The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-04-17
THE FIRST FIGHT.
An Afghan Force of 1000 De.
feated by the Russians.
Immediate Satisfaction Or War De-
manded in England,

The chances of great and bloody war be-
tween England and Russia over the disputed
Afghan boundary were greatly increased by
an attack of the Russian forces upon the
Afghans on the frontier of Afghanistan. A
London dispatch says that the news of the
fight stirred England to the cen
ter, and that the excitement grew
from hour to hour as the
seriousness of the situation was shown. The
anti-Russian feeling among both political
parties in the house of commons amounts TO n
passion; and it was stated that if Russia
explanation of the attack upon the Afghans
was delayed or incomplete. war would at
once be declared.
A short account of the cattle that was
fought between the Russians and Afghans on
the frontier of Afghanistan is published in the
Official Messenger Of St Petersburg This &C
count says General Komarof reports that in
consequence of provocative and manifestly
hostile proceedings of the Afghans he was
compelled to attack them on March } on both
banks of the Kushk river The result was
the defeat of the Afghans, with the loss of
5O0 men, all their artillery, two standards,
ana their entire camp and provisions. The
russian loss was one officer and ten sol.
nine soldiers wounded. When the fighting
ended General komarof returned across
the river to the position he had
formerly occupied. General Komaroff
also reports that some British officers, who
had been eye witnesses but not participants
in the engagement, appealed to the Russians
for protection when they saw that tn,
Afghans were beaten, but unfortunately a
convoy which he Immediately dispatched to
the relief of these officers was unable to over
take the Afghan cavalry, who carried the
British away with them in their flight
A dispatch from Sir Peter Lumsien. dated
at Gu!ran, states officially to the British gov
eminent that the Russians attacked the AT
ghans intrenched in their position at Penjdeh,
and slaughtered 700 OF the garrison. Seventy
thousand British and Indian troops now sta
TONED along or near the northern Indian
frontier may reach Herat in time to prevent
its capture by the Russians
According to information received in Lon
don the Afghan force in the battle numbered
four thousand men, with eight cannons.
dispatch to the London Times from Gulran
says that the Russians, making a pre-
text of change in the position of the
Afghan outposts, attacked Penjdeh and
drove the Afghans out of their
position. The Atghans stubbornly resisted
their assaants The weather was wet at the
time of the attack, which rendered the muz
zle-load;ng guns of the Afghans useless. Two
companies held one position against the Rus
SLAMS until lts defenders were killed. The AT
ghans retreated to Marauchak in perfect or
der. The Russians made no pursuit The
Sarakhs remain neutral, but pundered the
AfghaEs' camp. The Russian losses are said
to be great. The British officers remained
until tine Afghans effected their retreat
when they joined the camp of Sir Peter
Lumsden
The London Telegraph also has a dispatch
from Allahabad which says that General
Komarolf, after his victory, occupied Peni
deb, which has long been held by an Afghan
garrison. The Telegraph expresses the fear
that British officer fell in the rout at Penj-
deh.
M. Lessar, the special Russian commissioner
in England, expressed 1.-THE opinion that the
battle was brought about by the Afghans
attacking Russian pickets and driving them
from their posts. This, he thought, would
have caused the Russians to retaliate, and
thus general fight would be brought on. :.