New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-14
STILL ON THE VERGE OF WAR
MEETING OF THE BRITISH CABINET.
LONG DISPATCH TO SIR EDWARD THORNTON
RUSSIAN TROOPS ADVANCING.

day to discuss the war question.
After the rising Of the council,
Earl Granville sent q dispatch to Sir Edward
Thornton. British Minister at st. Petersburg.
The Government have received official dispatches
fully confirming the report of Russian advance in
force.
TEHERAN, April 13.-News has been received
from Askabad to the effect that Russian troops TO
the number of $4,000 wero on the march to
sarakhs. The first contingent, which was 10000
strong In cavalry, timed to reach SaIakhs
some time in the first week In April. Troops were
massing rapidly from all the stations in Daghestan
at Bakn. len thousand passed through 1iflis IN
the last forth light in March.
Sir Peter Lamsden lost seventeen camp followers
glishmen are all safe, but many tents aud much of
the baggage was lost 1t Is hoped, however, that
the records will be recovered.
Papers found In the domIci'e of Ayoub Khan,
exAmeer of Afghaaistan, confirm the report of
anti-English ntrigues at Herat.
DISCUSSING KOMAROFFS EXPLANATION.
SIR PETER LUMsDrN's STORY or THE BATTLE ASKED
FOR BY THE GOVERNMENT.
LONDON, April l3.-Mr. Gladstone. in the House
Of Commons this afternoon, stated that the Gov
ernment, upon the receipt from of Russia of Gen.
eral Komaroh7s explanation Of tho Pcndch incl
dent, toegraphed to Sir Peter Lumsden for infOrma-
ton as to the correctness of the Russian command
er's Justification of his conduct. Mr. Gladstone
also announced that tho Government had received
a full report Of the communications which had
passed between tho Earl of Duhcrin and Abdurrah-
man Khan, III the council recently held be-
tween them at Rawa PIndi. lhese commune
cations, the Premier added, were ell
tlTey satisfactory to the Government.
Explaining the delay Of the Government in reach
ing a final decision with Russia, Mr.. Gladstone SAID
that the reports Of the Russian officers who took
part in the Penjdeh battle and those of the English
officers who witnessed tho engagement differed so
materially in substance aud effect that the Govern
ment felt Obliged to make an Independent inquiry.
This. he said. was proceeding now, and tho Govern
ment were doing every thing in their power toward
asccrtaining the facts. Mr.. Gladstone also stated
that General homagoTs report of the recent battle
between the Russians and Afghans had been tele
graphed to sir Peter Lumsden, but no reply had as
yet been received from the British Commits
soner Russia had, tho Premier admitted.
failed 10 answer tho material parts OF
Englands communication sent on the day of
the receipt of tho nows of the battle.
Ellis Ashncad- Bartlett Conservative, asked If The
Government had been informed that the Russians
had advanced Ia the Murghab River
Mr.. Gladstone replied that tue Government had
not received any information of the exact char
actcr OF that mentioned by Mr.. Bartlett. The Gov
efnment were aware. however. thdt rumor ex-
isted to the effect that the Russians had made
such an advance. In response To other inquiries,
Mr. Gindstone said that he expected 10 receive
further co nmunIcatlons soon ABOUT GeDcrai h0m-
aroi's acton from VI. de Glcrs
The Marquis of Harrington, IN moving reply to
the Queens message sunInOnlnR mo reserves
stateI that he was unable at present TO
sneak concerning the military measures under
consideration by the government, becanse recent
events had modified the views ot the lndlau uoV-
crnmcnt concerning the numher of reintorcemehts
rcauIed. lie hoped 10 submit To the Commons a
vote of credit next Monday. when perhaps more
might be said.
SIR stafford Northcote gave notice that his party
mot he d credit.
The Earl If salisbury, IN the House of Lords tins
evening asked the Government II they had learned
Of the report that there was another eDgagemcut
between the Russians and the AfGhans on the Al
ghan frontier yesterday, and II the GoVeTnmont
knew whether the report was true or not. Ln, Lari
Granville answered for the Government that they
had nothing to aud TO the official statements made
by Mr. Gladstone in the House OF Commons.
KOMAROFFS ACCURACY DIsCREDITED.
HIS STATEMENT NOT BELIEVED IN ENGLAND
ANOTHER STORY FROM HIM.
LONDON, April 13-With few exceptions the
press of London and the Provinces OF ali shades of
political opinion attack the tone and question the
accuracy Of General KomarofTs statement. They
say that II is doubtful if lie is the author Of the dis
patch 1t ~ ST ppoed that the Russian Minister OF
War shaped General Komaron's iolegrams. HIS eX-
lauation is regarded as inadequate in official cir
cles.
The Times in an editorial says " General KOmar-
of makes no excuse for his fresh advance. lie al
mls that lie did not the Aighans until near the
bridge. This admission from such source mat
the Afcbons had not advanced Is valuable. Cen
cral Komaroff deliberately wont in search OF tho
Afghan intrenchments sat down within easy
shellIng distance, threw out an advanced guard TO
seize any updisputed convenient position, aud
sent an nltimatum that the Afghans evacuatc
their position. lie then marched forward and
made m attack, all the while iaborng
10 maintain peace. General Komaroh is certainly
"a huInonst of the first quality. IL ~ Ialf ihlor
that he never received orders hot 10 ~. auIo
The tenor the Whole article ~ TO the eiiect lnaI
war is certain. The Times congraulates the country
upon having enormous defensive resources ana
upon the possession OF loyal India
The Idily Aecs, IN an editorial thls morning,
saws: IF General Komarolfs ) report were thc ony
answer Russia would give there uld De ntIle
need OF the formality of a declaration OF war; Inc
guns would go oil themselves. We nave rather 10
lear bland, eyasIye answers. -. ,
Tho Teitgraph cditorally remarks this morning,
No diplomatic dallance can now rescue NJ de
Gier. and the Car of RUSSIA from their lighting
generals" =, -, .l
by communicating with Sir Ietcr l'uHSueh;
"6e Government. 1t SAYS, ought TO depend
upon it's own accounts Of tLe events ana To ighore
the accounts of the Russian officers WnlHn Wi,
are sure TO contradict the English account, Whlo
we are collecting evidence, Russia is pnshlhg her
troops forward Unhappiy there ls hothlnB
in tie news from RUSSIA 10 Indicate on"' 'o'
hsun will be avoided" ,. a., -.
The Standard says the Gar mas within the last
Yn2osS,np of his desire for peace. Ii Is believed
thai Lord Dnffcrin will urge that no delay occur
and that active measures be taken Tor the defence
jbe Norih German Gazette says the Afghans, ana
not the Russians, were guilty OF the recent oHi.
Iison, so that the whol fabric Oh results
of alleged Russian deceit, as built up by the Lon
Sr PEIEnsnUnG, April 13.-The O6ictat hessssnger sg
To-Day publishes further communication a. itni thn
General Komaron regarding the recent battle on tne
Knsnk river. lie asserts that the menaGin3 ai'.
tndc of fhe Atghans in advancing so closely 70 MS