St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-25
Russia to Make a Loan of Twenty-Five
Million Roubles for the Expect
ed War.
England Adds Several Armed Cruisers to
Her Navy and Otherwise Pre-
pares for War.
A Large Force of Russians Enroute
From the Caspian Sea to the
Afghan Border.
The English Government Shows Her
Hand in the French-Egyptian
Middle.
No Russians Need Apply.

LONDON, April 24.-The government has
decided to increase the number of armed
cruisers to twenty, and has chartered the
steamers Coptio and Alaska and the Pacific
company's steamer Brittania. A dispatch
from Tirpul, dated April 90, says:
Persistent statements are made
here that large Russian forces
are coming from the Caspian to
Afghan frontier. 1t is reported that in
! battle at Penjdeh the Russians killed three
Tekke TurcOmars, who were regarded as
hostile. The present position is critical.
Only very firm British support will restore
the confidence of the Afghans. The Afghan
troops engaged in the Penjdeh battle have
nearly all dispersed.
GREAT PREPARATIONS.
1t is stated that the governor of Orenburg
has been summoned here having been
chosen to take command of the proposed
Turcoman volunteer force. Gen.
Baranoff has also been sum-
moned from Vishni-N Noygorod to assume
command at Cronstadt. The government
is having thousands of Whitehead torpedoes
manufactured for the protection of the
northern coast. The extraordinary credit
of 25 900, 600 roubles for the navy is about
to be granted.
! COMMUNICATION SHUT OFF.
The telegraph line between Meshed and
Teheran, Persia, is broken. Sir Peter
Lumsden, chief of the British commission
to arrange the boundary between Russia
and Afghanistan, is thus prevented from
communicating direct with London.
ABLE TO DEFEND HERAT.
Dispatches from Cabul state that the
ameer of Afghanistan has reiterated his
statement that he is competent to defend
Herat against the Russians without the aid
of British troops.
| ACTIVE PREPARATIONS.
Military preparations continue unabated
and the reserves are rapidly mobiliZing.
The barracks throughout the kingdom are
preparing quarters for a possible call on the
militia. The ammunition factories belong
ing to the government up to the present
have been unable to supply all orders, but
numerous offers have been received from
private firms.
THE STANDARD SAYS
the extreme tension in the situation be-
tween Russia and England still continues,
| but as yet there has been no absolute diplo-
matt, rupture That is the least disouiet-
ing form in which the truth can be told
| The deadlock is not whit less serious be-
cause the day passed without bringing the
crisis. 1t is no longer a question of dis
puted frontier. We believe negotiations on
that subject are for the moment set aside
| The satisfaction for the Penjdeh incident
monopOliZeS the whole regard of the minis
| tiers and ambassadors. The more it is dis
cussed the more hegeIessly remote appears
| the prospect of an agreement. In demand
ing satisfaction England is simply telling
the mischievous firebrands who shelter
themselves behind the authority of the car
that if they persist in the old game they
will no longer play it with impunity.
THE TINES SAYS
there is no longer any reason why the crisis
should not become acute if Russia is deter
mined not to avail herself of English adj
vances and the maintenance of diplomatic
relations will lead to no useful end. The
withdrawal of Sir Edward Thornton and
Baron de Staal will not of necessity lead to
final rupture, but will, however, ac-
centuate the position and warn other pow
ers of the necessity of bringing immediate
pressure on Russia if they wish to avert
war; The opinion is gaining ground at
Berlin that war will be declared before the
end of the month. 1t is rumored that La
banoff, the Russian ambassador at Vienna,
will succeed NJ. De Giers in the event of his
resignation. which seems likely. A depu-
tatiOn of dervishes is soon to be sent from
| Cabul to the court of Bokhara and to the
khan of Khiva, pointing out the fact tlrk
war between Russia and England will have
a religious as well as political character.
which will menace the independence of
their faith. Another deputation of MOham-
mmedans will ask for assistance and urge
| the TurcOmans to seize the chance of fore
ing themselves from Russia's yoke.
| LONDON, April 24.-The Armstrong
works at New Castle having received an or
| der from Russia for a large quantity of war
material. have declined to fill it, and have
| given notice to the British admiralty of the
nature of the order.
| PERHAPS SORRY SHE MARRIED.
The Duchess of Edinburg, daughter of
| the czar, is greatly distressed at the
! strained relations existing between Russia
and England. She is prepared to start, if
necessary, in few hours for Cobourg,
where she will reside in the event Of war.
MR.. GLADSTONE AGITATED.
In the house of lords this afternoon the
Egyptian loan bill passed in committee
without amendment. In the lobbies of the
house of commons this afternoon it was
said that Mr. Gladstone pale and agitated.
made an almost pathetic appeal to members
| of parliament not 10 press upon the govern
ment questions concerning the situation in
Egypt, or the condition OF the corTespon-
dence with Russia upon the Afghan
! boundary. and the collision of the Russian
and Afghan troops. Mr.. Gladstone, it was
! claimed, was evidently much disturbed by
| the news from Cairo this morning of the
rupture by France of her relations with
Egypt.
TO SATISFY RUSSIA AND THE AMEER.
The News. in an editorial, admits that
| If the Afghan boundary commission had
! met, Gen. Komarotf would not have taken
the law into his own hands.
England. the News says, is
willing to advise the ameer to
surrender certain districts which are admit
! ted to be on the Afghan frontier in order to
satisfy both Russia and the ameer. 1t Is
still possible. the News believes, that the
dispute may be arranged peacefully if
Russia is honestly desirous of avoiding a
quarrel.
ST. PETERSBURG, April 24.-In spite of
the pacific assurance at the Russian foreign
Office the greatest activity prevails In army
and navy circles. Yesterday the Grand
Duke Alexis asked the car in the event of
war TO place him in command of the Baltic
fleet at Cronstadt- Atthe navy yards in ST.
Petersburg at least 10000 workmen are
working night and day. at night by electric
light. putting the fleet on war footing.
Two iron elads, the Admiral Khamahof
and the Alexandria. each OF which is a
match for British vessels Of the Devastation
class. viii be ready for sea early in the
summer. They are over eight thousand
tons. fourteen-inch aTInor and viii each
carry fourteen guns OF twelve and nine
inch caliber. The Baltic feet now consists
of els vessels. of which thirty-three are