The herald., 1897-09-19
Is Not Merely a Revolt of
Tribesmen
RUSSIA AND AFGHANISTAN
PROFESS PEACE BUT PREPARE
FOR WAR
Contradictory Reports Of the Famine
in Ireland-Comments on Cuban
Questions-Minor Notes
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
LONDON, Sept. 1s.-(Copyright, 1877
The fact that no less than ten batteries
Of horse and field artillery haveAeen or
dered to embark for India during the
months of September and October is
much commented upon in military cir
cles. Under ordinary circumstances the
four batteries now in India would have
been relieved this month. But these
| in India, and therefore there will short
| ly be on the frontier fourteen batteries
Of artillery, a full complement for an
army corps. As the British force now
assembled on the frontier is Of ample
strength to wipe out all visible resis-
tance, the only conclusions that can be
reached in relation to the dispatch of
reinforcements Of artillery are that the
authorities are preparing for serious
| trouble. The information conveyed by
the war office Monday last to the Lon
don Commercial agent of the Ameer of
|
machinery for the manufacture thereof
would be allowed to cross the frontier
during the present crisis, indicates that
the British government has by no means
entire confidence in the Ameer's fidelity,
and it is limited that the government has
| learned that while processing friendli-
ness to Great Britain he has been sec
reilly preparing for war.
| Well informed circles are also discuss
! ing the story Of secret correspondence
between Russia and Afghanistan which
is said to have fallen into the hands OF
the British officials and 1t is further in
| timated that widespread plot has been
discovered.
The truth or otherwise, Of these stories
will develop hereafter. but the fact re-
mains that the large increase in the
strength Of the British artillery in In
dia cannot be intended for use against
the Afridis.
THE IRISH FAMINE
The extent of the distress threatening
Ireland seems to depend largely as to
through which party's eyes it is viewed.
The council Of the National Federation
has decided that the country is on the
brink of widespread calamity and
calls upon Messrs. Dillon and Harring
ton to convoke a meeting of the Irish
members of parliament for the purpose
Of requisitioning Mr.. Balfour, the gov
ernment leader in the commons, to call
an autumn session of parliament to de-
wise relief measures and to pass a bill
reducing rents in Ireland in proportion
to the loss incurred by the tenants, ow-
ing to the wholesale destruction of their
crops. On the other hand the Dublin
Express says the cry Of famine is only a
continuation Of the party war cry which
is raised every year the Unionists are in
office, and adds: Judging from the
past, we may hope that much Of the
crops doomed to destruction by the
prophets of evil will be rescued and that
the genreal yield will be much larger
than expected"
The Daily Independent regards the
suggestion that the duchess Of York will
shortly appeal for funds in behalf of the
Irish who are threatened with famine
as being an insult, and says: IF the
country was ten times as badly off as it
is likely to be, it would resent any char
liable appeal to the English"
The Independent emphatically denies
that Ireland will suffer acute distress.
THE CUBAN QUESTION
The Speaker says it regards the cap
ture Of Victoria de las Lunas by the
Cuban insurgents as being salutary
lesson, taking the ground that it gives
Spain a shock, which it is hoped will
check her in her drift toward bank
ruptcy and civil war" While not ex-
pressing sympathy with the motives,
the Speaker adds: "The United States
can find excellent reasons to intervene
whenever she likes"
The Speaker advises Spain to recall
Captain General Weyler and to arrange
terms with the Cubans through the in
termediary Of the United States, ex-
pressing the opinion that otherwise Spain
may have greater dangers to face after
the United States congress meets.
TIME FOR OMENS
In spite of the frowns and attempts
| TO suppress the chatter, it has leaked out
that a detachment of foot guards, sta
toned at the Tower of London, swear
| the sentries on night duty have seen the
ghost OF Anne Boleyn, the unfortunate
wife of the much married King, Henry
VIII, whom he caused to be beheaded
on May 10, 1886. The ghost of Queen
Anne Boleyn is only supposed to appear
on the eve Of the death of a member of
the royal family, and, therefore, the
matter has been made the occasion for
considerable gossip.
A FAMILY JAR
The relations between the Duke and
Duchess of Aosta, the former being the
oldest nephew of the King of Italy and
the latter being Princess Helene of Or
apge, daughter of the late Count of
Paris, are once more reported to be
strained, and 1t is further stated that
their separation is only a question of a
short time. Though they were only
married about two years ago, in June,
1895, in June, 1896, the Figaro announced
the marriage had turned out to be very
unhappy for both parties, ard that a
judicial separation was prevented only
by the Intervention of the Duke d'Au-
male. The Duchess. Figaro says, fefused
to be reconciled to her husband and kept
| separate apartments. In December of
the same year there was held family
council of the members of the houses of
Savoy and Orleans, at the end of which
it was announced that the Duke and
Duchess of Aosta had been induced to
abandon their intention of an immedi-