Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-04-22

OfGeD. kOmaTOff at Penjdeh-An I'm.
portant Message Sent by the British to
Lumsden's Report of the Afghan
Trouble.
LONDON, April 81. a,
Advices from Tirpul under date of April
l6, state that the result of all inquiries show s
that the attack on PenJdeh by the Russians
was absolutely unprovoked. Capt Yates,
who remained at Penjdeh in order to see that
the Afghans respected the agreement of Mar.
IL, had an interview with the Russian staff
on the day previous to the battle, at which he
pointed out that the Afghans had occupied the
west bank of the Kushk river on and since
the 18th of March. The Russians complained
of the demeanor of the Afghan troops and of
the preparations apparent in their lines; also
that the Atgha6s had detained some Tekke
Iurcomen troopers, employed at Pull Khisti
in the Russian service. They further accused
the Afghans of reconnoitering with sweeping
charges of arrogance.
The facts were that Gen. Komaroff had
pushed 5000 troops forward to a commanding
position before the Afghans, who naturally
proceeded to strengthen their weaker out
posts. This led to the Russians alleging ar
rogance. The Russians evidently wanted to
deal telling blow to the Afghans in order to
restore their waning prestage in the Turco,
man country, and were obliged to invest
themselves with this pretext to break the
truce. The attitude of the Afghans was stu
diously moderate, and there is no color to
the pretense that their movements were ever
irritating. They even allowed the Russians
to inspect their arrangements at Pull Khisti.
Gen. komarotf's troops are reported to
have Withdrawn from Penjdeh after the bat
tie. Their withdrawal. however, was a mere
ruse by which they conceded nothing, but
which it was calculated might moderate the
resentment that was certain to be shown,
when the news reached England. In India
the effects of the Afghan defeat are already
plainly obvious.
Merhed advices of April 20, say the Rus
slams are still at Catapa Gen. KOmaroff has
gone to Sarakhs and Gen. Alkhanof to Yula-
tan. The Afghans evince great anxiety to
learn the English policy in regard to Afghan
istan. The Heratee, referring to SIR Peter
Lumsden's boundary commission SAYS: cit
has neither force to go nor intention to stay"
WARSAW, April 81.
The Tagblatt announces that it is the in
tention of Russia to capture and fortify Herat
and says that the damage that would thus be
done tc India would far exceed the losses
that the commerce of Russia would sustain
by the blockade of her ports.
A cabinet council has been summoned for
today to further consider the Afghan ques-
ton.
VIENNA, April 21.
Politsche correspondent writes that the
real points of the difficulty between England
and Russia are the bridges at Pull Khista
and A. X. Tapa, which command Herat, and
" hjch Russia insists uDOn rpfaininu
ST. PETERSBURG. April 81.
1t is rumored here that Aynoub Khon, for
merly Ameer of Afghanistan, who was ar
rested at Teheran, was taken into custody by
orders of Russia, and he will be kept at the
disposal of the Russsn government. One
of the uses to which it is said he will be put
if it becomes necessary, will be to produce a
schism among the Afghan troops.
The Journal De st. Petersburg insists that
the accounts of the battle on the Kushk river
made by Gen komarotf and Sir Peter Lums-
den agree, Notwithstanding the English opn-
ions to the contrary. 1t says detailed state
ment of the affair from Gen. Komarotf can
not he made for several weeks.
The St. Petersburg Gazette says that the
occupation of Penjdeh was good answer to
the impudent seizure by England of the island
of Port Hamilton.
has again fallen and that war cloud is ad-
vancing.
LONDON, April 81.
A despatch from Tirpul states that the
Russians are compelling the Sarkhs to build
a military road through the Penjdeh district
to Herat.
The Standard believes that constant com
munication between France and Russia with
in the last few days have been with the object
of creating the greatest pressure against Eng
land to succumb to Russas demands.
The Pail Mall Gazette reiterates the state
ment it made yesterday, that the Afghan
frontier question is as good as settled. Only
| a question of amour propre, it says, remains
to be arranged. Although this may prove
troublesome it will not provoke war.
Government has asked for a credit of $55.
600. 900 for the army and navy account, S22,
100000 is for war purposes in the Soudan,
and S32, 500, 900 for other naval and military
preparations.
1t is stated that Russia now declines to en-
| ter into a distinct and definite obligation to,
on no account, advance beyond the Afghan
boundary line which shall be settled on by a
| Joint Anslo Russian boundary commission.
England proposes such obligations as the
only stable form of settlement of the present
dispute.
| 1t is rumored thatthe cabinet have resolved
| to renew England's protest against the action
of Gen. Komaroff at PenJdeh. The protest
was allowed to lapse until the receipt of Off
clal accounts of the affair from both sides.
Now that Sir Peter Lumsden's official ac-
counts of the whole Penjdeh business is at
hand, it is found to contradict the Russian
generals explanation in such particulars and
and to place Russia so paipsbly in the wrong
that the cabinet have decided to insist upon
Russia's recognition of England's protest
against Komaroff's action.
GLASGOW, April Il.
Two cruisers have been ordered to be at
once constructed on the Clyde. This order
practically revives shipbuilding on the river
and has already resulted in the employment
of 5000 men.
Moscow, April 81.
The Gazette. in significant article on the
Anglo Russian dispute, describes the attitude
which has been maintained by the Earl of
Dufferin during the controversy, as a suffi-
cient casus belli. The Gazette also de-
nounces Engiand's action in occupying Port
Hamilton Island. in the coresn Archipelago,
for the purpose of controlling entrance to the
Sea of Japan and the route to the Russian
Pacific ports. and declares that unless Eng.
land surren nders her occupation of this isla nd