The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-04-15
AFGHAN FORCES ATTACKED.
Intense Excitement Over the Reported
Bloody Battle Between the Afghans
and Russians at Penjdeh.

LoEpoN, April ct was ascertained late
this afternoon that 20 days session of the
cabinet had not been called as had been
given out. merely to prepare for this
evenings opening Of Parliament.
The real purpose of the session was to dis
cues the alarming kilograms which we're
coming in from Sir Peter Lamsden. The
first OF these dispatches was received yester.
day, bat as il came in an incomplete state it
vaa not acted on. although it was OF an
slarming nature. Action was postponed in
order to get the fall text. The telegram
read thus: "a large force Of Russians from
Pull. Khisti made. severe attack on the
Afghan outposis at Penjdeh." at this tthe
most important point the dispatch was
oreken of. evidently through cutting 0i the
wires. II WAS decided that Sir Peter Lums-
den mad gone a. once 10 Guieran for the par-
pose Of remaining on guard al RobAt pass
on the road to Hsrat. No doubt was enter
taiDed that between the tina OF the receipt
of the blok en- dispatch and II days develop
ments the Government, while believing that
the Afghan defeat at Penidsh was really lets
disastrous than reported still considered the
q
casus Delli.
The Cabinet alec discussed the question OF
st once sending the six IRON ciad5 now at
Malta to the Dardenalles. There Is great
agitation This evening in all the Govern
ments departments. II is stated that II $50
Ieinforcements will be at once sent to India.
The Fist Army Reserve will probably be
called out Immediately. The Earl OF DAT
fern, at Rawsl-Pindi to-day, was Informed
by telegraph of what bad occurred ct Rea
Deb. BE at once told Aodurrahman, the
Amer o, Afgbanistsn, and the native Indian
chiefs, Who are in attendance at the councils.
The native chiefs unanimously recommended
the immediate throwing OF troops into
Afghanistsn. This recommendation has
been placed bs fore the home Govern ment IN
London, Later in the day the surmise of
the Governments in regard to the movements
OF Sir Peter Lumsden was suostantiated by
the receipt Of = telegram from him at Guile
ran. The telegram was dated April l and
completed the broken dispatch. 1t states
officially that the Russians attacked the
AT hans entrenched in their position at
Pen jdeh and slaughtered 200 OF the garrison.
The Cabinet sat for two hours Earl Gran
vile, British Foreign Minister, after ths
adjournment bad separate interviews with
Musurss Pasha, the Turkish ambassador to
London, and Baron De Staal, the Embsssa-
dor from Russia.
Mr.. GlasstonA in the house OF Commons
this evening in answer to interrogatories,
said that on Saturday the Cabinet had con-
sidere1 Russia reply to England's proposal
10 limit the zone of survey to dsbatable
points. REssis's reply was an agreement TO
do this. provided the zone OF survey a.
marked out by England was extended sOutl-
ward so as to include the PSrmessi range of
mountains. The Government considered
that this reply did not advance the question
towards q conclusion, and waB dissatisfied
With it. Within the past twenty-four hours,
however, said the Premier, a subsequent
communication had been received from
Russia, AID this appeared, in the opinion of
ths Government, TO place the matter in
more hopeful position.
Being asked what the nature Of this subse-
quent communication was, Mr.. Gladstone
said that it would be impossible at present
for the Government 10 make any further
statement concerning the pending negOtia-
lions about the Afghan frontier, in vieg OF
TIE grave occurrences Just re ported. Co1tin.
uiDg. Mr. Gladstone said that IL was evident
that the Russians hsd attacked the Aighans.
The Afghsns bad. in this attack, beea de-
feeted, after making gallant Tesistanos.
IL was apparent. also. that the Ru ssia1s,
sf'er the fight had returned to thsir former
positions. or, at least. to the left bank Of the
kuski River, which might be equivalent 10
such retreat The Government had been
informed, the Premier ~eat on, that the
Russians bad made every endeavor 10 in
duce the Afghans to begin the fighting. R1s-
sian troops had even twice Attempted TO
foTcibly pass through the Afghan picket
lines. After one of these attempts had failed
10 provoke an Afghan attack Captain Yates
met q Russian Chief of Staff and talked TO
him about the conduct Of the Russian sol-
diers being an evident violation OF the
Russian agreement to not advance
pending the outcome of the ne
gotations. The Russian officer stated
that be had no knowledge that any arrange
ment existed against q Russian advance
Captain Yates referred to the official Il sDstch
sent from ST. Petersburgo on March IL TO Lon
don, assuring England that orders would be