LATE CABLE NEWS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XVII, Issue 833, 31 March 1885, Page 3

LATE CABLE NEWS.

Cape Town, March 25. It has transpired that Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor of Cape Colony, has formally requested Colonel Sir Charles Warren to stay the .action he is taking as commander of the British expedition in°Buchuanaland for the settlement of affairs in that district. Colonel Warren, however, declines to recognise the authority of the Governor of the Cape, and has appealed to the Colonial Office to uphold his proceedings. News has been received from Bechuanalaud that a number of Britisli surveyors there have been arrested and are held in custody by the Boers. ~ , „ London, March 20. The catalogue at to-day's wool sales comprised 12.400 bales. The tone of the sale was weak. Paris, March 26.

The Committee of the French Chambers appointed in connection with the recidiviste question have settled upon French Guiana and New Caledonia as the places to which the convicts are to be transported. London, March 26. The wool market is firm. To-day's catalogue comprised 9000 bales. Sir Julius Benedict, the eminent musical composer, is dying. It is rumored that Prince Bismarck and M. Ferry have joint designs on Luxemburg and the neutral territory belonging to the King of the Netherlands. ENGLAND AND RUSSIA. London, March 24. In the House of Commons to-day, Mr Gladstone stated, in reply to a question, that Earl Granville had addressed an important communication to the Russian Government on March 16th, and that it was expected that the character of the Russian answer would determine whether negotiations between the two Powers would take place iti London, or whether the Afghan frontier delimitation would be settled by the local Commission of Inquiry, as was desired by the British Government. March 25. In consequence of war being considered imminent, the officials who have been absent on furlough are now hastening their return to India. Russia is bidding for an alliance with Turkey. The greatest activity is being shown in all the Admiralty dockyards in preparation for possible hostilities with Russia. It is intended by the Indian Government to despatch 50,000 troops to Pisheeu, near Kandahar, in Afghanistan. General Sir Donald M. Stewart, bead of the military department in India, will be placed in command. Great urgency is being displayed in fitting out 11 warships at the Devonport dockyards. Each vessel will carry six months' supplies. The Mahomedan notables in India have asked the Duke of Connaught to urge the Sultan of Turkey to ally with England against Russia. Bombay, March 25. It is announced that the officers of the Britisli and Indian armies who are absent on furlough at the present time will be recalled to India without delay. Calcutta, March 25. A division of the Indian army has been ordered to proceed forthwith to Pisheen, Southern Afghanistan, and a reserve force of 20,000 men is also being mobilised. It is announced that General Sir Frederick Roberts, with the force of 20,000 men now being mobilised, will proceed without delay to occupy the Bolan Pass. Troops to the number of 15,000 will be drafted from England to India in order to supply the place of the force despatched to the southern Afghan frontier. London, March 26. The Government have as yet received no answer to the communication addressed by Earl Granville to the Russian Foreign Office on March 16th on the subject of the Afghan frontier dispute. Frequent interviews have taken place during the last few days between Earl Granville and Musurus Pasha, Turkish Ambassador, and Hassan Fehmy Pasha, the Turkish special Envoy. The fact has given rise to rumors that arrangements are being concluded for an AngloTurkish alliance in the event of an outbreak of hostilities between England and Russia. A message from the Queen was read to Parliament to-day. It announced that in view of the grave emergency which has arisen in foreign affairs, it has been decided to call out the Militia and the Reserves. The latter force will be embodied for permanent service. The necessity of increasing the strength of the Australian squadron is being discussed by the authorities.

THE SOUDAN REBELLION. London, March 25. News from Cairo has been received to the effect that the Arabs are not the least dismayed at the reverses they have recently met with, and that in addition to the men, the women and children take part in the fighting. Alexandria, March 26. Zebeher and his son, and three other principals, arrested on suspicion of having been in illegal communication with the Mahdi, are being conveyed to Gibraltar by H.M.S. Iris. Aden, March 26. The Iberia, with the New South Wales contingent for the Soudan, arrived here at noon to-day, and left again in the evening for Suakiu, all well. Scakin, March 25. Official accounts of the action between General MacNeill's force and the rebels, on the Tamai road, last Sunday, dives the British casualties as follows :—Six officers and 94 rank and file killed, 1 officer and 70 rank and file missing, six officers and 136 rank-and-file wounded. A large number of camp-followers and camels were also slain. The rebels to day attacked the British convoy which bad been sent to the Hasheen zareba. The Mahdites were completely repulsed with severe loss. On the side of the British there was one killed, and two officers and 14 men wounded. March 26. Hostile Arabs made an attack to-day on a convoy which was proceeding to the zareba which has been formed on the road to Tamai. The attack was repulsed by the British troops, the enemy losing 100 men. The only casualties on the English side were three wounded. The general advance of the whole force is expected to take place during the next three days. London, March 27. The Arabs keep up an mce-sant attack on the convoys in the neighborhood of Snakin. The r losses are heavy, and include a number of women. Lieutenant Marchant, of the Royal Marines, has been wounded in the leg, but not severely, in one of these attacks.