ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7223, 11 April 1885, Page 2

ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

FIGHTING BETWEEN THE RUSSIANS

AND AFGHANS,

DEFEAT OF THE AFGHANS,

RUSSIA DISAVOWS RESPONSIBILITY.

ENGLAND DEMANDS AN EX PLANATION.

PANIC ON THE STOCK EXCHANGE,

RUSSIAN ARMY ADVANCING,

jßr Electric Telegbaph.—Copyright,]

(EkCTKS'S TELEOKAHf.)

London, April U,

(Recelvod April 10, at 11.25 a.m.)

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 SO on

the banks of the Kbusk River. The Afghans lost fully 500 men, and were eventually severely defeatod. The whole of their artillery and camp equipments fell into the handa of the Russians. The Russian loss comprised 11 killed and 29 wounded.

The Times publishes a telegram from its correspondent at Ghuarin, near Herat, giving details of the encounter between Russian and Afghan troops on the 30th.

Tne correspondent statos that tho pretext for the attaok was a change in tho position of the Afghan outpost at Penjdeb.

The Afghans are stated to havo fought with groat stubbornness, and the Russian loss is large.

General IComarolf's forces did not pursue the Afghans on thoir retreat.

A nn.Tibor of British officers witnessed the battle, and afterwards rojoined Sir Peter liumsden at Herat.

The Standard Btates that a battle has been fought in tho vicinity of tho River Murghab between a number of Russians and Afghans, during which 500 of tho combatants were killed. It is believed that tho Russians wero defeated.

(lloedt-ed April 10, at 2 10 p.m.)

In tho House of Commons to-day Mr Gladetono made a statemont regarding the outbreak of hostilities on the Afghan frontier.

The Premier stated that information had reached the Government that the Afghanß gave'no provocation for the attack made upon them by tho Russian General Komaroff.

Tho Premier addod that the British Cabinet had demanded an explanation from the Russian Government as to tho occurrence.'

(Received April 10, at 0 45 p.m.)

Consols to-day declined from !>7§ to 95, a panic having occurred on the Stock Exchange,

' owing to the prosent political uneasiness. April 10. (Received April 11, at 1.30 a.m.) I A later dispatch has been roceived by the ' I 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 tbo I Russian force menaced the Afghan outposts at Penj-dch, the Afghans crossed the Rivor Khuskh and took up a strongor position.

St. Petersburg, April 9.

(Received April 10, at 3 p.m.)

A dispatch has been received by the Russian Government from General Komaroff stating that ho made an attack on tbo troops of tbo Ameer of Afghanistan on account of a hostile movement made by, them.

General Komaroff reports that after defeating tho Afghans he retired to his former position.

M. do Giers, Minister for Foreign Affairs, waited on the British Ambassador last evening and expressed, on behalf of tho Czar, the hope that.the Russo-Afgban incident would not have the effect of stopping the parleying which was proceeding between England and Russia on the frontier question.

■ M. do Giers added that tho Russian offioers in Central Asia were unaware of the agreement arrived at between England and Russia on tho 13th ult. that no advance should take place on either eide in Afghanistan pending negotiations. on the frontier question. -

(Spiral al to Pbebs Association.) London, April 9,

(Rccoivod April 10, at 10.40 a.m.)

Russian stocks have fallen 10 per cent, Consols have also fallen U per cent.

April 10.

(Received April 11, at 0,60 a.m.)

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 retire' ment of the Russians from the disputed terri< tory, 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. (Received April.ll, at I.EO a.m.) The panic caused on the London Stock Exchange and the Gontinental Bourses is unparalleled since the Franco-German War panic.