ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1683, 1 April 1885, Page 2

ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

RUSSIAN FORCES MASSING UN THE CASPIAN. WAR PREPARATIONS IN AUSTRALIA. MERCHANT STEAMERS BEING ARMED. DEFENCE MEASURES IN MELBOURNE. THE RUSSIAN’ RE FLY TO THE ULTIMATUM. DETAILS OF THE REPORTED RUSSIAN CRUISERS. Bioihav, March 28, Intelligence has been received of the at rival of the Viceroy at llawal Pindi. flic telegrams report that great enthusiasm is being displayed throughout the Punjmtb in connection with his Excellency's visit and tuo expected arrival of the Ameer of Afghanistan in the district. At the formal reception of the Viceroy at Rawal Pindi n number of prominent native chiefs were present, and tba proceedings were attended with much eplendour and eclat. The Earl of Dufferin made a speech on the occasion, in which he dwelt upon the loyalty shown by various native princes in offering military assistance to Great Britain at the present juncture. These offers, his Lordship added, pioved that the princes fully recognised the firm respect entertained by England for the rights of the Indian Native States.

London, March 27. General Stewart, Commander-In-Chief in India, will at once take the field with 50,000 troops. General Hardiugc and LieutenantGeneral F. Sleigh Roberts will command the divisions, and H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught the reserves, who number about 100,000. The English Government have arranged for 30 transports, which are now being prepared, for carrying reinforcements to India. Recently the Russians have attempted to purchase several swift cruisers in England, but they have been frustrated. The English Government are arming the steamers Arizona, America, Oregon, and Alaska, which will be used in the event of hostilities breaking out with Russia. Several other vessels are also to be armed so as to be ready in case of emergency. The Times to day publishes a telegram stating that Russia is massing 50,000 troops at Baku, a fortified town on the western shore of the Caspian Sea. March 29. The Channel Fleet has rctum-d suddenly to Sheerness.

In ignoring (? answering) Eat I hiamii’e's despatch of March Uith on i 1 <■ f. hin frontier question, Iho Hu.-sian rimer., moot makes counter proposals. The Novoe Vremya consider-- lii n Australia will form an important splu oh.-i- Lus-ian cruisers. The same paper also advi c-ttes tho establishment of Uussian Consuls in the Pacilits. Nino ironclad-, "1 gunboats, and -A torpedo boats, are lining nju-ppi-d in the English dockyards. Tiny im- intendrd for service in the liallio. March li 11 . The guns for the dt fence ol Tasmania have been shipped. The Daily News publishes a despatch from its St Petersburg correspondent .stating that the reply of the lUissian liovemme-it to Ea;l Granville’s communication of ilio liitn inst. is now ou the way to London ; and fui'her, that it is couched in conciliatory langu- go, and is likely to lead ton pacific settlement ol tho difficulty. Svoni.v, March dl.

The measures for sin-iigtluming the defences of the colony arc occupyim: tlm mientiou of the Government, ami active military preparations arc on foot !'■ r si curing the positions at Sydney Heads', at li A my, and at Newcastle.

MtLB-iURSI.. March 30. TJu> mcafiires for the defoucc of the harbour arc being vigorously cm tied on. Torpedoes have been placed in the west and south channels, and wvi ral hulks have been purchased by the (hiv.-nnrt M w fi a view to their being sunk it noce.-su v, to obstruct navigation. The so precautions av> due to the fact that iul-lltgviK-e has lon received of the presence ofllllssian cruisers av Singapoie and the Cane. Outers have been issued hv tin- Goveronn m for a waiship to be in reauitn ss t • go to To;*. Phidip Heads. Work on 11. M. S. Nelson, now m dock will proceed throughout the nk-ht, so as to get her ready for sea wituout. delay. A proclamation was published in the Government Gazette prohibiting foreign oversea vessels from euteting the Heads between sunset and sunrise.

All intercolonial and other vessels are prohibited from navigating the channels and bay unless accompanied by a qualified pilot. March 31. It has transpired that the Government recently received an unoiiicial warning from Singapore to the effect that several Eu-sian cruisers had left there and proceeded in a northerly direction, and they were again warned on Friday that the Imssian ironclad, the General-Admiral, 10 guns, 4600 tons, was ut the Cape. Inconsequence of this news, Mr Service communicated with the Premiers of the various colonics in cypher, and it is this that has given use to the unusual activity iu waiters of defence.