FIGHTING IN AFGHANISTAN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1326, 11 April 1885, Page 2

FIGHTING IN AFGHANISTAN.

London, April 8. Intelligence is to hand to the effect that General Komaroff, the Russian Governor of the Trans-Caspian, attacked the Afghans on the 30th March, on the banks of the Khush River. During the engagement the Afghans lost fully 500 men, and the latter were eventually severely defeated, the whole of their artillery and camp equipments falling into the'hands of the Russians. The Russian loss comprised 11 killed and 29 wounded. April 9.

The Times publishes a telegram from their correspondent at Ghuarin, near Herat, giving details of an encounter between the Russian and Afghan troops on the 30th. The correspondent states that the pretext for the attack was the change in the position of the Afghan outposts at Penjideh. The Afghans are stated to have fought with great stubbornness, and the Russian loss is large. Komaroffs 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. 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, Komaroff. He added.that the British Cabinet had demanded an explanation from the Russian Gevernment as to the occurrence. The Standard states that a battle has been fought in the vicinity of the River Moorghab between a number of Russians and Afghans, during which five hundred of the combatants were killed. It is believed the Russians were defeated. St. Petersbtjeg, April 9. A despatcli received by the Russian Government from Komaroff is to hand stating they had made an attack on the troops of the Ameer of Afghanistan, on account of Ihe hostile movements made by them. General Komaroff reports after defeating the the Afghans he retired from the position.

M. Giers, Minister for Foreign Affairs, waited upon the British Ambassador last night, and expressed the Czar'a hope that the Russo-Afghan incident would not have the effect of stopping the parleying which was proceeding between England and Russia on the frontier question. M. Giers added that the Russian officers in Central Asia were unaware of the agreement arrived at between 'England and Russia on the 13bh ult., that no advance should take place on t either side in Afghanistan pending the negotiations pn the frontier question.

The Government yesterday received a cablegram from the Agent-General stating that a conflict has taken place between the Russian and Afghan troops in the vicinity of the Moorghab River on March 28th. The Afghans suffered severe loss.