Delta chief., 1885-04-15
The WAR CLOUD LOWERS.
A Battle Between tho Russians and Ar
ghans---Great Excite ment in England.

Battle between tho Russians ana Az
ghans---Great Excite ment in England.
ST. PETERSBURG, April 9.-The Off
cial newspaper publishes the following: Gen.
Komoroff reports that In consequence Of hos
tile mantle stations by Afghans he was com
PEELED to attack them. The Afghaus were
posted upon both banks Of the river Kushk, in
fortified positions. The fight occurred on the
3Oth OF March. The Afghan force consisted Of
1900 men, with eight guns, ard they were de-
feated with loss Of 500 men. All their artil-
lery, two standards OF banners, and the entire
camp outfit and all the provisions OF the AZ
ghans were captured. The Russian loss was
three subalterns and ten soldiers killed and
twenty mine wounded.
When the fighting ended General KomoroG
returned across the river to the position he had
formerly occupied. General Komoroff also re-
ports that some British officers who had been
eye witnesses but not participants in the en-
gagement. appealed to the Russians for pro
lection when they saw that the Afghans were
be aten, but unfortunately, he says, convoy
which he Immediately dispatched to the relief
of these officers was unable to overtake the
Afghan cavalry, who carried the British away
with them 10 their flight.
LONDON, April 9-It was ascertained late
this afternoon that to-day Is session of the cabi-
net had not .been called, as had been given
out, merely to prepare for this evenings par
Lament. The real purpose Of the session was
to discuss the alarming kilograms which were
coming in from Sir Peter Lumsden.l The
first of these dispatches was received yester-
day Int n n ipr tn et tpfa H.
was not acted on, although it was of an alarm
ing nature. Action was postponed III order to
get the full text. The telegram ran thus:
"a large force OF. Russians from Pulikhisti
made severe attack on the Afghan outposts
at Penjdeh. At this''-the most important
toint in the dispatch was here broken of,
evidently through the cutting of the wires. 1t
was decided that Sir Peter Lumsden had gone
at once to Guleran for the purpose Of remain
ing oDgu ard at Robat pass, on the road to
Herat.
There is great agitation this evening in all
the government. departments. 1t is stated
lbat 1900 reinforcements will at once
/ be sent TO India. The first army reserve will
probably be allied out Immediately. The Earl
OF Dufferin, atRawaiPin to-day WAS Informed
by telegraph of what occurred at Penjdch. He
at once told Abdurrahman, the ameer Of
Afghanistap, and the native Indian chiefs who
are in attendance at the councils. The native
chiefs unanimously recommended the imme-
diate throwing Of troops into Afghanis,an.
This recommendation has been placed before
the home government In London.
| Later in the day the surmlse OF the govern.
ment in regard to the movements Of Sir Peter
Lumsaen were substantiated by the receipt Of
telegram dated April 1, and completed the
broken dispatch. 1t states. officially that the
Russians attacked the Afghans, entrcnched In
their position at Pcnjdch, and slaughtered zoe
Of the garrison.
The 10000 British and Indian troops nov
stationed along or near the northern Indian
frontier may, 1t is thought, reach Herat in
| time TO prevent tho capture Of that important
point by the Russians.