Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-22

yanced further he would be fred upon. Gen.
homarons chief Of stan, at an interview had
March 49, called Col. Alikhanon7s advance
merely pleasure trip, but he was informed
that the Afghan commander viewed it in a
most serious light.
SisthIy. Gen. Komaroff states that the
arroganIce and audaeity Of the Afghan,s in
creased by degrees. I reply that it may have
Deen so, but II so it was entirely caused by the
Russian action. The Afghans did their
utmost to avoid collision. 1t is solely
owing to their patience and fOrberance
during two months of incessaut irrita-
tlon JhaJ peace was preserved so long. The
Afghan commanders courteous reply Of
March ~ to Gen, komarOf ultimately proves
his wish to the last to avoid a conflict. Gen.
komaron says that on the 2Sth the Afghans
occupied the height commanding the left flank
OF the Russian camp, and began TO throw up
an entrenChment there to establish a post Of
cavalry behind the Russian line and placed q
picket within gunshot distance.
really that the Afghan commander
did on the 2Sth after the hostile
reconnaissance on the 27th place post of OBJ
servation on the hills on the right bank of the
Murghab river for the purpose of giving no
tice of any fresh Russian advance, but the
post was withdrawn the next day.
E{ghthIy Gen. kOmarOn says that on the
29th he sent to the Afghan commander an en-
ergetc summons, ETC., and received answer
thaJ by the advice of the English he refused
to retreat across the kushk river. In reply
to this may state that the fact itself is re
ported to me to be totally incorrect. Nowhere
in the Afghan commanders reply is there
any such statement.
THE AFGHAN REPLY.
On the contrary, the wording is
distinct thus: II have duly received your
letter regarding the withdrawal of certain
pickets. AS l had received orders from the
government at Herat to consult Capt. Y ate,
who was deputed to Pendjeh by Sir Peter
Lumsden in such matters, l showed him
your letter. Capt. ate afterwards
had an interview with Col. Zakrchewski,
and informed me of the
conversation which ensued. BE 1t known to
you, must Loyalty obey the orders have re-
ceived from His Higness the Ameer. / can IN
no wise act contrary to the orders of my SOW
erelgn. or course. in matters of detail, such
as alterations in the positions of advanced
pckets and videttes, am prepared to ar
range with you with view to the avoidance
OF any risk of a conflict"
NinthIy. Gen. KOmaron saws he again adj
dressed a private letter couched in friendly
terms. In reply l say that the letter in ques
tion was never seen by any officer of the
commission, but Capt. Deash0e was told
that the letter had been received few hours
before the Russian attack on March 30.
have now called upon Sepeh Salay for q copy
OF the second letter.
TsnthIg. Gen. KOmarOG states: "On the
SOth. TO support my demands, / marched with
my detachment against the Afghan position,
counting still on pacific result, but artillery
fire and a cavalry attack compelled me to ac-
cept combat" In reply ] say that the Rus
slams advanced to attack the Afghan position,
and of course the Afghans were obliged to de-
fend themselves. Certainly the engagement
was not commenced by artillery fire. as Gen.
continuing several minutes, before the first
gun.