Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-04-10

answer to questions SAID that on catuIuaJ
the cabinet hsd considered Russia's reply to
England proposal to limit the zone OF sur
yey to debateable points.
Russia's reply was an agreement to 90
this provid, the zone Of survey as marked
out BY Eng and was extended southwark SO
as to include the Parapamissan range OF
mountains The government considered
that this reply did not advance the question
towards conclusion and dissatisfied with
it. Within the past "a hours, however, said
the Premitr, subsequent communication
has been re ceiyed from Russia, and this sp-
reared in the opinion Of the government to
place the matter in more hopeful position.
Being asked what was the nature of this
SUBSEQUENT communication, Mr.. Gladstone
said it would be impossible for the govern
ment to make any further statement
concerning pending negotiations about the
Afghan frontier in view of the grave occur
rences Just reported. Continuing, Gladstone
said il was evident the Russians had attack
ed the Afghans. The Afghsns had been
defeated after making gallant resistance.
Russian Trickery.
1t was apparent the Russians after the
fght had returned to their former. posi-
tions, or at least to the left bank OF the
Kushk river, which might be equivalent to
such a retirement. The government had
been informed that the Russians had made
every endeayor to induce the Afghans
to begin the lighting. Russian
troops had even twice attempted to torcioly
pass through Afghan outposts after one
OF these attempts failed to provoke AtghanS
to attack. Capt. Yates met the Russian
Chief of the Staff and talked to him about
the conduct of the Russian soldiers being
an evident violation of the Russian agree
ment to not advance pending the outcome
of negotiations. The Russian officer stated
that he had no knowledge that any arrange
ment existed against the Russian advance.
Can't. Yates referred to the official dispatch
sent from St. Petersburg March l!
TO London, assuring England
that orders would be at once sent to
mission officers at the front directing them
10 forbid any advance and to do all in their
power TO prevent the provocation Of the
Afehans. The Russian officer declared ne
knew nothing Of any such arrangements.
Gladstone, commenting on this, said Eng
land had kept her part of the agreement.
The Afghans had made no advance nor any
forward movement Of any kind. So tar as
the information possessed by the ministers
vent, the government must regard the at
,ack BY the Russians upon Penjdeh as un'
provoked. The government had asked tor
an explanation OF this attack from Russia,
out, OF course, sufficient time had not
elapsed for the receipt OF an answer.
No More Negotiations.
Sir Edward Thornton, British Embasso-
dor TO Russia, had last night telegraphed
that NJ. De Giers, Russian Prime Minister,
had expressed for himself and for the Car
an earnest hope that this unhappy incident
might not prevent the continuation of ne
gotiations for peace. This remark was
greeted with shouts of derisive laughter.
Sir Stafford Northcote, Tory leader, at
this point arose and recalled the Premiers
statement lust made that the Government
believed that after defeating the Afghans
the Russians had retired, asked ssrcasically
if il was not more reasonable to believe after
driving Afghans out OF Penjdeh, the Rus
slams STAYED and occupied the place.
To this Gladstone said that of course the
natural reference would be that the Rus
slams now occupy Penideh. =,
"ConcerniI this statement however,
the Premitr added, Some confusion exists
because of the statement that the Russians
occupied Penideh emanates from British
officer who had left the spot at the time Of
the fight, whilst Sir Edward Thornton re-
ports subsequently to this, that NJ. De
Giers had stated that Russians, after at.
'ackiug the Afghans, did not occupy Penj-
deh.
Many questions were asked Gladstone
about the ambiguousness Of the expression
used by NJ. De Giers, and whether the Rus
slams might not have occupied Penjdeh
without having occupied it Immediately
atter the hattle