The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-18
England Has Not Communicated with
Russia as to Occupation Of Penjdeh.
Unconfrmed Statement that Duferin Has
Declared the Place Not Worth Fighting
For-Attitude Of the Sultan.
A Document Showing that Komaroff Did MOI
Obey Orders.

House of Commons this afternoon, stated that
the government had to-day received from Sir
Peter Lumsden a reply to their request for an
indepe ndent report upon the Penjdeh incident
In this it is stated that General Komaroff was
aware. at as early date as the 2Sth of March,
of the understanding agreed upon on March II
between Russia and England. According to.
the terms of this understanding, England was to
deter the Afghans and the Gar was to deter
his troops from advancing beyond the positions
they then respectively occupied, until some sub
sequent agreement about the demarkation of the
Afghan frontier could be reached between the
two governments The battle on the
Kushk was fought, therefore, several days
after General Komaroff had been made aware
of the agreement not to advance. It will be re-
membered that Captain Yates, British officer
who witnessed the battle, was assured by Rus
sian officer who commanded in the fight that he
knew nothing of the understanding of the 18th
of March. Sir Peter Lumsden's present report
seems to warrant the inference that whatever
General Komaroff knew officially about st.
PetersburgS agreement with London he kept to
himself
Mr.. Gladstone being asked if the government
had protested against the recent occupation Of
Penjdeh by General Komaroff and his establish
ment of Russian administration there,
answered that the government had not yet made
either occurrence the subject of official COM
munication with Russia. The government was
awaiting further information, the Premier said
concerning these events
Continuing, Mr.. Gladstone said: "We asked
Sir Peter Lumsden for full and conservative
account Of the events of the 30th of March, the
day the battle on the Kushk was fought. A tel
egram from him has arrived since we sent our
request This dispatch is dated Tirpul April
13. 1t is in cipher, and is now being deciphered.
We shall be unable to say anything further upon
this branch of the subject until this dispatch is
fully deciphered. The fact that the Russian
commander was aware of the agreement of
the 18th of March before the 30th of
March, and the question as to whether
or not he acted upon Instructions
or contrary to instructions. concerning that
agreement, will form the subject of future COM
munications between the government and Russia
In regard to the reported establishment by the
government knows nothing officially, and must
await fuller information"
Mr.. Gladstone concluded by saying: "rhe
government will, on Monday or Tuesday next
ask the House to sanction a vote of credit
When this is requested, we will state how much
money is wanted, and what it is wanted for, and
then shall probably be able to cover the entire
question fully"
Lord Edmond Fitz Maurice, Under Foreign
Secretary, in answer to an interrogatory put by
Sir Stafford Northcote in the Commons, said
that the government considered Penjdeh in AZ
ghanistan proper, but not far from the Russian
frontier.
1t is stated at ST. Petersburg that Turkey has
positively assured Russia that in the event of
war no English iron-clads vii lbe allowed to enter
the Black sea- Turkey, it is said has also de-
clared that she could make the Dardanelles i'm
passable in few hours if necessary.
| General Komaroff reports that the Afghans
have evacuated all the frontier posts. and that
the Russian outposts occupy their former posi-
/ tions. General Komaroff states that he will
proceed shortly to inspect his advanced posts.
The Daily News says the government has not
yet decided upon the amount of the credit to be
asked. which will depend upon developments
i
amount will be f6,000,000.
The Post says, editorially, that the prospect of
peaceful issue grows brighter. Russia is rap
idly advancing the intervening space and such
an event would probably be attended by some ad-
vantage The subsection of the pillaging Afghans
either to England or Russia, would doubtless
improve their internal condition. but at present
England is responsible for the protection of the
| Afghan frontier, which would form cheaper
| defense for India than would the line of border
| Notifications and Indian garrisons that would be
needed if the frontier should be made conterrni-
| nous.
| Afghan chiefs have sent deputation to General
Komaroff to announce their submission.
| 1t also says that a proclamation
signed by the Governor has been
issued at Herat, ordering that nobody be allowed
to enter the citadel, and that the city
gates be closed from 7 p. NJ to A. NJ; that
no -four or cereals be exported; that caravans
be permitted to enter only on a special
license; that all Russians be directed to present
themselves to the Governor, and that every
house hold in readiness for service two we'll
trained men, The Vienna Tagblatt thinks that
Afghanistan is lost to England
The Times's st. Petersburg correspondentsays
that later details state that the Afghan loss by
Russian bullets, cold and hunger, amounts to
I,60O men. The Saryk Turkomans. acting under
advice of the Russians pursued them almost to
Herat II is rumored that the Saryks encoun-
tered portion of Sir Peter Lumsden's convoy
Gen. Komaroff has appointed Russian gov
ernor Of Penjdeh and has put Saryk officials In