will be
accepted.
1t is reported that Sir Peter Lumsden's
latest dispatches indicate that matters
are in very critical condition. The Rus
slams are determined upon forward pol
icy and collision is feared
In the House of Commons to-day the
Marquis of Harrington, Secretary of State
for War, said there was reason to believe
that the cost of the Nile expedition would
be covered by the sums of money alread y
voted, namely fl,OOO,0OO and 1900, 900.
The increase in the army, he said, would
probably be 1900 men.
A strike of $4,000 miners against re
ductiOn of 10 per cent in wages is impend
ing at Rotterdam. If, ms it is expected
the South Stafford miners join the strike
al .,f Al