Connecticut western news., 1885-04-15
THE INDIAN WAR.
Capture of an Afghan StrateRIcal Position
 by the Russian Troops.


 A dispatch from Meshed confirms the report of battle between the Russian and Afghan outposts.
 Further advices state that, as 1t appears, the Russian General Komaroff felt bound to attack the Afghans on March 30 his excuse being that they had provoked him. Consequently he moved upon their fortified position, near the Kushk River, and defeated them. The Afghan loss was 500 men killed and wounded, all their artillery, two standards, and camp equipage. British officers were present, but did not participate in the fight. They were borne off by the flying Afghans.
 The Afghan camp at Murghaub, on the Murghaub River, has been captured by the Russians after brief but sanguinaIy battle
 Five hundred Afghans were killed. The Rus, Eian loss was fifty killed and wounded.
 The camp contained Q large quantity of arms, ammunition and military stores, all Of which fell into the hands of the Russians.
 A later dispatch from Meshed says that the British officers who viewed the battle as pas sive spectators, upon realizing that the Af- ghans were defeated, asked the Russian com mander to take them under his protection, because they feared that the Atghans in their frenzy, would massacre them. This the Rus sian general attempted to do, but he was thwarted by the Afghans, who carried the Englshmen to point beyond his reach.
 The news of the engagement on the Afghan frontier between the Russian and Afghan out posts has caused the greatest excitement in London. The people are incensed at the duplicity of Russia in pretending to be anxious for peace while her object they say, was merely to gain time.
 The streets are crowded this morning with an excited populace, rushing hither and thither ill search of the latest in- formation. The newspaper offices are besieged, and the streets are almost im- passable at points where bulletins are displayed.
 The fight on the frontier is generally re- ceived as the first step by Russia in 8 long contemplated contest for supremacy in Asia, and it is believed that a bloody and desperate war between Russia and England is now inev- itable.
 The feeling in financial and commercial cir cles is semi panicky.
 ST. PETERSBURG April 10.-The Official Messenger published the following: General Komaroff reports that in consequence of provo cative and manifesty hostile proceedings of the Afghans he was compelled to attack them on the 30th ult. on both banks of the Kushk River. The result was the defeat of the Afghans, with the loss of 500 men, all their artillery, two standards and their entire camp and provisions. The Russian loss was one off, cer and ten soldiers killed and three subal- terms and twenty-nine soldiers wounded. When the fighting ended Gen. Komarof returned across the river to the position he had formerly occupied. Gen. Roma rolf also reports that some British off, cers, who had been eye-witnesses, but not participants in the engagement, ap- pealed to the Russians for protection when they saw that the Afghans were beaten. But unfortunately, he says, Q convoy which he im- mediately dispatched to the relief of these officers was. unable to oTertake the Afghan cavalry, who carried the British away with them in their flight.
 Instructions have been telegraphed 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 45 miles north of Herat, and through it lies the only practicable road for large military force to Herat. Sir Peter Lumsden has with him about 200 British and natives, and the Ameer's forces capable of concentration at this point number between 10, 900 and 120 900 men. Tue pass is 900 feet high, and the moun- tains are impracticable for even 6 small force.
 Col. Ridgway highly eulogizes the gsllantry of the Afghan troops during the action. He and tho fact that they held their ground as long and as stubbornly as they did, in the face of terrible slaughter and almost certain defeat, shows them to be possessed of splendid cour- age. They were taken by surprise, being at tackled in the absence of any declaration of war and on ground which they believed was admitted to be theirs. They were vastly out numbered, having only 1,500 men, with poor artillery, while the Russians had 5000 we'll armed regulars, besides force of Turcomans.
 WHAT THE WAR Is ABOUT.
 England, as everybody knows, has an im- mense empire in India. Russia has of late years been pushing her conquests in the diree- t1on of India, and about two years ago, when the Russians seized the oasis of Merv, and got control of the great Turcoman desert, they came right up against what has always been regarded as one of the bulwarks of India-Af- ghanistan. Then England became alarmed.
 Look at map of Asia and you will see that all along the northern edge of India like wall of defence, runs the gigantic chain of the Himalayas, the greatest mountains in the world. At the northwestern corner of India this range of mountains splits up, and, turn ing toward the southeast, spreads out into a number of diverging ranges which cover Afghanistan, the backbone of the system being the colossal Hindoo Koosh Mountains. This rugged country of Afghanistan, therefore, forms a sort of natural breastwork for India toward the northwest, the direction from which an invasion by Russia would come, and so England has for years kept sharp over sight of things in Afghanistan. In the north western cornero Of Afghanistan lies the fortified town of Herat, which on account of it's com mandlng position has long been known as the key to India. Right over against Herat on the north and only some two hun dred miles away, is the new post of the Rus sians at Merv.
 After the Russians had got control of the country thus bordering on Afghanistan the question immediately came up to where the exact boundaries of the latter country were. England was so anxious to keep the Russians from advancing further ard, so fearful that their next step would carry them to Herat that she lost no time in demanding that these boun- daries be definitely settled, and joint Con- mission of Russians and Englishmen was appointed to deal with the question on the spot. This Commission has been on the ground during the past year, but has not reached an agreement. The Russians, it appears, claim piece of territory between the rivers Murghab and Heri Rud, issuing from the Afghan mountains, the control of which, it is alleged, would give them command of the road to Herat. The town of Penjdeh, which, it is said, the Russians have just captured, lies upon this road, and according to English claims, within the edge of the Afghan territory.
 The recent negotiations between England and India relate to the question as to where the line should be run and what should be re- garded as debatable ground for the purpose. Two or three weeks ago the two Governments agreed not to make any further advance on either side pending the negoti4tions--that is, Russia promised not to push her troops further into the debatable ground, and England under took to restrain her friends. the Afghans. The recent battle between the hassi9as aad h- ghans, however, shows that one side or the other has failed to keep back.
 As England believes that the safety of her Indian empire depends upon the keeping of the Russians out of Afghanistan, the world looks on to see her aid the Afghans against Russia with all the power and prestige of her arms.
 THE WAR IN THE NORTHWEST.