The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-04-10
In which the Latter are Defeated with
Loss Of 500.
A Russian Generals Account Of
the Battle.
Mr.. Gladstone Confirms the News in
Parliament.
England Has Demanded Explana.
tions of the Affair.

Messenger publishes the following: General
Komarof reports that, in consequence of pro
vocative and manifestly hostile proceedings toi
the Afghans, he was compelled to attack
them on the Both ultimo on both banks oi
the Kushak River. The result was the defeat
of the Afghans with the loss Of 800 men, all
their artillery, two standards and their entire
camp and provisions. The Russian loss was
one officer and 10 soldiers killed and three sub
alterns and 29 soldiers wounded. When the
fighting ended, General Komaroff returned
across the river to the position he had formerly
occupied. General Komaroff also reports that
some British officers who had been eyewitness
es, but not participants in the engagement, ap-
pealed to the Russians for protection when they
saw that the Afghans were beaten. But un-
fortunately, he says, convoy which he imme-
diately despatched to the relief of these officers
was unable to overtake the Afghan cavalry,
who carried the British away with them in
their flight.
The Daily News. in an editorial article on
the Afghan question says: Parliament will re-
assemble at period of graver events than
when it adjourned. The members are anx-
ious to be informed of pending affairs, but will
probably obtain little satisfaction. The thun-
der Cloud over the Afghan hills is as menacing
as ever. If Russia is simply negotiating to
gain time, war will come, and we shall enter
upon it as a serious national duty. The fact
that Russia agreed to the joint boundary COM
mission after the Afghans had entered Pepj-
ubu OlbDOs6B Oh Tue excuse IOf LQ0 ADVANCE OF
the Russian outposts, and throws such suspi-
cion upon the good faith of Russia as to make
it doubtful whether, after all, the CZar is not
bent on war.
LONDON, April 9.-Parliament reassembled
today after the Easter recess. In the House
OF Commons Gladstone confirmed the intelli-
gence of q battle between the Russians and
Afghans and said "from the information the
government has received of the fight the Rus
slams have apparently been guilty Of an unjus-
tiiable attack on the Afghans England has
demanded from Russia full explanations in
regard to the affair" In conclusion he said
the government has received no information
corroborative of the report that the Russia ms
had occupied Penjdeh.
Mr.. Gladstone in the House of Commons
this evening in answer to interrogatories said
that on Saturday the cabinet had considered
Russia's reply tosEngland's proposalItoilimit the
zone of survey to the debatable points. Rus
sia's reply was an agreement to do this, pro-
vided that the zone of survey as marked out
BY England was extended southward SO as to
Include the Parspamissan range of mountains.
The government considered that this reply did
not advance the question towards conclusion,
and was dissatisfied with it. Within the past
24 hours, however, said the Premier, subse-
quent com mmunication has been received from
Russia and this appeared in the opinion of the
government to place the matter in more hope
full position. Mr.. Gladstone said it would be
make any statement concerning the pending
negotiations about the Afghan frontier in view
OF the grave occurrences just reported.
Continuing, Mr.. Gladstone said it was evil
dent the Russians had, attacked the Afghans
and the Afghans had in this attack been de-
feated after makingla gallant resistance st was
apparent also that the Russians after the fight
had returned to their former position or at
least left the bank of the Kushak river which
might be equivalent to such retirement.
The government has been informed that ths
Russians had made every endeavor to induce
the Afghans to begin the lighting, and the
russian troops had even twice attempted to
forcibly pass through the Afghan picket lines.
After one OF these attempts had failed to pro-
woke an attack, Capt. Yates met Russian
chief of staff and talked to him about the con-
duct of the Russian soldiers, being an evident
violation Of the Russian agreement to not ad-
vance pending the outcome of the negotia-
tions, and the Russian officer stated that he
had no knowledge that any arrangement ex-
lsted against Russian advance. Capt. Yates
referred to the official despatch sent from ST.
petersburg on March II to London, assuring
England orders would be at once sent Russian
officers at the front directing them to forbid
any advance and to do all in their power to
prevent provocation of the Afgnans. The
Russian officer again declared he knew nothing
whatever of any such arrangement.
Mr. Gladstone, commenting on this, said
England had kept her part of this agreement
up to March Both at least and the Aighans had
made no advance nor any forward movement
OF any Kind, and SO far as the information pos
sessed by the ministers went the government
must regard the lattack upon Penjdeh as nm
provoked, and the government had asked for
an explanation of this attack from Russia
Sir Edward Thornton, British ambassador to
st. Petersburg, had last night telegraphed that
M. De Giers had expressed for himself and for
the Gar an earnest hope that this unhappy
1ncI0AOt n
the negotiations for peace. (Derisive laughter)
Sir Stafford Northcote asked sarcsstically if
1t was not more reasonable to believe that
after driving the Afghans out of Penjdeh the
Russians stayed and occupied the place.
70 this Mr., Gladstone said that of course a
natural inference would be that the Russians
now occupy Penjdeh. Concerning lthis state
ment, however, the premier added: "Some
confusion exists because the statement that ths
Russians occupy PeDjdeh emanated from the
British officer who had left the spot at the
time OF the fight, whilst Sir Edward Thornton
reports subsequently to this that M. De Giers
had stated that the Russians, after attacking
the Afghans, did not occupy Penjdeh." MIR.
Gladstone said the government had no reason
TO believe any aggressive act had been done by
the Afghans to provoke the attack on Pepj-
deh. This declaration caused a sensation and
for moment the House resounded with cries
of "Hesr, hear"
Mr.. Gladstone in the Commons appeared
anxious and careworn. The general opinion
expressed in the lobby was that nothing can
prevent war.
LONDON, April 9.-The Times editoriaIly
says: Neither the dignity nor interests Of
the British empire can be served by wrangling
in Parliament. Gladstone's statement in the
Commons yesterday was worthy of England's
representative. If it did not breathe defiance,
IL mad the ring OF constancy and resolution
which neither foreigners nor Englishmen can
mistake. We will still have to appease the
Afghans, whose troops lie dead in the field,
and cannot II we would encounter the risks OF
a surrender to General Komaroff's defiance to
the orders of his superiors, and it rests with
Russia to purge herself of this dishonesty by
acts OF adequate and conspicuous reparation."
BERLIN, April g. Emperor William shows
great anxiety regarding the tension between
England and Russia, and has asked Prince
Bismarck to confer on the subject with Mr.
Scott, of the British embassy, in the absence
of Sir Edward Malet, the British ambassador.
PARIS, April 9.-St. Petersburg merchants
have telegraphed to their agents here not 10
consign goods to them in English vessels by
the way of the Baltic Sea.
TORONTO, April 9.-Members of the British
army reserve resident here have been ordered
to hold themselves in readiness to return to
1t is said there ara 4, 900 of them in
this country.
LONDON, April On. Lessar in further
on the news from the Afghan
frontier said that Gen. Komaroff's return to
Pulikhish after defeating the Afghans showed
the Russians had no designs to occupy Penideh
during the negotiations with England and he
believed the explanation of M. De Giers would
be fully satisfactory to the English govern
ment. The anti-Russan feeling in both par
ties in the House of Commons amounts to a
passion. II the Russians explanation of the
attack on the Afghans be delayed or be incom-
plete the British government will be forced to
declare war or resign.
A majority of the Paris newspapers consider
that war between England and Russia is ineyi-
table unless Prince Bismarck at once uses his
influence in favor Of peace.
STOCKHOLM, April 9.--The Russian govern
mentfs giving orders for gunboats to Swedish
builders.
BOMBAY, April "a despatch from Rawal
Pindi says the conference between Earl Dut-
ierin and Abdurrahman Khan has resulted in
the Ameer's strongly favoring an alliance with
the British; the latter to supply Afghanistan
with arms and ammunition, and increase the
annual subsidy These conditions have been
accepted, says Earl Dufferin. The Ameer ex-
pressed fears that the entry of the British
troops into Afghan territory would revive the
animosty caused by former wars Earl Duf.
ferin replied, the British government has no
intention of sending troops across the Afghan
frontier unless the Afghans so DESIRE and in
any case England would fulfill her pledges to
maintain the Integrity of the Ameer's domin-