Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1885 — WAR WILL FOLLOW. [ARTICLE]

WAR WILL FOLLOW.

Gen. Komaroff’s Action in Afghanistan Sanctioned by the Czar. Story of the Recent Battle as Told by the Russian Commander. England’s Allies Said to Have Provoked the Attack by Their Belligerent Attitude. It Looks Like War. [Cable dispatch from London.] The fact that Gen. Komaioff has been appointed Commander-in-Chiet over Turkestan, and that Russia is sending io ces rapidly to A ghanistan, is universally regarded as meaning immediate war. There must be added to this another f«ct of two Russian men-of-war in the Suez Canal being ordered to Vladivostock, with directions to avoid British porta. A dispatch from Berlin states that Russia refuses to yield an inch of the territory she haa occupied on the Afghan frontier. Gen. Komaroff’s attack on the Afghans is regarded in every capital of Europe as an act of war. In no well-informed quarter here or abtoad is there any but the fainesthopo of peace. Gen. KomaroS”s Report. The Official Messenger. of St. Peterslmrg, publishes the following telegram from Gen. Komaroff, dated April 1: "On the sth of March our deta hment approached Dashkapii. When near the bridge we saw an intren-hment occupied by Afghans. In order to avoid a ontiict I stationed my ti oops five ver.-ts (a little over three miles) from the Afghan position. Negotiations with Capt. Yate (a member of Sir Peter Lumsden’s force) commenced on the 26th. When the Afghans became convinced that we had no intention of attacking them they dally drew neater to our camp. On the 27th they dispatched against a company of oura covering a reconnoitering party three companies with a. gnn and some cavalry. Next day, their audacity and arrogance increasing, they occupied a high and commanding position on the left flank of our camp, made intrench i.ents, and placed a cavalry post in the rear es our line and a picket within gunshot of our fort. On the z9th I sent the Afghan commander an energetic summons to evacuate the left bank of the Kushk, and the right bank of the Murghab as far as the mouth of the Kushk. He replied that, acting on the advice ot the English, he would not retire beyond the Kushk. I then sent him a private letter couched in amiable terms. On the 36th, in order to support my demand. I marched with my detachment against the Afghan position, still expecting a pacific issue, but fire from the Afghan artillery and an attack of their cavalry compelled me to accept a combat." The St. Petersburg Journal says that the foregoing statement leaves no question of Russian aggression; that, moreover, Sir .Peter Lumsden’s second dispatch to the British Government justified Gen. Komaroff's action, and that even Mr. Gladstone has shown a praiseworthy anxiety to atone for the ungracious words about Russia which first escaped him. Another Version of the Conflict. [St. Petersburg dispatch.] A rumor is current that the conflict between the Russians and Afghans aross in the following way: Some of the Engli h officers stat oned at the Afghan outposts invited some Russian officers on the other side to breakfast. The Russians were unable to accept the invitation, but they sent an invitation to the English officers. The latter accepted and staid in the Russian camp until late at night and then asked lor an escort. Gen. Komarolf disgtised some of his officers as privates to accompany the escort with the object of obtaining news of the Afghan forces. When the escort arrived at the Afghan camp one of the Russians was observe! taking notes in his pocket-book. The Afghans tried to take away the book, a struggle ensued, and a shot was fired, from whiclfside is not known. The Russians hurried back to their camp, when their troops were called to arms, and were advanced aga nst the Afghans the next morn ng. Gen. Komaroff is already called the conqueror of the Afghans. Everyone is e ated at his success, and considers the affair a reverse for England. The Bear Eager for a Fight. [St. Petersburg dispatch.] The war feeling here is overwhelmingly strong. The Czar and Czarina and the members of the royal family attended a concert at the Grand Theater, in this city, for the Irenefit of invalid soldiers. The presence of the Czar aroused the greatest enthusiasm. The national anthem was sung by the whole audience, and when tie Czar advanced to the front of hie box and bowed his thanks he was greeted with a hurri ane of cheers. The ovation was continued outside the theater, and the royal party was followed by crowds of people to the gates of the palace. The Minister of War, speaking to a circle of officers, said he had the assurance ot the Czar that the Russian troops might advance, but that they would never retire. Russia-’continues her naval and military preparations with great energy. Admiral Shestakoff has ordered all torpedo boats to be sent to the Baltic and the Black Sea. Torpedoes have just been sunk at the canal binding St. Petersburg witfrthe sea. Cronstadt, St. Petersburg, and the palaoe at Krasnoe Selo are now connected by telephone, so that the Czar will be informed of every movement in case'of an attack by the English fleet. The Russian fleet has been in a thorough state of r adiness since the 2d of April. There is great activity at Odessa. It is manifested not only by the garrison but also by other troops stationed there. Numerous battalions of Cossacks are reviewed every day. The garrison at Kertsch is engaged night and day in hastening the completion of the works' at that point, and the flouring mills are worked at their full capacity in the preparation of provisions. The Czar has informed both the Vienna and the Berlin Cabinets that he does not desire war. The English demand for the retirement of Gen. Komaroff’s forces from their present position will, however, not be acceded to, since it is evident that the advance of the Afghans was the provocation leading to the recent attack. This view of the matter, entertained by Russia, is also held by Austria and Germany. These poxvers support the Russian Government in this explanation of the recent battle. The Lion Not Backward. [London dispatch.] There is no abatement in the excitement here. The war feeling runs hifch as ever, and ny news on the war question is thirstily devoured by the public. It is known that England and Russia are both playing a waiting gam ■. neither wishing to give the offense that will call for a declartlon of war, bnt each at the same time straining every nerve to be prepared for an emergency. Two men-of-war belonging to the channel squadron now at Kingstown, Ireland, ha . e been o dered to Portsmouth to take torpedoes on board. It is reported that they will then proceed immediately to the Baltic. The War Office is overwhelmed with offers of service sent in by army, militia, and volunteer officers. The recruiting depots in London and the provinces are daily besieged by men anxious to enter the military service in view of the prospect of war with Russia. Buita- ! b e applicants are being accepted as rapidly as can be arranged. All the Admirals of the British naw have been notified to hold themselves in readiness fsr active service. A special injunction has be°n sent by the Admiralty to Tice Admiral Lord Hayes, commanding the British squadron in the Mediterranean, to hold himself and his fleet ready for service. The Russians’ Boast. An Odessa (Russia/t ispatcb says that “ war between Russia and England is believed to be unavoidable sooner or later. The Russians boast that the railway is being rap.dly pushed to t-arakhs; that there are already 20,000 Russian troops on the Afghan frontier, and that there are 20,<KX> more at Samarcand which could be marched to Herat in two or tliree weeks. The only possible rel anoe on peace is in Mr. Gladstones pacific policy.