Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-04-11
Russia Must Withdraw Her
Troops and Disown Their
Action
Or War Will be Declared
Situation of Affairs in
Asia.

ception, that it is now imperative upon Eng
land to fight unless Russia shall promptly re-
call Komorof, and disown his action IN attak-
ing the Afghans on Kushk river.
1t is stated that the British government is
buying hundreds OF horses in Canad for mill
tary service.
The Standard believes that the news of the
battle between the Russians and Afghans was
know N to the Ameer before he made his
speech at Durham. In an editorial article
the Standard saws the last poin which Russia
claims, even if it is not vet occupied, is in
her gsasp. Her soldiers have won it by an
act on provocation and shameless violation of
the solemn promise made at Neva. England
has acted in good faith, even with a chival-
rous scrupulosity akin to simplicity. We
have looked for that honesty in others, con-
tinues the article, that we have practiced our
selves. We have our reward We are again
on the brink of war, which may involve both
Europe and Asia.
In an editorial on Russian finances, the
Times says that Russia is living largely on
capital under government exactions. The
people are becoming less able to pay, and an
extension of territory offers no relief to the
exchequer. This condition of things must
terminate in a smash. English investors will
be wise not to subscribe another sovereign to
the Russian Loan.
Att p. NJ. Russian securities had ad-
vanced to "a.
The Post says 1t is almost impossible to
deal patiently with Gladstone's statement that
he has asked Russia to explain the attack
upon the Afghans, and the additional state
ment that M. De Gers hoped the incident
might not interrupt negotiations. Even
those most desirable of peace, the Post says,
m INST 10 nln
The question now lies in a nutshell. Russia
either did or did not acquaint Gen, Komoroff
with the agreement of March 18th.
PARIS, April 10.
The Gaulois publishes a telegram from
Berlin, which says:
Prince Bismarck has assured banker that
in spite of the incident at Penjdeh, the Gar
hopes to preserve peace.
ST.. PETERSBURG, April 10
The Journal de st. Petersburg says that
Gen. Komorof 8 return within his lines after
driving of the Afghans indicates that the
Russian attack was caused by the hostile acts
of the Afghans.
This affair was only an accidental conflict,
such as is very difficult to avoid when one
considers the strained situation and close
proximity of the opposing parties. The
journal. however, sees no reason for regard
evitable, and expresses the hope that the bat
tie lately fought will not interfere with the
negotiations now in progress with England
for an amiciable settlement of the perplexing
boundary questions. The Journal is glad to
hear that the British officers who were at the
scene of the battle arrived at the Afghan ter
rtory safely.
The morning papers Throughout Rassia, with
very few exceptions, in commenting on the
recent battle between the Russians and AZ
ghans on the Kushk rives, are very belicose
in their utterances, and charge Earl Dufierin,
viceroy of India. and Sir Peter Lumsden,
British commissioner, with provoking war bv
advising the Afghans to advance on Pull
Khisti, which the British officers knew was
part of the Russian territory. The Afghans,
they say, also fully understood that Pull Khist
was Russian territory, and would never have
attempted to advance their pickets to that
point unless strongly urged to
do so by British officiala. The war party
fully endorse the assertions of the news
papers, and are very pugnacious over the af-
fair.
BosroN, Mass, April 10.
A private cable dispatch received in Lon
don saws:
1t is reported that the English ultimatum
to Russia gives twenty-four hours in which
to recall Gen. Komoroff or go to war.
LONDON, April 10.
The Russian agents in London have visited
the offices of number of steamship compa-
nies, and made heavy bids for the purchase
of their fast going vessels. The extraordinary
offers for steamers aroused the suspicious of
the officers of the companies, and upon in
quiry they became convinced that if the ves-
sells were sold they would be used by the
Russian government for war purposes, and so
reported the facts to the British admiralty.
1t was stated at the foreign Office this alter
noon that Russia had not yet replied to the
demand of England for full explanation re-
specting the Russian attack on the Afghans
on the Kushk river.
1t is untrue that the Queen will return to
England Immediately, in view Of the crisis in
the relations between England and Russia.
Sixty thousand men from the army re-
serves, and the whole militia will be called
out. The naval reserves will be used for
home defence.
In the House of Commons today, Gladstone
read reply which was received from Russia
last night. This stated that Russia had al
ready asked Gen. Kemsroff to explain his
conduct in attacking the Afghans at Penjdeh.
Gladstone added that Russia had not yet re-
ceived Gen. Kemorafi's explanation. In re-
gaId to the question OF the present occupation
of Penjdeh, he stated that he had been in
communication upon this subject with Sir
Edward Thornton, British ambassador at st.
Petersburg, and the latter had informed him
that the Russians do not occupy Penjdeh, but
have returned to the positions they occupied
before the battle with the Afghans.
Lord Dufferin. after consultation with the
Ameer, urges the government to order an
immediate advance of troops into Afghanis-
tan. The Ameer has sent out couriers to
Afghan chiefs. with orders for them to meet
him at Cabul for the purpose of holding a
war durbar.
Letters from St Petersburg mailed at Ber-
lin in order to escape Russian censorship,
charge the Russian minister of war with
having sent orders to Gen. komaroff about
the end of February to bring on a conflict
with the Afghans, and state that Gen. Kor-
moroff started from Mery with reinforce