ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XVII, Issue 835, 14 April 1885, Page 3

ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

FIGHTING BETWEEN THE RUSSIANS AND AFGHANS. London, April 9. Intelligence is to hand to the effect that General Komaroff, the Russian Governor of the Trans-Caspian, has attacked the Afghans. The engagement took place on March 30th on the banks of the Khusk River. The Afghans lost fully 500 men, and were eventually defeated. The whole of their artillery and camp equipments fell into the hands of the Russians. The Russian loss comprised 11 killed and 29 wounded. The Times publishes a letter from its correspondent at Ghaurin, near Herat, giving details of the encounter between Russian and A fghan troops on the 30th. The correspondent states that the pretext for the attack was a change in the position of the Afghan outpost at Penjdeh. The Afghans are stated to have fought, with great stubbornness, and the Russian loss is large. General Komaroff’s force did not pursue the Afghans on their retreat, A number of British officers witnessed the battle, and afterwards rejoined Sir Peter Lumaden at Herat. The Standard states that a battle has been fought in the vicinity of the River Murghab between a number of Russians and Afghans, during which 500 of the combatants were killed. It is believed that the Russians were defeated. In the House of Commons to-day Mr Gladstone stated that information had reached the Government that the Afghans gave no provocation for the attack made upon them by the Russian General Komaroff. The Premier added that the British Cabinet had demanded an explanation from the Russian Government tin to the occurrence. Consols to-day declined from 07 & to 95, a panic having occurred on the Stock Exchange, owing to the present political uneasiness.

April 10. A later dispatch has been received by the Government from Sir Peter Lumsden, in which he qualifies the statement that the Russian attack on the Afghan troops was entirely unprovoked, and states that when the Russian force menaced the Afghan outposts at Penj deh, the Afghans crossed the River Khuskh and took up a stronger position. St. Petersburg, April 9.

A dispatch has been received by the Russian Government from General Komaroff stating that he made an attack on the troops of the Ameer of Afghanistan on account of a hostile movement made by them. General Komaroff reports that after defeating the Afghans he retired to his former position. M. de Giers, Minister for Foreign Affairs, waited on the British Ambassador this evening and expressed, on behalf of the Czar, the hope that the Russo-Afghan incident would not have the effect of stopping the parleying which was proceeding between England and Russia on the frontier question. M. de Giers added that the Russian officers in Central Asia were unaware of the agreement arrived at between England and Russia on the Kith ult. that no advance should take place on either side in Afghanistan pending negotiations on the frontier question. London, April 10. It is reported that the Government demand the disavowal by Russia of the action taken by General Kormaroff, in engaging the Afghans, and also insist upon the return of the Russian forces to their former position. The Times and Standard insist on the retirement of the Russians from the disputed territory, otherwise war will result. It is believed that 60,000 Russians are advancing from Askabad, a fortified town belonging to Russia, in Central Asia. _ _ Russia has equipped nine cruisers in the Gulf of Finland, and is also arranging for the purchase of three others in America. ( The panic caused on the Loudon Stock Exchange and the Continental Bourses is unparalleled since the Franco-German M ar panic.