ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1688, 13 April 1885, Page 2

ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.

OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES IN AFGHANISTAN. BATTLE BETWEEN THE RUSSIANS AND AFGHAN TROOPS, DEFEAT OF THE AFGHANS. London, April 9. Intelligence is to hand to the effect that General Komnroff, the Russian Governor of the Trans-Caspian, attacked the Afghans on tho 30th March, on the banks of the Khusk River. Dnring the engagement tho Afghans lost fully 500 men, and they wore eventually severely defeated, tho whole of their artilery and camp equipments falling into the hands of the Russians. The Russian lo‘ : s cmprised 11 killed and 29 wounded. The Times publishes a telegram hem a correspondent at Ghuriau, near Herat, giving some details of the encounter between tho Russian and Afghan troops on 80:h March. The correspondent states that the pretext for the attack was a change in the position of ' T the Afghan outpost at Penjdcli. The Afghans are stated to have fought with great stubborn, ness, and the Russian loss was large. General Komaroft’s forces did not pursue the Afghans on their retreat. A number of British ollicers witnessed tho battle, and afterwards rejoined Sir Peter Lumsden at Herat.

ANOTHER VERSION OF THE AFFAIR.

The Standard states that a battle lias been fought in the vicinity of tho liver Murghab between a number of Russians and Afghans during which 500 of tho combatants weio killed. It is believed the Russians were defeated.

REPORTED ADVANCE OF A LARGE RUSSIAN ARMY.

PANIC ON THE STOCK EXCHANGE

A Russian ironclad and frigate have left Colombo. Tho St Petersburg Press advocates the renouncement of tho Declaration of Paris. Mr Gladstone stated that the Russian Governmeut have admitted the attack

Tho panic caused in the Loudon Stock Exchange aud the Continental Bourses is uuparalleled since the Frauco-Gcrman war. Reports received from Sir Peter Lumsden, tho English Frontier Commissioner, sln.w that the Afghans did not advance after the 17th March, but the Russian troops still continned to advance, and incited tho Afghans to attack them by passing through their pickets. The British officers who were present twice explained to the Russian com. mander on tho 14th March the nature of the agreement arrived at between England and Russia.

April 10. It is reported that the Government demand the disavowal by Russia of the action taken by General KomaroU in engaging the Afghans and also insist upon the return of the Russian forces to their former position. It is believed that 70,000 Russians are advancing from Askabad, a fortified town belonging to Russia, to Central Asia. Russia has equipped nine cruisers in the Gulf of Finland, and is also arranging for the purchase of three others in America.