New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-22
KOMAROFF CONTRADICTED.
SIR PETER LUMsDrNs DISPATCH.

yopv rup RUSSIAN ADVANCE ON ihE Ao
FORCED THE AFGaNs TO FIGHT
1ovnou April 21.-Sir Peter Lumsden's dlspatch
,n ren,v TO the Governments inquiry as 10 'ho COZ
roctness of General Komarofs report oil the ehcoui-
Ter between the Russians aad Aighahs oh 'n'
Kusbk River is dated iirpul, April H. ana Is ao-
dressed to Earl Granville. The dispatch reaus;
General Komarof's account OF the attack Oh ronS,
deb ia considered incorrect. General komaroh
savs. "On the 25th of March one detachment APP
n-oacbed Tash- -Kepr On our bank OF the hushK
River"
7 renly: Tash-Kepri is Kurti for Pul-i-hhls.l'
General Komarof7s claim to either bank Oh 'no
Kusbk is untenable. The left bank has always oeen
held by the Afghans, and was never SUBJECT W nus
sian occupation. On the Goth OF February tpe huS
s;ans located an outpost of 25 Turkomansa at MIL,
Teoe mound one mile north OF Pull-hhiS',. anu
about mile from the nearest point on 'ne hu'na
River and the Kushk's junction with tne "o ';.
River. This had always remained the eAtie'io '"-.
of the Russian advance within their hne u '.
S.,.es The Russian cavalry detachment alluded 10
did advance against Pul-l-hhisu Oh M''0n 80
tbev retired before reaching there, when warhep'
~, s,,a .frhan commander as they had been on
February 20.
Sesondla-General Komarof states that near the
bridge he found an intrenchment occupied Dy Al
ghans reply that this position was occupied w
the Afghans previous to General homarou au-
vance and to the agreement of March IL.
Ihirdlu-General Komarof says: In order to
avod n conflict. | placed my troops five versts
from the Afghan position" In reply to this can
only refer to the main body as the Russian troops
were in Kizil- repe, a mile from the Afghan posi-
tiou. aud the Russian vedcttes were considerably
in advance of that point.
Fo.yfhlx.-General Komaroff says "When the
ad fbotx had M iuteufien
of attacking them, they began to come daily
nearer to our camp" 1 reply that far
from the Afghans being convinced
of General KomarofTs innocent intentions.
the continued irritating daily attempts to provoke
hostility convinced the Afghans that the Russians
we're determined to provoke conflict and IN
duced the Afghans to do what appeared tobe MILL
tary necessity to extend their defensive positions
Fifhlv-General Komaroff states that on March
81 the Afghars sent against one company. which
was charged with covering reconnaissance, three
companies with cannon and some cavalry. In
reply to this say The reconnaissance In force IT.
self meant hostile intention. The Russian COM
pany meant $50 men, more than equivalent to the
three Afghan companies, which aggregated 20
men. On the 9th two bodies of Russians stimuli
taneously advanced. Colonel Ahkhanoff, with the
cavalry, pushed past PuI-i-Khisti. The Russian
position, on the right bank of tho Murghab. Colo
mel Alkhanoff only retired when intercepted by the
Afghans.
The cavalry was four miles in the rear of the Af-
CHAN position The Russian infantry only retired
when the Afghan commander drew up three COM
panies warning the Russian officer that If he ad-
vanced further he would be fired upon General
Komarofs chief of staff at the interview had March
20, called Colonel AikhanofFs advance merely
pleasure trip. but he was informed that the Afghan
commander viewed it in the most serious light.
Sigthlx-General Komarofi states that the arro-
gance and audacity of the Aghans Increasediby de-
grees Irepy that it may have been So but II so 1t
was enr rirely caused by the Russian action. The
Afghans did their utmost to avoid collision. 1t
is solely owing to their patience and forbearance
during two months incessaut irritation that peace
was preserved so long. The Afghan COM
manders courteous reply of March 29 to
General KomaruFs ultimatum proves his
wish 10 the last to avoid conflict. Cen
eral Komaroff says that on March 2S the Afghans
occupied a height commanding the left flank of the
Russian camp and began to throw up intrench
ments there to establish post of cavalry behind
the Russian line, and placed picket within gum
shot distance. | reply that the Afghan commander
did the 2Sth, after the hostile reconnaissance on
the 27tb place a post of observation ON the hills
on the right bank of the Murghab River for the
purpose of giving notice of any fresh Russian ad-
vance, but the post was Withdrawn the next day.
Lighthy-G -GeneralK Komaroff says that ON the 29th
be sent to the Afghan commander an energetic
summons, ct cetera, and received an answer that
by the advice of the English he, the Afghan COM
mander refused to retire across the Kusbk River.
In reply to this | may state that the fact
itself is reported to Inc to be
totally incorrect. Nowhere in the
Afghan commanders reply is there any such
statement. On the contrary, the wording is
distinct. thus: :. have duly received your letter
regarding the withdrawal of certain pickets As
had received orders from the Government at Herat
consult Captain Yate. who was deputed 10 Penjdeh
by Sir Peter Lumsden, in such matters, showed
HIN your letter. Captain Yate afterward had an
interview with Colonel ZakIchewski. and informed
me of the conversation which ensued. BE II known
TO yeI must loyalty obey the orders have received
from his Highness the Ameer can IN 1owlse act
contrary to the orders of my sovereign. OF course
in matters of detail, such rs alterations In the
position of advanced pckets and vedettes, | am
prepared to arrange with We with view to the
avoidance of any risk OF conflict"
AiafhlH-GeneIal Komaroff says he again ad-
dressed private letter couchcd Ia friendly terms
Tey s Officer Of the but Captain
Delashoe was told the letter had been received a
few hours before the Russian attack on March 30.
have now called upon Sepeh Saar for copy OF
Tenfhiy--General Komaroff states "On March
80, TO support my demands, marched with my de
tachment against the Afghan position, counting
still pacific result, but artillery fire and cav
airy attack compelled me to accept combat" In
reply say: The Russians advanced to attack the
Afghan position, and of course the Afghans were
obliged TO defeud themselves Certainly the en-
gagement not begun by the artillery fire, as
General Komarof states, as infantry fire was heard
continuing several minutes before the first gun.
WAR TALK AND INCIDENTS