Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-12
Significance Of the British Fight or
the Pamir Frontier.
EXAGGERATED REPORTS FROM BRAZIL
The Steamer Calabria Wrecked
and Many Lives Lost.
LATE TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
Is IT TO BE WAR WITH RUSSIA,

The Question of the Day In Engiaud-Fight-
ing on the Psmir Frontier.
LoSpoS, Dec. l2---Is it to be a war with Rus
| siar That is the question that Erglishmen are
now asking themselves wherever that drum
beats
When the news Of the fighting on the Pamir
frontier reached here last night and was flashed
| around the world there was a responsive thrill
OF warlike expectation among the queens sub
tects from north TO south. from east to west
Has the long-expected signal como at
lasn That IL the question. Later dispatches
from Calcutta, received this morning, confirm
the news of the capture of Tort near
Gllgit the most advanced British
agency on the frontier near Pamir
These later kilograms also confirm
| the gallantry OF Capt. Aylmer and Lieuts. Bois-
sragan and Badcock, who led the stormn z
party. The interpreters OF the official code
message, however, made slight mistake
as to the fort captured. The first
message said that tho tribesmen of Hunza and
Magyar, Supposed 10 be iEstisa;ed by liGssian
agents, were threatening tor the Chalt, near
Gilgit on the Hunza branch Of the Indus.
The second dispatch sand that the fort had
been captured On December by a force under
Col. Dursnd, who. with Capt Aylmer and Col.
Badcock, were severely wounded, other Of
ficers, Including Lieut. Gorton, having been
slightly wounded
I'M NaFllhED fohE
1t now appears that the place captured was
Fort Nit on the same river and between Gilgit
and Fort Chalt the second message from CaI-
cutta. in view of the fact that the fret
telegram stated that Fort Chalk Was
threatened, was naturally interpreted to mean
that 1t was that position which had been cap
tured. In this connection II was stated IN
these dispatches Last night that tie news was
not quite clear on the point referred 10.
On all sides are heard praises of the gallant
conduct OF Capt. Ayimer, who led the storm
ing party, carrying gun cotton petard.
which he affixed to the iron-oounl gate
of Fort Nit. tied the fuse and sue
ceeded in blowing that obstruction to pieces.
Followed by Lieuts. Bosaragan and Badcock.
Capt Aylmer and a few sepoys then dashed
into the fort and captured gun which had
caused much loss TO the British troops.
During the engagement only seven sepoys
were killed. twenty-siX were wounded and eight
auxiliary kashmires were killed and twenty
wounded. The loss of the enemy il estimated
at over fifty killed; the exact number.
however. will probably never be known. as the
dead were. in most cases. carried of with the
wounded, by the retreatinS tribesmen. Rus
sian money and Russian arms and ammunition
are said to have been found upon some Of the
prisoners and on the dead.
RUSSIAN ISrBIGUEs BLAMED.
Col. Durand, though suffering severely from
his wounds, has prepared and forwarded to the
commander-in-chiefa report of the operations
and the causes which led to them. II is under
stood, though the secret details of the affair
have not been made public, that Russian in-
trigues are undoubtedly at the bottom Of the
affair.
In proof Of this it 10 reiterated that Col
Durand was summoned, in October last. TO
Simla where he had a series of conferences
with the viceroy of India. the Marquis of Lans-
downe, and measures TO meet the Russian
movements were agreed upon. Consequently
reinforcements have been pushed forward to-
ward Gilgit ever since October but their
progress has been delayed by bad weather and
worse roads. Some idea of the work which
has prevailed in that part OF India can be
gathered from the fact that Col. Durand and
his staff, returning from Simla TO Gilglt. had
passed through some terrific storms, during
which they lost their baggage and suffered most
severely, while the bullock train which
recently came down from Gilgit lost fifteen
drivers and over one hundred animals Some
of the passes which must be trayersed are
IA 600 feet above the level of the sea. The
latest reuforcements sent toward Gilgit take
with them two seven-pound gatling guns.
1t is understood that cabinet council TO
consider the situation will be held today. Ad-
ditional communications between LORD Sails
bury and the Russian ambassador have taken
place
In all circles the situation is regarded as GER
tain to lead up to Great Britain's insisting upon
prompt settlement of the Pamir question and
of most considerable notifications of the de-
mands made by Russia in connection with the
southern headwater boundary.