Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-04-09
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ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCHES.
Fight Between the Russians and Afghans

LONDON, April 9.-Gen. Komaroff, the
Russian commander, attacked the fortified
positions of the Afgbans on the Kushk river
on March so The Afghan force, number
ing 1000 men with cannon, was defeated.
Their loss was 500 men killed and wounded.
All the artillery, two standards, the entire
camp equipage and provisions were captur-
ed The Russians lost one officer killed and
three suhalterns wounded. besides 10 SOL
diers killed and 90 wounded
ST. PETERSBURG, April 9.-The Official
Messenger publishes the following: Gen.
Komarof reports that in consequence OF
provoeation and manifestly hostile proceed
ings of the Afghans he was compelled to at
tack them on the 30Lh ult, on both banks of
the Kushk river. The result was the defeat
Of the Afgbans with the loss of 500 men, all
of their artillery, two standards, and their
entire camp and provisions. The Russian
loss was one officer and ten soldiers killed,
and three subalterns and 90 soldiers wound
ed When the fighting ended, Gen. Koma-
rolf returned across the river 10 the posi-
tions he had formerly re-occuped. Gen.
Komaroff also reports that some British of
| ficers, who had been eye witnesses, but not
participants in the engagement, appealed
to the Russians for protection when they
saw that the Afghans were beaten. But un.
fortunately, he says, convoy which he i'm
mediately despatched to the relief of these
officers, was unable to overtake the Afghan
cavalry who carried the British away with
them in their fight.
A dispatch to the Times from Gubran
dated April Sd states that the Russians,
while making a pretext of changing the
position of their outposts on the Afghan
frontier attacked Penjdeh, on March S0th,
aud drove the Afghans out of their position.
The Afghans stubbornly resisted their as.
sailants. The weather was wet at the time
of the attack, which rendered the muzzie-
loading guns of the Afg hans useless. Two
companies held one position against the
Russians until its defenders were kill
ed. The Afghans retreated TO Marau
chak in perfect order. The Russians made
no pursuit The Sarahks remain neutral
but plundered the Afghan's camp. The
Russian losses are said to be great The
British officers remained until the Afghaus
effected their retreat, when they joined The
camp of Sir Peter Lumsden.
LONDON, April 9.-Baron De Staal, the
Russian ambassador, believes that the Il hit
ing was more serious than the dispatches
have indicated. NJ Lessar, the special Rus
sian commissioner, expresses the opinion
that The battle was brought about by the At
ghaus attacking Russian pickets and driy-
ing them from their posts. This, be thinks,
would have caused the Russians to retalil te
and thus general fight would BE- brought
on, be still has hopes that the boundary
question may find pacific settlement. Tie
whole stock list sympathises with the mark
ed decline of consos and Russian securities
and Egyptian securities have fallen four
points.
The Telegraph published a fourth edition
which was on the streets little before two
o'clock this afternoon This states that the
gravity of the news from the Afghan border
has not been in any degree diminished by
the advices received by the government.
The telegraph wire to Meshed has been cut
for some days The Telegraph has dis
patch from Alhhabad which states that Gen
Komsroff, after his victory, occupied Penj-
deb. which has long been held by an Afghan
garrison,
A cabinet council is now sitting and the
result of it's deliberations is awaited with
great anxiety.
The statement that Earl Roseberry, Lord
Privy Seal, had gone to Berlin to invite
Prince Bismarck to mediate between Eng
land and Russia, proves TO be incorrect The
Earl has not gone, and has abandoned his
intention of going for the present.
Parliament reassembled to-day after tie
Easter recess.
In the House of Commons, Mr.. Gladstone
confirmed the intelligence of the baltle be
tween the Russians and Afghaus, and said:
From the in formation which the govern
ment has received of the fight the Russians
have apparently been guilty of an unjustiii
able attack on the Afghans. Euglan has
demanded from Russia full explanations in
regard to the affair"
St. Petersburg merchants have telegraph
ed their agents at Paris not to consign goods
for them via the Baltic sea in English yes
sells.
! General Grants Condition
NEW YORK, April 9.-The Grant house
hold was quiet and undisturbed all last
night. Between II o'clock and midnight
Gen. Grant fell asleep and, except by cough
ing occasionally, his sleep was continuous