RUSSIA AND AFGHANISTAN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3303, 29 April 1885, Page 2

RUSSIA AND AFGHANISTAN.

0 WAR CONSIDERED INEVITABLE. ENGLAND PROPOSES ARBITRATION. another'battle. DEFEAT OF THE RUSSIANS. AUSTRALIAN CONTINGENT ACCEPTED FOR INDIA. (Pbb Electbic Telegbaph— Copybioht.) (Reutek's AaENcr.) [Received 3.40 a.m., April 28th.] Sr. Petersbdbg, April 27. The Moscow Gazette, m an article to-, day on the Anglo-Russian difficulty, strongly urges that Russia should effect a peaceful settlement with England of the Afghan frontier question. LEeoeived 11.30 a.m., April 28th.l Londox, April 27. 'Reuter's Agency announces, on good authority from St. Petersburg, that m that city war is considered inevitable. The Czar will leave to-day for Moscow, where His Majesty will issue an Imperial manifesto regarding the present crisis. The Times to-day publishes a telegram from St. Petersburg stating that England has proposed to the Russian Government that the whole circumstances m connection with Penj-deh and the recent hostilities there be submitted to arbitration. [Received 11.15 p.m., April 28th. J In the House of Commons last night Mr Gladstone urged the adoption of tho extraordinary vote of credit m a most powerful speech. Speaking of the AngloRuesian situation, he dwelt strongly on the necessity for England being prepared to carry out to its utmost extent the pledge of support which had been accorded by the Government to the Ameer of Afghanistan. Mr Gladstone added that, notwithstanding the preparations which are being made, Her Majesty's Government are striving by all means m their power to bring about an amicable, but at the same time an honorable settlement of the difficulty. The vote of credit was afterwards passed by the House without a division. In view of the possibility of war, FieldMarshall His Royal HighneßS the Prince of Wales is returning from Ireland at once. (Received 9.30 p.m., April SSth.) Sydney, April 28. Government received a telegram this afternoon from Sir Saul Samuel, AgentGeneral for New South Wales, announcing that the British Government have accepted the offer of the services of the New South Wales Soudan contingent for employment m India if circumstances rendered it necessary to withdraw the British troops from Egypt. The whole of the defensive measures for the protection of Port Jackson are completed, including the submergence of torpedoes m the western channel. (Special to the Press Association.) (Received 9.15 a.m., April 28th.) London, April 27. The Times states that Mr Gladstone has offered to settle the Penj-deh difficulty by arbitration. It J3 reported that the Czar offers that General Komaroff and Sir Peter Lumsden should be examined by a mixed commission. (Received 1.15 p.m., April 28t1i.) Sir Saul Samuel, Agent-General for New South Wales has, on behalf of the Government of that colony, offered the contingent now serving m the Soudan to England for service m India m the event of war with Russia. The Shaw-Savill and Albion Company's steamship Arawa will probably ba engaged by the Admiralty m place of the R.M.S. Kaikoura, as a cruiser. [Received la.m., April 29th. 1 London, April 28. Persistent rumors are afloat that a second engagement between the Russians and Afghans has taken place, and that the Russians were defeated with a loss of one thousand. The Daily Neics hopes that the courageous patriotism of New South Wales m offering the services of their contingent to go to India will be imitated. The cost of the contingent, should they be transferred to India, will be borne by New South Wales. (By Telegraph.) Wblmnotou, April 28. Tho latest information received by Government from the Agent-.Oeneral, states that affairs with Bussia are still m suspense.