The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-21
ENGLAND In THE EAST
INDICATIONS OF UNEASINESS AS
TO HER FOOTHOLD
Troops Ordered to india far in Excess Of
Requisites to Suppress the Revolt-Ru-
mors of Discovery of Plot Between Rus.
siA and Afgh stan - The Situation n
Ireland-Comments of the Speaker on the
Situation in Cuba-Spain Advised to
Come to Terms

1reland-COmments O1 the Speaker on the
Situation in Cuba-Spain Advised to
Come to Terms
Copyright by the Associated PressD
London, September 1s.-The fact that
no less than ten batteries of horse and
field artillery have been ordered to en-
bark for India during the months of
September and October, is much COM
mented upon in military circles. Un-
der ordinary circumstances the four
batteries now in India would have been
relieved this month. But these bat
teries have ben ordered to remain in
India and, therefore there will shortly
be on the frontier fourteen batteries of
artillery, full complement for an
army corps. AS the British force now
mbled on the frontiers is of ample
strength to wipe out all visible resis-
tance, the only conclusion that can be
reached in relation to the despatch of
reinforcements of artillery is that the
authorities are possed of information of
a serious character.
The intimation conveyed by the war
commercial agent of the ameer of
Afghanistan, that no war material or
machinery for the manufacture thereof,
will be allowed to cross the frontier
during the present crisis, eindicates
that the British government has by no
means entire confidence in the ameer'S
fidelity, and it is limited the govern
ment has learned that while processing
friendless to Great Britain the ameer
has been secretly 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 it is further
ntimated that a widespread plot, en-
bracing the Beluchis and others, has
been discovered. The truth, or other
| wise, of these stories will develop here
after; but, the fact remains that the
large increase in the strength of the
British artillery in India cannot be in
| tended for use against the Afridis.
The extent of the distress threaten
| ing 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 coun-
| try is on the brink of a widespread
calamity, and calls upon Messrs. Dillon
| and Harrington to cOnvoke a meeting
| of the Irish members of parliament for
the purpose of reQuisitioning Mr.. Bal
| four, the government leader in the
| commons, to call an autumn session Of
! parliament to devise relief measures
and to pass a bill reducing rents in
Ireland in proportion to the loss in
| currer by the tenants, owing to the
| wholesale destruction of their crops
| On the other hand The Dublin Express
| says the cry of famine is only con-
| tinuation 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 pro-
! phets of evil will be rescued and that
the general yield will be much larger
| than expected
The Daily Independent regards the
suggestion that the Dutchess of York
will shortly appeal for funds in behalf
| of the Irish who are threatened with
| famine as being an insult, and says
eff the country was ten times as badly
off as it is likely to be it would resent
any chritable appeal to the English
Figures furnished in the report OF
the inspector in inebriates' retreats
show that the effect Of legislative in.
tervention to reform drunkards is still
experimental and wholly inadequate
| The report says: "Immoderate drink
ing, though frightfully common among
the Industrial classes, is still more prev
aEent among the upper ten. 1t is als<
certain that among women of al
classes drunkenness is increasing
rapidly
| Lord Rosebery, the formre liberia
premier, is preparing to re-enter public
life.
The Speaker says it regards the cap
ture of Victoria de las Tunis by thu
Cuban insurgents as being salutar,
lesson, taking the ground that it give
Spain a shock which it is hoped viii
check her drift towards bankruptc!
and in civil war" While not express
ing sympathy with the natives, th
| Speaker adds: THE United States cal
find excellent reasons to interven'
whenever she likes The Speaker ad
vises Spain to recall Captain Genera
Weyler and to arrange terms with tn
| Cubans, through the Intermediary o
the United States, expressing the opin
ion that otherwise, Spain may hav
greater dangers to face after tn
! United States congress meets.