Show RUSSIAS REPLY Not Yet Received But Expected to he for Peace Possibly Russia Can Concede Without loss of Prestige England Finn and Still Hastening Hasten-ing War Preparations Waiting for thc Kcply LONDON March 30The St Petersburg Peters-burg correspondent of the Times says Russias reply was ready on the 26th inst Both governments desire to keep the contents con-tents secret England proposed another frontier line It is not known whether Russia accepts but official circles rely upon a peaceful compromise Great irritation irri-tation is caused by the preparation of the Indians which it is stated far exceed Russias preparations Calm indifference is exhibited by the Russians except in military circles indirectly interested in the Afghan question Count Vogue brotherinlaw of General Anakoff in a letter to the Journal des Bats Paris estimates the army of Caucasus Cau-casus at 100000 men He says the army could easily be replaced by another equal l In strength from the western frontiers of Russia which are menaced and that this army could soon reach Penjdeh by the Askabad railway which will be completed com-pleted in a few days LONDON March 30The Daily News says There is reason to believe that the reply of De Giers concerning the Afghan frontier is on the way to England and that it is distinctly favorable to peace for which we must thank the firmness of England and the imminence of the meeting meet-ing at Rawul Pendi There is increasing ground it continues for the belief that some resource of diplomacy will enable Russia to abandon her claims without loss of prestige If not Englands duty is still clear and the arbitration of the dispute would be inapplicable GRANVILLE BULLDOZES THE SULTAN LONDON March SOThe recent meetings meet-ings of Musuras Pasha Hassan Femi Pasha and Earl Granville were in connection connec-tion with the Egyptian financial convention conven-tion The Turkish government was reluctant to sign the convention thinking it implied a recognition of the bombardment bombard-ment of Alexandria and Englands subsequent sub-sequent actions in Egypt wiieh > > were considered as opposed to the Sultans Suezerain rights and likely to produce a bad impression on the Mussulmans I It is reported that Earl Granyille threatened to give Musura and Fehmi their passports and break off diplomatic I relations with Turkey unless the Sultan signed the firman for a loan of 9000000 The Sultan it is said agreed to issue the firman still refusing however to sign the convention but he afterwards called a council of notables and finally decided to sign the convention with certain reservations reserva-tions which Granville accepted ITALYS PART OF THE FIGHT ROME March 29 Rassegua says events may compel Italy to take an active part I I in the war east She must act in concert with England and Austria OPINIONS ON THE SITUATION ST PETERSBURG March 30The German Ger-man Gazette thinks the dispute between England and Russia of too trivial a nature na-ture to fight about The Gazette says its it-s difficult to understand how a nation with such an experience as that of the Soudan disaster can assume such a war ike attitude towards a powerful military state The Journal De St Petersburg believes the reply of the Russian Minister of Foreign For-eign Affairs will have a conciliatory effect and that the Marquis of Hartington expecting ex-pecting this postponed the debate on the Queens message calling out the reserves OMINOUS PREPARATIONS LONDON March 30The English Government Gov-ernment has chartered the new Cunard steamer Etruria and the steamers Oregon i and Alaska for service as armed cruiser I transports They will be fitted with ten guns each The Admiralty has ordered he menofwar Iron Duke Hotspur Hecate and Conquest of Hyacinthe toO to-O prepared for service It is presumed they will gp to the Baltic I The Admiralty has also ordered into ac ive service the ships Inflexible Devastation Devasta-tion Cyclops Rupert Cordelia Volage Active and Emerald for immediate service ser-vice They will be ready for sea in a few days WAR OFFICIALLY DECLARED LONDON March 30A dispatch to the Exchange Telegraph Company states that war with China has been officially declared de-clared today Fifty thousand reinforce todnr ments will be forwarded and an army ordered to march on Pekin It is expected that Admiral Courbet will bombard bom-bard Canton Figaro states that the French killed and wounded in the fight at Langson toe to-e 1200 Some of the papers favor the imp achment of the Ministry I |