The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-13
lie Sought TO Avoid Fight, but Was Forced
Into an Engagement by the Encroach-
ments of the Afghans,
Who Made Their Aggressive Movements
by Advice of the English Officers.
komarof's Action Approved by His Govern
ment, and Rewards Promised the Soldiers
of His Communicable Notes.
THE FIGHTING IN ArGHAs1srAN.
Gen. Komaroff Makes Report and Throws
the Blame on tho English.


Gen. Konaroff Makes a Report and Throws
the Blame on tho English.
ST. PETERSBURG, April I2.-The official Mes
senger publishes the following telegram from
General Komaroff, dated April l:
"On the 25th Of March our detachment APP
preached Dashkapri. When near the bridge we
saw an intrenchment occupied by Afghans- In or
der to avoid conflict, stationed my troops
FIVE versts Ia little over three miles)
from the Afghan position. Negotiations with
Captain Yates-a member of Sir Peter
Lumsdens force-commenced on the 26th
When the Afghans became convinced that we
had no intention of attacking them they daily
drew nearer to our camp On the 27th they
dispatched against company of ours, which
was covering a accommodating party, three com
panies with gun and some cavalry. Next day
their audacity aud arrogance increasing, they
occupied high and commanding position
on the left flank of our camp, made in
trenchments, and placed cavalry post
in the rear of our line and picket within
gunshot of our fort On the Goth sent the
Afghan commander an energetic summons to
vacate tie left bank of the Kushk. He replied
that, acting on the advice of the English, he
would not retire beyond the Kushk. then sent
him private letter. couched in amicable terms
On the 30th, in order to support my command, /
marched with my detachment against the AT
CHAN position still expecting pacific issue; but
fire from the Afghan artillery and an attack Of
their cavalry compelled me to accept combat "
The St. Petersburg Journal says that the fore
going statement leaves no question of Russian
aggression; that, moreover, Sir Peter Lums-
denis second dispatch to the British government
justified General Komaroff's action, and that
even Mr.. Gladstone has shown q praseworthy
anxiety to atone for the ungracious words about
Russia which first escaped him.
rumor is current that the conflict between
the Russians and Afghans arose in the following
way: Some of the English officers stationed at
the Afghan outposts invited some Russian Of
ficers on the other side to breakfast. The Rus
SLAMS were unable to accept the inyi-
tation but they sent an invitation to
the English officers. The latter accepted
and stayed in the Russian camp until late at
night and then asked for an escort. General
Komaroff disguised some of his officers as pri-
yates to accompany the escort with the object
of obtaining news of the Afghan forces. When
the escort arrived at the Afghan
camp. one of the Russians was observed taking
notes in his pocket book. The Afghans tried to
take away the book, a struggle onsued and a
shot was fired, from which side is not known
The Russians hurried back to their camp,
and the Russian troops, were called to arms and
advanced against the Afghans next morning.
The effect of General Komaroff's detailed
statement, which showed that the Afghans pro-
voked the recent battle has been weakened by
reports received by way of the Austrian telegraph
stations on the Russian frontier. Penjdeh
was occupied by Colonel Aii1hanoff on the I'd
instant. General Komaroff states that no
was obliged to occupy Penjieh in order to stop
the pillaging of the district By Turkomans and
that tho Afghans had threatened to resume Of
fensiye operations. The Russian Minister OK
War has sent q congratulatory message to Gen.
komaroff, and has directed him to thank the
troops in the name Of tho Car, and announce to
them that all who took part in the battle viii be
rewarded according to their rank.
1t is reported that Acknowledgement
Obroutcheff, chief of the general staff Of the i'm
perial army, is about to proceed to Mefv to
assume command Of all the military operations
in Turkestan and Afghanistan. General
Obroutchcff is known as the conqueror OF Mukh-
tar Pasha, whom he defeated at Aladjadagh
after pitched battle lasting two days, in Octo-
her 1877