Morning journal and courier., 1885-04-10
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. THE FIRST GUNS FIRED. Fighting On The Afghan Frontier. THE WAR FEELING RAMPANT. England And Russia Both
 Anxious. THE WAR THE NORTHWEST. PinkertOn'sM Men Firing On
 Strikers.
THE WAR IN THE NORTHWEST
AN ANGLo-RUss1AN WAR

Likely to Break Out at Any Mo- ment-Russfa Playing Her Points to Gain Time-Acttve Preparations Going On in 10th COuntrfes-The Battle at Murghaub Bringing Things to a Crisis.
 LONDON, april 9.-To-day has been one of unparalleled excitement in this city and the war feeling is rampant. Early morning
 brought confirmation of the reported battle between the Russian and Afghan outposts at Murghaub, on the river of that name, in which the place was captured by the Rus sians after short but sanguinary encounter
 in which five hundred Afghans were killed and fifty Russians were killed and wounded.
 The camp contained large quantity of
 arms, ammunition and military stores, all of
 which fell into the hands of the Russians.
 The battle was a stubborn one, being fought in a driving rain storm which rendered many of the muzzle-leading arms carried by both forces ineffective. The Afghans fought with great desperation and bravely opposed step by step the advance of the Russians. Two companies of Afghans defended one position until they were completely annihilated by a deadly artillery fire. The Afghans retreated in perfect order after inficting severe losses. The Russians were evidently surprised by the stubborn opposition and did not follow up their advantage, being evi- dently contented with the capture of the camp. A number of British officers looked on at the battle, and they are loud in praise of the valor displayed by the Afghans After the engagement they rode to Sir Peter Lumsden's quarters and made a report to him.
 Parliament reconvened to-day. In the House of Commons MT. Gladstone in answer to question said that the government had received information which confirmed the news of the battle between the Russians and Afghans at Murghaub. He further stated that the Russian troops on the Afghan iron tier had apparently been guilty of unjus- afable attack on the Afghans and that an immediate explanation from the Russian government had been demanded. In an swer to question concerning the fate of Penideh, MT. Gladstone said that no confr- nation of the rumored capture of that place by the Russians had been received.
 Instructions have been telegraphed by the war office to Sir Peter Lumsden to proceed instantly with all the forces at his command to occupy Robat pass, the approaches to which have already been fortified by the Afghans under the direction of the British royal engineers. Robat pass is forty-fve miles north of Herat and through it the only practicable road for large military force to Herat. Sir Peter has with him about 200 British and natives, and the Ameer's forces capable of concentration ct this point num- ber between 10000 and 12, 900 men. The pass is nine hundred feet high, and the mountains are impracticable for even small force. The country east of Robat pass and south of Penjdeh lying between Herat and Penjdeh is held by the Afghans in con- siderable force. It is inaccessible by any force not holding the lords and passes. Peter Lumsden is reported to be engaged with large force of Afghans and body of picked men of the British and India armies in push ing forward the Qualifications of Herat. There is body of British royal engineers at Penjdeh, and it is feared they cannot escape fighting with the victorious Russians. Rein forcements are being pushed forward toward Penjdeh by the Ameer's officers, and it is supposed that among these will be a small force of British
 The admiralty lords met this morning and consultations were held between officers of the navy and the war office, orders being telegraphed to all ships of the cruising squadrons within reach not to leave port un- til further orders The board are under centration of powerful naval forces in Turkish and Russian waters. It is stated at the war office that the Indian government has reported taking the initiative by ordering the formation of flying column for immediate service, the troops selected for which will parade for marching orders at dayEgh6. These troops will be followed by another division within few hours. The concentration of troops on the Punjaub and in the Quetta district has been accelerated. Orders have been wired to Gibraltar, Malta and all points in India, stopping the reliefs and changes of troops homeward bound. The Horse Guards are receiving teleg1aphic offers from the com manding officers of the auxiliary forces urg ing the claims of the battalions under their orders to volunteer for active service. Re turns froni the war office show that the last call for volunteers from the auxiliary forces and time expired men was responded to by upwards of seventy thousand men. It is un- derstood that an order will be or cred allow ing expired men and men of the auxiliary forces to volunteer for active service.
 The report that the English officers in the Afghan camp asked the protection of the Russians after the battle of March 30 is con- tradicted by despatehes received at the war office from Sir Peter Lumsden. These des- patches show that the officers referred to were members of his staff who had been assisting the Afghans in planning defenses for Penjdeh. They wit messed the attack and after seeing the retreat of the Afghans, who were taken unawares and unprepared, they started on their ride to Gu1ran to inform Sir Peter of what had oc- cured. They had no communicati on with the Russians and were unraolested by them. They say the Afghans fought bravely, but were overborne by superior numbers.
 It is asserted that the Russian embassy in London knew of the battle March Both AIo did, and that Baron de Stael, the Russian ambassador. knew, that hostilities had begun at the very time that he was assuring Lord Granville of the Czar's desire to maintain peace.
 In the Commons this afternoon uproarious laughter from all parts of the House greeted Mr. Gladstone's statement that M. de Giers, minister of foreign affairs at St. Petersburg, had declared his belief that the 'faffair be- tween eutposts" in Afghanistan need not cause any impairment of the friendly rela- tions between Russia and England.
 Mr. Gladstone stated in the House of Com mons tonight that he had just received $ telegram from Sir Peter Lumsden reporting that before the recent battle the Afghans owing to the threatening attitude ot the Russians crossed the river Kuslik in order to occupy a safer position. Sir Peter, however, denies that this manoeuver can possibly be construed as an advance upon neutral terri tory.
 The government has received advices from it's representative at St. Petersburg stating that the war feeling at that capital since the receipt of the news from the Afghan frontier has greatly increased and that the Russian officials make little or no effort to conceal their qualification at the outcome of a fight between the Russians and Afghans on the frontier. Press des- patches say that the news caused but little surprise in official circles and it is evident
 that such an event has been looked for for
 some time Active war preparations are
 still going on and it is reported that orders for the immediate construction of several ironclads have been sent to the Russian agents in America.
 The Echo (radica) thinks war inevitable. The Pal1 Mall Gazette says: eff the aggres-
 sion was unprovoked we shall go sorro wfully but resolutely over to the war party" Both these papers have hitherto favored peace. The pfess unanimously declare that it is | England,s imperative duty to fight unless Russia recalls General Komarof and dis owns his action in attacking the Afghans. l It is stated that the government is buying l hundreds of horses and mules in Canada fol service iI1 the East,
 English colliery owners are eancelling or. ders for coal delivered in Russia, ,risking suits for damages in case war should not be de