The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-04-25
LUMDEN'S REPLY.
Full and Complete Answer Of the
British Commissioner TO the
Russian q neral.
Ur Claims That the Afghans Acted
ON the Defensive and the Rus.
slams Sought the Fight.
SIR Peter LumsaleM's Telegram.

LONDON, April 22.-3 a. m.-Sir
Peter Lunsden's dispatch in reply to
the Governments inquiry as to the
correctnts, of General Komaroff's
report of the encounter between the
Russians and Afyhans on the Kushk
river, is dated Tiapul, April 18th,
and is addressed to Lord Granville.
The dispatch reads:
General KomarOff"s second account
of the attack on Penjdeh is consld'
erred incorrect. General Komaroft
SAYS: son the 25th of March one de-
tatchment approached Task Kpri or
pal.d-Kluste, on our bank of the
Kushk river" My reply IS: Gen.
eral Komaroff7s claim to either oank
,f the Kushk river is untenable. The
ltf, bank has always been held by
the Afghans and was.
NEVER SUBJECT TO RUSSIAN OcCU-
PATTON.
Ol the Goth of February the
Russians located an outpost OF
twenty-five Turkomans on Kill
Teps mound, one mile north of Pull
I-khiste and about mile from the
nearest point on the Kushk river
and the Kuskk's junction with the
Morb river. This had always been
retained as the extreme limit of the
Russian advance within their line of
videttes. The Russian cavalry de-
tachment alluded to did advance
again st Pul-I-Khiste on March 25th,
but they retired before reaching
there, when warned by the Afghan
commander, as they had been on
February Goth. General Komaroft
states that near the bridge he found
an entrenchment occupied by
Afsans. | re, ly that this position
was, coupled py the AfghaDs previous
to General KOmarOtf's advance and
to agreement of March 18th; and
thirdly, General KomarOff says in
order to avoid conflict.
IPLACED MY TROOPS
five versts from the Afghan position.
In reply to this can only refer to
the main body, as the Russian troops
were in Klzit. Tepe, mile from the
Afghan position, and the Russian
V,Ietts were considerable in advance
of that point. FOurthly, General
komaroT says: "When the Afghans
were convinced that We had no in
tention of attacking them they |
began 10 come daily nearer our |
camp | reply, that far from
rllEAFGiIANs BEING CONVINCED
of General KOmarot17s innocent in
tentrons, the continued daily at |
1elnpls to provoke hostility, con-
vinced the Afghans that the Russians |
were determined to provoke a con-
fict. This induced the Afghans to |
what appeared to be a military ne
cessity in extending their defensive |
positions. Filthy, General koma- |
rolf states that on the 9th day of
March the Afg hans sent out COM
pany which was charged with cover
ing a reconnaissance. The companies
being provided with cannOns and
some cavalry. In reply to this, l
say that the reconnaissance in force,
itsely meant hostile intentions. A
Russian company meant $500 more
than an equivalent to three Afghan
companies, which aggregated 225
men. On the 9th two bodies Of
RUSSIANS SIMULTANEOUSLY
ADVANCED.
Colonel Alikhanoff with the cava!-
airy pushed past Put-l-khlste. The
Russian Infintry occupied the right
flank of the Afghan position on the
right bank of the Murghah. Colonel
Ali hanoff only retired when he was
Intercepted 10y the AfghaDs. The
cavalry was fOnr miles in the rear of
the Afghan position. The Russian
infxn'ry only retired when the Al
CHAN commander drew up the other
r mpanies, warning the Russian otfl-
Ger that if he advanced further, he
" ouId be fired ulon. komaroft states
ANNOYANCE AND AUDACITY
ui the Afglans increased by degrees.
but If so, it was caused entirely by
Russian action. The Afghans did
their utmost to avoid collision. 1t
il solely owing to their patience and
torbearance during two months OF
increased irritation that peace was
preserved so long. The Afghan
commanders courteous reply OF
March 10th to General Komaroft7s
altimatum proves his wish to the
last to avoid q conflict. General
komarotI says that on the 2sth the
Afghans occupied a height COM
manding the left flank Of the Rus
sian camp and began
TO THROW UP INTRENCHM HMENTS
there to establish q post of cavalry
,hind the Russian camp.
The Panama Fight.