The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-22
Sir Peter Lumsden Unveils Russla's
DuplIciiy In the Kushk River AZ.
fair at PeDjdeh.
European News Points to War as
Inevitable = Even Gladstone
Loses Patience With
Russia.
SIR PETER LUHsDEN.
His Beply TO General KomarOh's State
menT Regarding the Fight at the
Kushk River.


LONDON, April 2l-sir Peter Lumsdsn's
dispatch in reply to the Governments in
q7iry as TO the correctness Of General Koma-
roff's report OF the engagement between the
Russisns aud the Afghsns on Kuskh River,
is dated Tispvi, April Il, and is addressed TO
Earl Granville. The dispatch reads:
General KomaroH's account OF the attack on
Penjdeb Is considered Incorrect General kOma-
roR saws: "On the 18th OF March one detachment
approached Task-Kepri on cur bank OF the kushk
Khisti General Komsroh's claim 10 either bank
OF the kushk is unlenable. The left bank has
always Oeen held by the Afghsns. aud was
the 10th OF February the Russians located
OUTPOST OF twenty-five Turkomans at
Khisti, and about mile iIom the nearest poln.
on the kuShk River and the kuphk's Junction,
with the hurgbab River. This had always re.
NAMED the extreme limit of the Russian advance
Within their line of vedeties the Russian cavaly
detachment alluded TO. did advance almost to
Pui-l-khisti March ., but they retired before
reaching there. where warned by the Afghan COM
mander as they had been on February 20.
2. General komarOn states that near the
bridge he found 1nlrenchments occupied by
Aigbans reply that THIS position was occupied
by the Afghans pevious 10 General KomarOfs
advance and to the agreement OF March IL.
) General Komaroff says: In order to avoid
conflict i placed my troops five yerSts from the
Aigt an position. In reply to this l can only re
were in EizilTspe nile from the Afghan posi-
ton. and the Russian Vedestes considerably Ia I'd
FourthIy, General KsmaroG says: When the
Ajgbans were convinced we had 10 intention OF
attacking them they began TO come nearer to
being convinced OF General K0marOh's innocent
intentions their continued Irritating caily at
tempts 10 provoke hostility convinced the Atgn-
ans that the Russians were determined to provoke
conflict This induced the Afghans 10 what a0-
reared a military necessity in extending their
Filhly, General KouaroF st etes that on the
9th of March TIE Aighans sent against CON-
pany which was charged with covering a recon
nois snce three companies with cannoDs and some
cavalry. Inrepy 20 this, / kay a Reconnaissance
in force Itself meant hostility. Ihe Russian CON-
pSny meSnt go men, more than equivalent TO
three igbsn companies. which aggregated 225
men. On the 27th two bodies OF Russians stimuli
cavalry pushed past Rutd Khisti, and the Russian
infantry penetrated the right flank of the Afghan
position, the riRht bank OF the Mucghab.
Colonel Alikbanof only retired when intercepted
By the Afghans. The cavalry was four miles IN
the rear of the Aighans. Tbe auSSian infantry
only retired when the Afghan commander drew
up diere companies, warRi1g the Russian officer
II he advanced further he would be fred upon.
General Komarof-s chief of-staf at an interview
rad on the 29th, called Colonel Ahkharof7s ad-
vance merely for a pleasure trip. but was in
| formed The Afghan commander viewed il in a
Sixihly, General Komaroff states the arrogance
and sudaCty of the Afghals increased by degrees.
reply that II may be even so, but If so, It was en-
| tirely caused by Russian &C tion. 1t solely
owing TO their patience and forbearance during
two months OF inCsssant Irritation that peace was
| The commanders courteous reply OF March 2Sth
| to General Komarois ultimstum proves his wish
| TO the last 10 avoid a conflict. General
Aighsns occupied Herat, commanding
| tae left flank of the Russian camp and began to
| throw up entertainments there, snG TO establish a
post CT cavalry behind the Russian line, and
placed picket within gunshot distance. l reply
/ that the Afghan commander did, on the 18th, af
| ter the hostile reconnaissance on the 27th place
post OF observation on the hills on the right bank
OF tie Murghat River for the purpose .of giviving
notice OF any fresh Russian advance, but the post
| was Withdrawn next day.
| Is. General Komsroffsays on the 29th he sent
4 10 the Afghan's commander an energetic sum.
/ mons etc and received answer that. nv advice
| OF the English, he Cine Afghan commauder) re-
| fused to retire across the Kushk River. Ia reply
TO this may state that the fact itself is reported
| 10 me to be totally incorrect Nowhere in the
| Afgt an commanders Teply Is there any suck
| statement; on the contrary. the wording is Dis
| unct thus: have only received yonr letter re
garding the Withdrawal OF certain pcSeis, as had
receive q orders from the Gosernme nt at Herat TO
consult CsptAin Yate, wto was deputed TO Penideh
J by sir Peter Lumsden, in such matters
| | showed him your letter. Captain Yates alter
| ward bad an interview with Colonel ZakricheWski,
| and informed me OF the conversation which en-
| sued. He IL known to ye, must Loyalty obey the
| orders have received from His Hfghness the
| Amer can in no wise act contrary TO orders OF
my sovereign OF course. in matters OF detail
such as alterations in position OF advanced pekets
! ard yeoettes | am prepared 10 arrange with sc.
| with view 10 avoidance OF a conflict
| =. General k0msTOh says he again addressed a
! private .etter Couched io flendly terms In reply
sey the letter in question was never seen by any
| officer OF tie commission. but Captain Delashal
| was told the letter had been received few hours
before the Russian attack the 30th. / have now
| called upon sepeh Saass for a copy of the second
letter,
10. General Nomaroa ststes that on the SOlh to
pSO with my Setaeh@ens rnus ssainss the A''el AZ.
ghan's position, counting siin on pacific resul;,
but artillery fire and cavalry attack compelled me
! 10 accept The combat In reply, ( say the Rus
sans advanced the Afghan position. OF course the
| Aighans were Obliged TO defend themselves Ger
| tsinly the engagement was not commenced by ar
tilleTy fire as 5eDeral Komar0f states infantry
| fire was heard continuing several minutes before
4 -. -