Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-10
HoSrILITIEs COMMENCED.
A F7oRT IN cESrRAL ASIA.
The Rsssisss Atssrt the asshsss-rhe Lat
Ger s,sfesssd with Les 81 500 KILLED
yssxsss Excited.

Ebe Nussiana Atssrt the &uhtss-ssehs -"
Ter Defeated with Les ss 500 KILLED
ysrsss Excited.
fRy cable 70 the Dsretch.l
LONDON, April 9.---Gcneral Roma
ref. the Russian commander, attacked
the fortified positions Of the Afshsns
on the Kushk river on March both.
The Afghan force, numbering 1900
men, with eight cannon, was defeated.
Their loss was 500 men killed and
wounded. All the artillery, two stand
ards, the entire camp-equipage, and
provisions were captured. The Rus
slams lost one officer killed and three
subalterns wounded, besides 10 sol
diers killedand 20 wounded.
A RUSSIAN PRETRxT--A STUBBORN
RESISTANCE.
LONDON, April "a dispatch to
the Times from Gubran, dated April
Sd. states that tho Russians, while
making a pretext Of changing the posi-
ton Of their outposts on the Afghan
frontier, attacked Penjdeh on March
goth. and drove the Afghans out Of
their position. The Afghsns stubborn
ly resisted their assailsnts. The wes-
ther was wet at the time OF the attack,
which fact rendered the muzzle-loading
guns Of the Afghans useless. Two com
panies held one position against the
Russians until its defenders were kill
ed. The Afghans retreatcd TO Marau-
chsk in perfect order. The Russians
made no pursuit. The Ssratko re-
manned neutral, but plundered the AZ
CHAN camp. The Russian losses are said
to be great. British officers remained
until the Afghans effected their retreat,
when they Joined the camp Of Sir Peter
Lumsden.
THE RUSSIAN GENERALS REPORT.
ST. PETERSBURG, April 9.-Tho
ObcidI Messenger publishes the follow
ing General Komaroff reports that in
consequence Of provocative and mani
testify hostile proceedings Of the AZ
gbans, he was compelled to attack them
on tho Both ultimo on both banks OF the
Kushk river. The result was the defeat
of the Afghans with the loss OF 500 mon,
all their artillery, two standards, and
their entire camp and provisions. When
the fighting ended General Komsroff
returned .crsss the river to the posi-
tons he had formerly occupied.
General Komaroh also reports that
some British officers who had been
eye-witnesses but not participants in
The engagement appealed to the Rus
slams for protection when they saw
that tho Afghsns were beaten. But
unfortunately, he says, convoy which
he Immediately dispatched to the relief
of these officers was unable to overtake
the Afghan cavalry, who carried the
British away with them in their flight.
EQUIVALENT TO A DECLARATION or
WAR.
LONDON, April 9.-There is great
excitement on the London Stock Ex-
change, amounting to almost panic,
over the news Of the fight in Afghan
istan, which is regarded as equivalent
70 a declaration Of war Foreign funds
are demoralzed. Russians are quoted
at S2s.
The India Office has received no Off
cial dispatches concerning the battle be-
tween the Russians and the Afghans.
General Komaroh's dispatch, published
in tho 06icia! Messenger, has been tele-
graphed to each member Of the British
Cabinet.
THE GRAVITY or THE SITUATION.
LONDON. April 9.-The Telegraph
published = fourth edition, which was
on the streets little before 2 o'clock
this afternoon. This states that the
gravity Of the news from the Afghan
border has not been in any degree dimin-
ished by advices received by the Gov
crnment. The telegraph wire to Neshed
has been cut for some days.
The Telegraph has dispatch from
Allahabad which states that General
Komaroif after his victory occupied
Pcnjdeh, which has long been held by
the Afghan garrison. The Telegraph
expresses fear that British officers fell
in the rout st Penjdeh.
THE ST. PETERSBURG MERCHANTS.
LONDON. April 9.-St. Petersburg
merchants have telegraphed their agents
at Paris not to consign goods for them
pio the Baltic sea in English vessels.