ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1207, 17 April 1885, Page 3

ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. Dvkuih, April 10, LIO p.m.

(From our own Correspondent).

London, April 9. The Tint* publishes a telegram from its correspondent at Ghuarin, near Herat, giving details of the en counter between the Russian and Afghan troops on the 30th March. The correspondent states that the pretext for the attack was a change in the position of the Afghan outpost at Peujdeh. The Afghans, it is stated, fought with great stubborness. The Russian loss was large. Komaroff’s forces did not pursue the Afghans on their retreat. A number of British officers wlt« nessed the battle, and afterwards rejoined Sir Peter Lumsden at Herat. The Standard states that a battle has been fought in the vicinity of the river Marghab between a number of Russians and Afghans, during which 500 of the combatants were killed. It is believed that the Russians were defeated. [The preceding was issued as an Extra on Saturday.] (Through our Exchanges). Lokdok, April 9 ; Intelligence is to hand to the effect that General Komaroff, the Russian Governor of the Trans-Caspian, .bar attacked the Afghans, The engagement took place on March 31) on the batiks of cbe Knnsk River.

The Afghans lost fully 500 men, and were eventually severely defeated. The whole of their artillery and camp equip ments fell into the hands of the Russians. The Russian loss comprised II killed aud 29 wounded. The Times publishes a telegram from its correspondent at Ghuarin, near Herat, giving details of the encounter between Russian and Afghan troops on the 30-tb The correspondent states that the pretext for the attack wag a change in the position of the Afghan outpost at Penjdeh. The Afghans are stated to have fought with great stubbornness, and the Russian loss is large. General Komaroff s forces did not pursue the Afghans on their retreat. A number of British officers witnessed the battle, and afterwards rejoined Sir Peter Lumsden at Herat. The Standard states that a battle has been fought in the vicinity of the River Murghab between a number of Russians aud Afghans, during which 500 of the comba airs were killed. It is believed that the Russians were defeated. In the House of Commons to-day Mr Gladstone made a statement regarding the outbreak of hostilities on the Afghan frontier . /■ .■..■■■ The Premier stated that information had reached the Government that the Afghans gave no provocation for the attack made upon them by the Russian General Komaruff. T he Premier added that tbe British Cabinet had demanded an explanation from the Russian Government as to the occurence ■ Consols to day declined from 97| to 95 a panic having occurred on ihe Stock Exchange, owing to the present political uneasiness. April IQ. A later dispatch has been received by the Government from Sir Peter Lumsden, in which he qualifies the at itemeut that tbe Russian attack on the Afghan troops was entirely unprovoked, and states that when the Russian force menaced the Afghan outposts at Penjdeh, the Afghans crossed the River Khuskh and took up a stronger position. St. Petersburg, April 9. I A dispatch has been received by the RusI sian Government from General Komaroff stating that he made an attack on the troops of the Ameer of Afghanistan on account of a hostile movement made by them. General Komaroff reports that after def atiug the Afghans ho retired to his former position. M. de Giers, Minister of Foreign Affairs, waited on tbe British Ambassador last evening and expressed, on behalf of tbe Czar, the hope that the Rosso-Afghan incident would not have the effect of stopping the parleying which wag proceeding between England and Russia on the frontier question.

M. de Giera added that the Russian officers in Central Asia were unaware of the agreement arrived at between En land and Russia on the 13th nit., that no advance should take place on either side in Afghanistan pending negotiations on the frontier question. London, April 10. The panic which has prevailed for some time on account of the threatening aspect of Foreign affairs has now in a great measure subsided, and business matters have resumed their usual course. In the House of Commons to-day Mr Gladstone stated, in reply to a question, that General Komaroff had been requested by the Russian Government to furnish an explanation of his conduct in attacking the Afghan troops, April 12. It is not expected that the reply of General Ko.naroff to the demand of the Russian Government for an explanation of his attack on tire Afghan troops can be received for fully a fortnight. Intelligence is to hand to the effect that Ayoub Khan, tbe late Ameer of Afghanistan, attempted to escape from custody. He has been conveyed to the citadel of Teheran. The St Petersbnrgh Press advocate the renouncement of the Declaration of Paris. Information has been received that immediate! v on receipt of the conflict between tbe Russians and Afghans,the Czar of Russia wired to General it omaroff demanding an explanation. The Ameer of Afghanistan was much dis tressed on hearing of tbe engagement with his troops. It is stated that England conld have ready for embarkation, should hostilities with Russia occur, 20,000 men at two days’ notice. The European Press generally condemns the action taken by General Komaroff The English Press and pnblio demand that that officer should be recalled, and they consider that Russia is now only trifling with a view to gain more time. | The patriotic fund of the Bengal natives has amounted to f# lace of -ranees

. Melbourne, April- 11, The Victorian Government having made inquiries as to the alleged presence of Russian warships at the Cape, S r H. Robinson, , Governor of Cape Colony, telegraphs in reply that six men-of-war belonging t-> Russia left Cape Town at the end of February, thei- ostensible destinations being Europe »nd India. Sr. Petersburg, April 12. A telegram dated April I from General Komaroff to the Russian Government has been published. He. explains that he summoned the Afghans to evacuate their position. This, however, acting under the advice of the British officers present, they declined to do. In order to support bis demand General Komaroff ordered his troops to advance, still counting, however, upon the pacific issue of the difficulty. On the approach of the Russians the Afghans opened fire upon them, and followed it up by an attack with their cavalry, whereupon General Komaroff felt compelled to order his troops to commence hostilities, with the result that the battle was fought as already reported. The Journal deSt. Petersburg, semi-official organ of the Government, commenting bn General KomarofTa explanation of the Afghan incident, declines to allow that the action of the Rursiao commander was prompted by aggressive motives. London, April 13. It is announced that in view of the existing crisis the Admiralty have resolved on immediately reinforcing the naval squadrons on the Australian and China stations. Information is to band that the Russian Government are purchasing swift cruisers in the United States. The Standard this morning publishes a telegram from its correspondent in Central Asia, dated 7th inst, to the effect that the Russian troops are pursuing their advance along the Murghab River Bombay, April 13. The Ameer of Afghanistan left Rawal Pindi to-day for Cabul, after reiterating his continued friendship for Great Britain. Lombok, April 12. It is feared that the Russians will make an attempt to disable the Suez Can d. Admiral Hornby will probably Ojmmand the Baltic fleet. The Black Sea, the Sea of Az>f, and the lower portion of the Baltic will remain open. ' The Morning Post states that the ' Emperor of Germany considers General Komaroff the aggressor in the recent action against the Afghans. His Majesty urges that the Afghan difficulty should be settled by aridt ration at the annual meeting of the Em perors at Skiermeviel April 13.

Farther details of General KomarofTs explanation in connection with hia action in engaging the Afghans state that on finding the Afghans entrenched on the Italian'side of the Khusk River, Geneial Komaroff halted some distance from them. The Afghans then menaced a reconnoitring company of his, and also occupied a heuht commanding the fl ink of his forces, refusing to retire behind the Khusk River when requested. The Ameer of A'ghanistan is returning to Kandahar. The Russians have sent to America an order for six cruisers of the Esmeralda class, and are endeavouring to purchase the steamers plying between San Francisco and Honolulu. Two Russian transport vessels now at Port Said have been ordered to proceed to the,Amoor River, and are also instructed to avoid all British pons en route. The Russian Toons ate a.Tanoing along the River Murghab. Tne Afghans are sending vast quantities of military stores and munitions of war to Pisheen, and the troops are massing at Quetta. The Admiralty will despatch ironclads to strengthen the Australian and China squadrons. The Russian men of war Vladimir and Monomeh are believed to be ia the vicinity of the Cape. The Engl sh Press assert that by his explanation General Komaroff convicts himself. London, April 15. In the House of C ummins 10-day Mr Gladstone referred to the recent negotiations between Earl Dufferin and the Ameer of Afghanistan as entirely satisfactory. Speaking of ihe recent, hostilities at Penjdeh, Mr Gladstone informed the House that as there was considerable discrepancy between the British nceount and that forwarded by General Komaroff, the Government had telegraphed to Sir Peter Lumsden to ascertain the facts of the case. It is currently reported that an agree inent has been arrived at between the English and Italian Governments by which the latter agre s to occupy the Soudan in the event of the British troops in that locality being drafted to India. The Daily News states that the troops composing Ihe camel corps now serving in Egypt will be recalled to England forthwith. Melbourne, April 14. The Government to day leceived a telegram from Mr Murray Smith, the Victorian Agent-general, in which he stut-s that the prospect of a peaceful settlement on the Afghan frontier question is very gloomy. London, April 14. It is feared that the Russians wib attack Meruchak and Quelfikar. The European Press urge that Prince Bismarck should mediate in the settlement of the Russian difficulty. The Russian squadron stationed at Naples has been ordere l to proceed to the Baltic. In the engagement between the Russians and Afghan- on March 30 the loss of the latter was 980 killed and wounded. The ironclads which have been selected to strengthen the China and Australian squadron# will be ready in May.