OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 107, 10 April 1885, Page 3

OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES.

ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE RUSSIANS AND AFGHANS.

(beuteb's telegrams/) London, April 9. Intelligence is to hand to the effect that General Komaroff, the Russian Governor ©f the Trans- Caspian territory, attacked the Afghans on the 80th March on the banks of tho Khusk River. Darin™ the engagement tho Afghans lost | fully 500 • men and were eventually severely defeated the whole of their artillery and camp equipments falling into the hands of the Russians. Tae Russian loss comprise eleven killed and twentynine wounded. St. Petersburg, April- 9. A despatch has been received by the Russian Government from Komaroff stating that he had made an attack on the troops of the Ameer of Afghanistan on account of a hostile movement made by them. Komaroff reports that after

defeating the Afghans he retired to his former position. London, April 9. The Times publishes a telegram from its correspondent at Gnu roen near Herat giving details of an encounter between the Russian and Afghan troops on 30th. The correspondent states that the pretext for the attack was a change m the position of the Afghan outpost at PenjMoh. The Afghans aro reported to have fought with groat stubborness and the Enssian loss is large. Komaroff s forces aid nob pursue the Afghans on their retreat. A number of British officers who witnessed the battle afterwards rejoined Sir Peter Lumsden at Herat.

[by telegraph.] Wellington, This Day. The Government have received a cablegram from the Agent-General stating that a conflict has taken place between the Russia and Afghan troops m the vicinity of tho Murghab river on the •28th March, and the Afghans suffered severe loss.