The National tribune., 1885-04-16

send. were so managed that they did not reach
the headquarters of Gen. komsrof, Russian
commander at the front, until alter his attack
| upon the Afghans.
England will at once demand of Russia an ex.
plantation oil her conduct III forcing battle upon
| the Afghaus. This demand Will. IL il under.
stood, be coupled with demand for the with
drawal OF the Russian forces to the north NJ
Sarakhs.
1t is rumored that sometime previous 70 tina
PenJdeh affair the Alghaus seut o force ont
! from Herat and attacked the Russian troops in
the Zuihkar Pass and compelled them to retreat
Ine Tout OF the Russians Oh this occasion ia
sad To have been completes, and that "A party OF
! their soldiers and two officers were driven to
seek refuge on the Persian side OF the Herri
koOd River. The Russian Afghan Boundary
Commissioner, now iii London, SAYS that if this
latter report IS true it furnishes Il complete ex-
PLANTATION oi Zen honiaroh 5 attack upon the
AIghans at Penjdeh.
The Gar has agreed to appoint Gen. Gourko
aud Gen. hour0pUtklne to The leading COM
niands III the Afghan campaign IN the event Of
war. Each Will lead an army corps of $1,000
men.
The Aneer Of Afshaniatan has declared his
intention to stand by the English in case of q
war with Russia. The Ficercy of India, Lord
Dufferln at recent durbar held in honor OF tue
Ruler OF Atghauistan presented him with
sword Oh honor. The Ameer, in accepting the
sword, said that he hoped to strike with it any
euenly OF Great Britain.
IL IS very evident that the English expect
war. For the first time i'll nearly a generation
the army and navy oftic.al, are ex periencing the
novelty OF hard work. The Admiralty head
quarters at London look il war had already
broken out Scattered loosely about the apart
meut are motel OF new guns, tOrpedOes and
cruisers, and iuany charts. The corridors OF
tue building are througed daily with ship
k.rr.lr
war Use 10 the Government. Everything about
the premises appears 10 10 in an atmosphere OF
war.
The list OF Atlantic steamships under Eng.
lilh control winch have been secured for Gov
crninent uses III view of war ut present embraces
the AriZUna and Alaska, of Tie GuiOn Line;
the Oregon, EtrurIa, Cmbria, Seryia and Au-
rama, OF the CuBard Line; the City OF ROME,
of the Anchor Line. and the America, OF the
National Line. Besides these, the China
clipper SterlIug Castle aud the Austral, OF the
Oriental Line, have been chartered. The Adj
nIraity nave decided 10 organize d great cruiser
Service of swift vessels. From tins tact IL Is
e"nJectured that tine Government intend to
repudlate the declaration OF the Treaty of Paris
concerning privatcer.ng.
In RuSs.a active preparations for war are also
being made, and there Is IItt.e doubt that she is
temporazng with England simply III order to
make preparations Tor the impending conflict.
III regard l. tue P6nIdeh AFFAIR ten. kOul-
areB states the fight Was brought On by the
Afghan commander refusing to eyacuate po-
sItIGu on the bank OF tho kushka, stating that
he was aCtIns under the advice OF the English.
In order to support his demand and still ex-
porting pacific results, Knmarvf marched with
his detachment towards the Afghan position.
The Afghans then opened fire bin and
brought fight with the results above stated.
n rumOr Is current that the conflict between
the Russians aud ilShauS arose III way quite
different from the manner ia which the Russians
have IT, namely SOiue of the English officers
stationed at the Afghan oulpOsts invited some
Russians officers the oIher side to breakfast.
The Russians were unable 10 accept the invita-
tOn, hut they Seut invitation To- the English
officers. The latter accepted and stayed IN the
Russian camp until late at night. au1 then
asked for an escurs Gen. Komarotf disguised
Some OF his otfcoGs priraies To accompany
the escort, with the object of obtaining news of
the Afghan i0ices. When the escort arrived at
the Afghan camp one of the Russians was OBJ
Served taking note5 i'll his pOeketbOOk. The
Afghans tried TO take away the book; strug-
gle ensued and shot fired, fron which sldo
is not known. The Russians hurried back TO
their camp and the Russian troops were called
to arms aud advanced against the AfghanS next
morning.
Whatever may have been the cause OF Koma-
ref action, the Russian Cos eminent indOrses
it, aud has already bestowed decorations on him
aud his principal officers.