New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-10

conduct of the Russian soldiers as an evident 'io
laton of the Russian agreement not to advance
pending the outcome of the negotiations Inc
Russian officer stated that he had no knowledge
that any arrangement existed against Kussiah
advance Captain Yates referred to
the official dispatch sent from st.
Petersburg on March II to London
assuring England that orders would be at once sent
TO the Russian officers at the 'front.' directing them
to forbid any advance and to do all in their power
TO prevent proyocation of the Afghans The Rus
sian officer declared that he knew nothing what
evor of any such arrangement. Engiano had kcp'
her part of this agreement. Up to March 3o' at
least. the Afghans had made no advance nor any
forward movement of any kind. SO far as the III
formation possessed by the Ministers weht' 'nc
Government Me- Gladstone stated must regard
the attack by the Russians upon Penjdeh as un-
provoked The Government had asked for an ex-
planation of this attack from Russia but, of course,
sufficient time had not yet elapsed for the receipt
of an answer.
Sir Edward Thornton. the British Ambassador TO
st. Petersburg had, however, last night, tele-
praphed that NJ de Giers. the Russian Prime MIN
ister had expressed for himself and the Gar an
earnest hope that this unhappy incident might not
prevent the continuation of the negotiations 1or
peace This remark was greeted with shouts OF
derisve laughter.]
Sir Stafford Northcote, the Conservative leader,
recalling the Premler's statement first made that
the Government believed that after defeating the
Afghans in Penjdeh the Russians had rctired'
asked sarcastlcay, if it was not more reasonable
TO believe that after driving the Afghans out OF
Penideh the Russians stayed and occupied the
place Mr. Gladstone replied that of course the
natural inference would be that the Russians now
occupy Penjdeh.
Concerning this statement however" he
added "some confusion exists because
the statement that the Russians occupy Penjdeh
emanates from British officer who had left the
spot at the time of the fight while SIR Edward
Thornton reports subsequently to this that NJ de
GIers had stated that the Russians, after attacking
the Afghans, did not occupy Penjeh."
Many questions at once asked Mr.. Glad
stone about the ambiguity of the expression used
by NJ de Giers and whether the Russians might
not hay occupied Penjdeb. without having occu-
pied it Immediately after the battle. Mr.. Glad
stone evaded some of these questions as idle. and
to Others replied that the Government had no
reason to believe that any aggressive act had been
done by the Afghans to provoke the attack on
Penjdeh.
This declaration caused sensat ion. and for a
moment the House resoundcd with cries of &" Hear,
hear!"
Later in the evening Mr. Gladstone replying TO a
question asked by Sir Richard Cross, said
that the Government received another tele
gram from Sir Peter Lumsden. which
tended to qualify the statement made by him
in reply to Sir Stafford Northcote, which was
based on Sir Peter Lumsdeu's statement that the
Afghans had made no advance either before or
after March II. Sir Peter Lumsden says,
continued Mr.. Gladstone that when the
Russians threatened an attack on the Afghan posi-
ton by advancing in force. the Afghans threw out
vdetter and extended their pickets to Pul-i-khisa
on the left bank of the kushk River.
and gradually strengthened this position
until on March 80 the bulk of their
force had been transferred across the river. sr
Peter Lumsden is of the opinion that the move
ment does not constitute an actual advance on the
part of the Afghans but merely the occupation of
more advantageous military position
Mr.. Gladstone's appearance was anxious and
careworn and after his acknowledgment that tho
Afghans had done nothing TO provoke the Russian
attack and that it appeared to have been caused
by no demonstration of any hostile character the
House warmly approved ms words. The British
mettle has been thoroughly fred by the news, and
the general opinion expressed in the lobby was that
nothing now prevent war; This was not IN
fuenced by Mr.. Gadstone's statement that the
Russian Prime Minister, NJ de Giers. had expressed
for himself and his Imperial master the hope that
" this unhappy incident might not
prevent the continuation of the negotla-
tions for peace. This statement was not at
all in: harmony with the feeling Of outrage and
indignation which the entire House entertained
and which is felt throughout London 1t was met
with derisive laughter. Lord Randolph Churchill
on entering the House was warmly cheered by both
Liberal and Conservative members.
The ordinary defences at Herat are said to be in
excellent condition. The Government believes
that Sir Peter Lumsden Is now at Herat, which he
will fortify and hold. If necessary, against the
Russians. The fact that 10000 British and In
dian troops are now near the Northern Indian
frontier and near enough to Herat 10 prevent its
capture by General Komaroff, if their movement
northward is immediately ordered, produces a
feeling of something like confidence.
Baron de Staal, the Russian Minister in London
believes that the fighting at Penjdeh far more
serious than has yet been reported. What informa-
tion he possesses IN view of Mr.. Gadstone's state
ment of the the fight in the House tonight. is "A
matter of speculation. NJ. Lessar's hope that the
boundary question may yet be peaceably adjusted,
taken with his opinion that the hghtln! was
brought about by Afghan attacks upon the Rus
sian pickets is thought 10 indicate that the Rus
sIans may attempt TO explain away the affair and
go with the negotiations.
England has already demanded whatever eX-
planation NJ. de Giers can give. Ii is understood
that demand will also be made for the withdrawal
of the Russian FORCES 10 tne nOrtn oil Sarakhs IL ~
stated that the promised orders to have The Russian
advance stopped which NJ de Giers gave assurance
he would send, were so managed that they did not
reach the headquarters of General Komaroh until
after his attack upon the Afghans
letter received from Meshcd, where it was
dated March 7, states that it at that time
rumored that recently the Afghans had sent force
out from Herat. and that this force had attacked
the Russian troops In Zulfkar Pass and compelled
them to retreat from the pass. This letter added
that the rout of the Russians on this occasion was
so complete that forty of their soldiers and two
officers were driven to seek refuge the Persian
side Of the HerrI-Rood River
AZ Iessar the Russian AtLhnn Rnnndary Com