Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-05-01
In the War SituatiOn--- --Komar0f
Was Wrong.
HIS sUsoRDINATEs TO BLAME
For the Battle on Kushk River
Troops Concentrated
at SarakhS.
LATEST FROM THE BELLIeERENTs.

EAoA AAOhA NNACAoA hOlhoAOAt "hASA 10 Q
reply to the dispatch of Sir Peter Lumsden
the British Commissioner, denying the &C
curacy of Gen. Kouarofs report of the
battle on March 30, on the Kushk river be
tween the Russians and Afghsns. Genera
KOmarof, in the dispatch published to-day
admits that he had received an order
from the Russian war office, pre-
vious to the battle, not to occupy
Penjdeh, but says that other officers
on the frontier had not yet been advised oi
the receipt Of such an order. Referring to
the alleged advance of Russian troops previ
Gus to the fight, he says that only q sotnia
of Turcomaps had advanced toward
Penjdeh, but they had no intention of at
tacking the Afghsns, and withdrew when
the latter approached them in hostile
attitude. General Komarof reiterates his
former assertion regarding the sudscity
and arrogance of the Atghsns, their daily
drawing nearer to the Russian camp their
occupation of a commanding position on
the left flank of the camp, and other events
which led to the battle.
Lumsden Contradicts.
In the House Of Lords this afternoon
Lord Granville, Foreign Secretary, an
nounced that kilograms had been received
from Sir Peter Lumsden which contrsdicted
the reports of Russian advance upon and
occupation of Meruchsk.
In official circles at Simla the occupa
tion OF Meruchak by the Russian advance
is regarded as doubtful. 1t is expected that
a British military commission will be sem
to Terheran.
The Duke and Duchess of Connaught viii
remain at Merat.
1he Truth Anglers the Russian.
A Helsingfors dispatch says: The Dag
blad thinks that Russia has little power to
hurt England seriously upon the sea. The
paper says four Russian fortresses on the
, Baltic will require assistance, and that any
engagement with the English feet in the
open sea is out of the question. The Novoe
Vremya, of St. Petersburg, is annoyed al
the statement of the Dsgblad, and tries tC
lessen the effect Of its article.
Essad Pacha, Turkish Ambassador tC
France, in an interview to-day at Paris
said that, in his opinion, it was to the inter
est of Turkey to remain neutral in the
event of war between Russia and England
Concentrating at Sarakhs.
LONDON, April 3O.-Dispatches from st
Petersburg say that General Komsrof anC
Lieutenant Ahkhanoff arrived at Sarakhs or
April 20, and that the Russian forces are
concentrating at that point.
As Sarakhs is in Persian territory the city
alluded to in the dispatches is probably Old
Sarakhs, which is on the opposite side Of the
| Hari Rud river and in Russian territory. In
itself the mere occupotion of Old Sarakhs is
not significant. its significance lies in the
fact that while Herat is the Key to India
| Old Sarskhs is the key to Herat, aud the
concentration OF troops at that point, while
srill advancing from Penjdeb, indicates that
the Russian Government fully realizes the
situation and has determined to take every
| advantage of the procrsstinating delay Of
the British Ministry to put her army on the
very threshold Of the coveted land. In
point of fact. Old Sarakhs is much farther
away from Herat than Pepjdeh is. The
bCrder line being the Russian and Afghan
possession is recognized By the British
Government as running from the Ham Rud
on the west to Khojo Ssleh on the Oxus on
the east. Old Sarakhs is Immediately north
OF this boundary line. The boundary claim
cd by the Russians is farther down the Hari
Rud near the Iulkifar Pass, and cutting
disgonallv across the country to the same
point on the east recognized by the Brit
isb Commission.
The inheritance of Old Sarakhs as base
of Orerafions can readily be understood. 1t
is on the line of what is known rs the Cas-
plan highway to Herst There is a railway
from rhe Caspian TO ASksbad, less than 100
miles om Old Sarakhs, and the nature OF
the country is such that the railway could
be rapidly completed to the latter POiat-
From Old Sarshks, Herat can De reached by
great natural highway that offers little or
no obstacles 10 an advancing army. Both
Sarakhs and Herat are on the Hari Rud, and
the 2O2 miles Of river valley between the two
ciues offers magnificent field for military
operations.
The concentration of troops at Old
Sarskhs gives the Russians possession of
two distanct roads to Herat, and indicates
that the advance will be made from two
directions at the same time. Penjdeh is in
disputed territory, but, it the latest dis
patches can be relied upon, the Russians
have already crossed the line into territory
about which there is no question. Mara
chuk, upon which the Russians are now ad-
yancipg from Penjdeh, is in territory con-
fesssdly Afghan. An immediate advance
from Old Ssrakhs would concentrate upon
Herat Russian army that could success
fully occupy that city before an adequate
force could arrive at that point from the
south to attempt its defense.
When Russia annexed Old Sarskhs, the
excuse was gratuitously put forth in the
British Commons that the place was OF no
strategical importance that it was only a
heap of ruins. The heap of ruins Is
likely to play a very important part in the
Eastern drama. The fact that Herst was
only FIVE days march from Old Sarakhs
seemed to be forgotten altogether.
Meeting of the Emperors.i
The Car presided over the Grand Coun.
ell of war held on Tuesday. The Council
decided that The Russian army should ad-
I vance to Herat and occupy II. After the oc'
cupaiiou Russian administration will be
| Immediately established. The war steamer
| Czaritza is watching English war vessels in
I the Pacific ocean Ii rsp,:,sd that seven
English war ships are cruising in the yicin
ity Of Nsgssaki The Russian cruisers have
/ put out to watch these. 1t is thought
| here that the first conflict between the two
powers will be in the Pacific.
The Vienna Pesther Lloyd, official organ,
i states that the three Emperors contemplate
a meeting on the 9th Of August.