New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-10
TIE RUSSIAN CHALLENGE.

General KOmarOff7s advance is Challenge W
q duel between two great empires. III sklr-
m,shine had taken place between the Afghan
outnosts and the ill-disciplined Turcoman SOL
diers. responsibility for the breach OF peace
o;gbt have been disclaimed in st. Petersburg
and London. and diplomatic negotiations might
not have been interrupted. The present crisis
is caused by an overt act OF aggression vi .a0
mart of the Russian commander. lie mas ueno
erately attacked the Afghan troops near IenJ
deb ard defeated Them capturing their arth-
lery and standards In his Official report ho
seeks to justify his advance by Complaints Vi
menacing proceedings in the Afghan camp
This pretext will only excite derision IN Eng
land A hostile blow has been struck I'D INC
heart of the debatable territory between MerV
and Herat. PeDjdeh has been captured Hera'
is in danger. General Komaroff would not nave
ventured to order an attack upon the Afghan
Notifications and to occupy Penjdeh upon his
own responsibility. Russian soldiers In Centra
ASIA are headstrong, but not so foolhardy as 10
interfere with the Cars right to decide whetneI
there shall be wal or peace. The advance anu
assault must be considered representative, anu
not individual or accidental acts. Inc war
party has triumphed at st. Petersburg Inc
challenge has been sent.
Fnplapd's distrust of Russia has been lncreas-
ing rather than abating since NJ. de Gierss reply
to Lord Granvile's note reached London. lne
occeptapce of the offer to refer the questions at
sspe TO the Joint Commission was coupled
with suspicious proposal to enlarge the zone oil
debotoble territory. In the light Of this morn
ine's DISPATCHES this answer may be interpreted
4 6. inc
obling the Russian staff to complete its prepare
lions for an advance upon Herat. reports OF
the movement of large bodies OF troops IN 'hc
Caucasus a I'd in Southern Russia have Deeh
frequently repeated during the last fortnight;
and now the st. Petersburg press, which mas
been persisting in explaining NJ. de Gierss dis
patch as a soft answer that would be sure 10
turn away English wrath, contains the details
of General Komaroff's battle with the Atghans'
Indeed, the so-called agreement between o.
Petersburg and London respecting the outposts
in Afphanistan now furnishes evidence of
Russian duplicity. At first 1t was proclaimed
to he n positiye assurance that there should be
no advance of the forces on either side; theh
Mr.. Gladstone explained it as an arrangement
rather than an agreement; and hnaliy IL APP
reared that Russia had reserved for Itself
liberty of action in case of some extraordinary
rcason.u such as an Afghan demonstration or
disturbance in Penjdeh. This extraordinary
reason was not kept long in the background.
As soon as it was convenient for General,
Komaron to pounce upon the troops outside
Penideh. the agreement became diplomatic
expression.
The consciousness that he has been played
with and imposed upon never improves an Eng
lishman's temper. The fact that Mr. Gladstone
has been accepting in good latin equivocai
hedges made only to be broken and that the
Government, while not actually wasting Time
have delayed the march to Herat, Will swell the
feeling of public irritation. The challenge has
been sent from Central Asia, and unless all
signs fail. it will not be declined. The war
feeling in India is too strong to be repressed
under snch provocation as General Komaroff's
sudden assault upon the Afghan lines. The
challenge comes at moment when inc AiheeI
and the Viceroy are exchanging assurances Oh
mutual confidence and hearty support. Any
sign Of weakness or rresoluton III London
would excite contempt throughout the Afghan
hill country and paralyze British Influence IN
India. The Ameer would return. to Cabul TO
open negotiations with the Russian stan, IL ne
shouid fail TO receive promise OF INN euiate
military support; and there wonld be mutter-
inos of another Sepoy revolt Marching orders
will probably be given at once, and the race ior
Herat will follow the pageants Of KawaIp:ndi'
The challenge is so peremptory that 1t must be
accepted by England. and it is doubtful II go
powerful peacemaker as Prince Bismarck can
avert the outbreak of war. The duel long I'M
pending in Central Asia cannot be deferred
without an implication of weakness and cow
ardice on one side or the other