Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-05-01

the frontier to joint Russian and
British commission, hut the unexpect-
ed entry Of the Afghans into PeDideh
and the Afghan advance down the
Murghab and Heri-rud rivers COM
PEELED Russia to protect her rights In
summary manner against the arbitrary
seizure of her territory. In this view
Gen. KomaroH was ordered in
January last to occupy with
his videttes the line extending
from Zulficar along the Herl-rud river,
thence across to Pal-i. Khisti, where
the Kushk enters the Murghab, and
where the ancient bridge crosses the
Kushk river, this forming the western
boundary Of the Penjdeh oasis. The
Russian commanders were enjoined to
abstain from armed collision with the
Afghans unless the latter provoked an
encounter. The Russians, as directed,
occupied the above described position
on February 20. On the 4th OF March
Sir Edward Thornton, the British
minister, informed Mr.. de Giers,
the Russian minister, that
the Afghans had been requested
not TO attack the Russians with the
object OF driving them from their
position, but solely to resist the
Russian advance. England at the
same time expressed wish thai, pend
ing the settlement Of her boundary
dispute, the commander Of the
Russian outposts be ordered to re-
strain from making any further ad.
vance. Russia agreed to this with
certain restrictions, and being informed
also that Russian outpost was
already stationed at Pul-i-Khisti and
an Afghan outpost at Aktapa, Gen.
Komaroff was requested not to occupy
Penjdeh. The information furnished
Russia corresponded with what Gen.
Lumsden had eaid, namely,
that the Russians had occupied
Pul-i-Khisti and that an Afghan out
post was stationed on the right bank
Of the kushk river. England's ex-
PLANTATION that the Afghan troops had
been required to stop their advance en-
tirely excluded the probability Of as
summing that the Afghans might adj
vance their outpost to the left bank of
TIE Kushk river. But when General
Komaroff approached Pull. Khisti he
found on the left bank of the Kushk
river outside OF the Penjdeh district
fortified Afghan post. This being
in contradiction with his information
be was bound, for the protection OF
his small 6etachments, to request the
Afghan commander to withdraw
from the left bank of the river.
The Afghans' refusal to do this was
the direct cause OF the battle of the
30th. Hence, 1t is evident that the
intention attributed to Gen. Komaroff
of bringing on the conflict is in contra
dietion of the facts. Gen. Komaroff
did not oventep his orders when he
insisted on the evacuation of the left
bank OF the river. Russia is unable
at present to say why the orders men,
toned and which agreed with the in
formation received by England should
have been interpreted in different
manner by the British officers at
tached to the Afghan detachment
which occupied Penjdeh. Gen. Kom-
aroff's dispatch ofApril 18th contains
explanations regarding several points
in Gen. Lumsden's telegram Of April
II, concerning which Gen. Komaroff's
final opinion has not yet been re-
ceived."
A Dispatch from Komarofi
The official messenger publishes the.
following telegram from Gen. koma-
roll, dispatched from Asksbad on Fri.
day last: "A telegram forbidding the
occupation of Penideh reached me
November 90. / only communicated
1t to the commanders of the outposts
and did not make 1t generally known.
Gen. HacOizozki, with my permission,
interviewed by cores ondent some
British. officers in a private capacity.
l did not admit Of their right to treat
officially. addressed my
demands direct to the COM
mander OF the Afghan forces.
1t was by no means my intention to
advance on Pepjdeh. One company
of Russians marched on the heights
on the right bank of the Murghab
river. When the Afghans approached,
however, this one company by my or
ders returned to camp
Gen Komaroff thus concludes: "In
view Of the heavy floods II is impossi.
BILE to furnish regular reports"
NJ. de Giers' Resignation Not Accepted
BRUSSELS. April 5O.-A dispatch
to the Independence Beige from st,
Petersburg says: "At the council yes
terday, at which de Giers' conciliatory
measures toward England were re-
jecled, he rendered his resignation, but
the GEAR refused to accept 1t at the
present crisis, On the arrival OF the
news Of the Russian defeat In Afghan
istan, the car sent q courier dispatch
10 England in the nature of an ultima
tum, and signed an order for the mob
llization of the forces. The Imperial
bank has been ordered to provide the
government with 20,000,000 roubles
tSlS, 200, 000),"
The Russians Were Defeated.
The Independence Belge's st.
Petersburg correspondent reiterates
the statement that there has been a
fresh engagement between the Az
ghans and the Russians and that the
latter were repulsed. He asserts that
the report has been officially en-
| tirmed.
Pushing tho Canadian Pacific to Compile
ton.
OTTAWA, ONT, April 30.--General
Il NJ