THE FIGHT AT PUL-I-KHISTI.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1219, 10 July 1885, Page 3

THE FIGHT AT PUL-I-KHISTI.

The following account of the fight of the 30th March, near Penj leh, has been furnished to the Daily News correspondent at Simla by an eye-witness. Ho says that Taib Salar, the Afghan commander, on the 29;h Match received au ultimatum from General Komaroff saying that unless the Afghans retired from the right bank of the Murghab au l the Jeft bank of the Kushk by tho evening the Russians would drive them out. The Russians, in fact, claimed, tho whole of tho country to the rivest ot the Kushk—that is between it and the Heri Raid, their contention evidently b ing that only the country between the Kushk and tho Murgliab was Afghan. The country between the Kush and the Murghab is known as the Penj leh oasis. But, as a matter of fact, the whole country westwards from the Kushk to tho Heri Rud, embracing Ak Ilobat and Znlfiknr, had for years formed part of the Afghan dominions.

Captain Yato, who had been deputed by Sir P. Lumsdeu to watch the course of affairs in the Penjdeh oasis, had an interview tho same day with tho Russian Chief of tne Staff (Zicharevski), who complained of the Afghans advancing their outposts to tho loft bank of the Kushk thac is, into the territory already described as extending from the Kushk to the Heri Rud. Captain Yato pointed out that the Afghan pickets had occupied a position on tho left bank of (he Kushk since March 12, but ho promised to try and arrange tho Afghan outposts to the satisfaction of the Russians. TLiia was five or six days before the AngloRussian agieenient that the Afghans and Russians should not advance beyond the positions they then occupied, pending tho negotiations. At this time tho Russians were in occupation, not only of Pul-i-Khatuoi, but also of Zulfikar and Ak Robat, tho two latter which they had occupied in retaliation for a merely temporary advance of the Afghans to Sari Yazi.

The same night Taib Salar, after consultation with the British officers, declined to evacuate the left bank of tho Kushk, but offered to consider any reasonable proposals of General Komaroff regarding pickets and outposts. No answer was returned to this very reasonable suggestion, which, if acted upon, might have prevented the .subsequent collision.

Tho next morning tho Russians, under co-'er of rain and a heavy mist, advanced upon the Afghans on the left bank of the Kushk, the Turcoman cavalry covering the infantry advance. This drew the Afghan fire, when the Turcomans opened out showing a battalion of the 63rd Regiment, a sotnia of Cossacks, and eight guns. Two of the latter cme into action, the infantry firing volleys for half an hour, aud sweeping the Afghans down iu files. Tho Afghans, with muzzle-loaders and wet powder, answered feebly, while two guns in bad pesition replied to the Russian artillery. The Kushk was swollen aud anfordable, and the only road for retreat and reinforcements was the narrow bridge of Pul-i-Khisti, 6Et or Bft wide. The Cossacks swept round tho left flank ot the Afghans, and the Russian infantry charged the entrenchments and carried them at the point of tho bayonet, killing hundreds of the defenders, who made a desperate resistance.

At the first sound of firing the British officers, who were about (ivo miles south of Ak Tapa, hurried to the spot, and met tho Afghans in full retreat both from Ak Tapa aud Pnl-i-Kliisti.

Colonel Alikbauoff, with a strong escort crossed tho bridge of Pul-i-Khisti, and occupied the Afghan Military Governor’s tent, but no pursuit was made. • Colonel Ahkhanoff ordered his Sarnk Turcomans to attack Captain Yate’a pm-tv, which had just coma up during tho Afghan retreat from the bridge. Captain Yate asked Colonel Zacharevsld for an interview, and for troops to guard the British camp ; but no answer was given. Sonic TVkko Turcumons appeared on tho scene, and those of the Savuk Turcomans who were with Captain Yate urged a retreat. Tho British ©fibers retired under escort of tho Sarnk chiefs. Taib Salar was badly wounded, not killed. The

Afghan regulars are now completely demoralised. The eye-witness who has given mo the foregoing condensed account says that a copy of a telegram conveying news of the arrangement that no advance was to bo made on either side was given to Colonel Zaoharevski on the 27th Ma'rch—that is, 10 or 11 days after it was agreed to by the Russian Government,