New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-12
THE NEWS IN LONDON.
ox,y A SLENDER CHANCE OF PEAcE-rHE
RUSSIAN POSITION.
~, nvrrp ,umspEN RErREArrSG TO KusAN-ih"
RUSSIANS IN COMMAND OF Ao'A' ~
ROAD TO HERAT OPEN.

my CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l
,ovnox, April 11.-General Komarot's attack
AZ. Afcbans is regarded in every capital OF
Europe as an act of wal. in no well INFORMED
orter here or abroad is there any but the 1aihtes'
-. q, neace Mr. Gladstone's language and
,..nner alike in the House of Commons on Thurs
a.v convinced everybody that he is himself con-
,,;n.ed that war is all but inevitable Nothing has
.;nce occurred to diminish the probability.
THE PENJDEH BATTLE
Ar Gladstone said yesterday that the informa-
.;on was first incomplete and secondly not perfectly
.,aar Init the essential facts are known and no
man has succeeded in explaining them consistently
with good faith on the part of Russia. General
Komarofrs statement that he was compelled 10
attack in consequence of aggressive action on the
matt of the Afghans is directly contradicted by
Cir Peter Lumsdeu's account The military and
dinlomatic authorities accept as conclusive sir
Peter Lumsden's statement that the Afghans since
March II have made no forward movement Oh any
kind while before the affair of March 80 the
Russians tried all means to induce the Afehans 10
begin the fight. The presence of the Englsh oW-
GERS with the Afehans ut Penjdeh would itself SET
&Ie the question that they aware Of .the agree
meut to maintain the status quo on both SIDES
They yainly tried to persuade the Russians VINO
denied all knowledge Of such an agreement 10
abide by it. Their report proves that they con-
,ddered the Afghan movements within the terms OF
tbe agreement and purely defensive. Assuming
then that General Komaroff was in the wrong the
ouestion of war or peace depends on the answer OF
two questions: viii Russia offer any reparation
and what reparation would be accepted
WHAT ENGLAND DEMANDS.
The English request for an explanation embodied
No terms. but English opinion is nearly unanimous
that formal disavowal of General Komaroff act
a formal expression of regret and complete re-
storation of the previous military position constr
tute the minimum of apology. Nobody believes
that General Komarof acted without either orders
or an assurance of support whether from the Car
or from those surrounding him. who are IN POSI-
tion to force his hand. Technicaties go for little
The conviction here is general that Russia thought
the crushing of an Afghan division would be the
read,est answer to the imposing and aggressive
demonstration at Rawul-PindL
RUSSIAN ADVANTAGES OF POSITION.
That dishonest victory on the Kushk secures Tor
Russia the most important position in the debated
territory. Russia to-day is master OF the entire
country between the Murghab and the Heri-hud
Sir Peter Lumsden has been forced to retire from
Gulran Gurlin), where he commanded Robat Pass
TO Kusan. leaving the road to Herat open. The
Russian force south of Merv is enormously greater
than was suspected. 1t is evident that masses OF
troops have been hurried forward during the whole
period whileRusa was pretending'to "diplomatize."
THE RUSSIAN TRIcKERY.
The dilatoIy game is still to be played under the
pretext of asking explanations from General Ko-
marof His dispatch announcing the battle is
known to have been received at st. Petersburg on |
Tuesday and probably much earlier. 1t was. not |
published till Thursday nine days after the event,
though the telegraph extends to Merv, 120 miles
from Penjdeh. Russian agents in London pretend |
that fortnight will be required to send message
TO General Komaroff and to receive an answer. In
the meantime decorations and thanks have already |
been dispatched by telegraph from st. Petersburg |
to the officers and troops engaged.
THE EUROPEAN PRESS.
The Russian press under stringent censorship |
exults over the victory and teens with insults to
and defiance Of England.
The English press like the English public has
lost neither head nor temper While mostly re-
gardng war as certain it abstans from provoca-
zion, contents itself with firmly insisting upon
ample reparation for the outrage on the English
allies and for gross breach of a solemn engage
nent
The continental press agrees with the English in
considering General KomarofPs act violation OF |
1ath and sides mostly with England, the French |
papers excepted, which joyfully seize the occasion |
10 give vent to smouldering hatred. Berli- tries |
hard to believe in peace, but the press there IS in
the hands of spectators staggering under load of
Russian stocks, to whom war brings ruin.
A SLENDER HOPE OF PEACE.
II any hope of peace exists it lies probably with
Prince Bismarck, who cannot wish TO soc the
Berlin Bourse heavily in debt owing to the London
collapse. Bankers say that fall Of ten in Russian
stocks may sober even the Russian war party.
THE AMEKR's ATTITUDE
The effect of the Afghan defeat on the Ameer and
India Is perhaps the most important of all. Eng
nah ministers have TO consider not merely whether
Vie Afghan and Russians are technically wrong on
she banks of the Kushk, but, supposing that the
Afghans are wrong. England appear to abandon
them without alternating the Ameer, impairina
her own prestige and convincing all Asia that Rus
sian deeds arc better guarantee than English