CABLEGRAMS. COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILPTIES BY RUSSIA. AFGHANS DEFEATED.—500 KILLED. London, April 9.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 97, 11 April 1885, Page 2

CABLEGRAMS. COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILPTIES BY RUSSIA. AFGHANS DEFEATED.— SOO KILLED. London, April 9.

Intelligence is to hand that General Komaroff,. Russian Governor of TrtinsCasjiian, attacked the Alglmns on the 30th March, on the banks of ihe Kliusk River. During the engagement the Afghans lost fullj f>oo men, and \reiv eventually severely uefeated ; the whole of their artillery and camp equipments falling into the hands of the enemy. The Russian lo^s comprised 11 killed and 29 wounded. St. Petersburg, April 9. A despatch has been received by the j Russian Government from General Komaroff stating that he made an attack on the troops of the Ameer of Afghanistan, on account ,of hostile movements made by them. General Komaroff reports that after defeating the Afghans he retired from the position.

LATER DETAILS. London, April 9. The " Times" publishes a telegram from its corresponuent at Ghnziem, neai Herat, giving detail of the encounter. The co-respondent states that the _ pretext for the attack was a change in the position of the Afghan outposts at Penjdeh. Ttie Afghans are stated to have fought with great stubbornness, and the Russian loss was large. General liomarulfs force did not pursue the Afghans on their retreat. : A number of British officers witnessed the battle, and afterwards rejoined Sir Peter Lums ion at Herat. The Standard says that it is believed the Russians were defeated.

FALL IN STOCKS. Russian' stocks have fallen 10 per cent. Consols have also fallen 1J per j cent. J In the House of Commons Glad- 1 stone made a statement regarding 1 tin 1 ! outbreak of hostilities on the Afghan frontier. The Premier said $hat .inform ition had reached the Government rliaf ttie Afghans gave no'pt'ov^aHonfor.tho attack made upon them by the Russian General Kotnaroff. He adued thut the <

iltUSSlJll EXCUSE FOB ~A.T^ U *.J*t-TAOKINO: ■ . ' ' Bt. Petersburg, April 9. • Griers, Minuter of Foreign Affairs; waited on the British Ambassador last evening, nnd expressed the, Czar's hope that the Russo- Afghan ii.^ident would not have the effect of stopping- the parleying wlncli^ was projeeding between England and Russia on the ' frontier' qnostion. 4 ;< ' ' , , ! vl'v 1 ' Q'wrs added .that the t Russian officers . in Central Asia were unaware of the agreement arrived at between England and Russia on tli.9 J#th ult.,. viz f thafc no advance should taka .place on either side in Afghanistan, 1 pending negotfo* tions on the frontier question. •• j y