THE AFGHAN CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 196, 14 May 1919, Page 7

THE AFGHAN CRISIS

BRITISH ADVANCE TROOPS PRESS ENEMY BACK PROCLAMATION BY THE VICEROY AMIR GUILTY OF TREACHERY \ By Telegraph-Press Association. Copyrlßht (Bee.' May 13, 7.45 p.rnl) Simla, May 10. Tho Afghan position on Friday followed. tho crest of tho ridge dividing , Landi Kotal from the plains of Afghanistan. Small detachments were at Aslikel and Pirukel, which are within British limits. The enemy's force is estimated to number, four thousand Afghan infantry, with, eight guns j also three thousand tribesmen. Their main strength is concen« trated at tho bogs commanding the water supply to Landi Kotal. Our advance troops, under General Crocker, pushed forward and ejected the enemy from Asiikel, and advanced thence down the pass, The first objectives were secured, enabling the troops to cover' the cbncen» tration of the forces operating in tho Khyber area. Aeroplanes co-operated cf--. fectively with the troop movements. Tho. Viceroy has issued a'proclamation in which'ho states: "There' is 'reason to apprehend that Afghanistan's breach of faith with India is possibly the longdelayed fruits of tho efforts by the friends of Germany, who had failed to seduce the loyalty of the late Amir." -The Viceroy holds evidence showing the present Amir ( guilty of treachery, pretending that Indiawas in a state of revolution which .would react in Afghanistan; , that Germany ,ia about to recommence the war, and that tho British will be destroyed. Leaflets con-. taining false information were prepared for dissemination in India. Further, it was planned to buy or corrupt certaia newspapers. The Viceroy warns natives that criminal, wanton incursion will meet speedy punishment, and appeals to the people of India to assist tho Government to crush the enemy of peace in India, and refrain from' giving colour to false stories which are being assiduously dis* seminatcd.—Eeute'r. ■ .• LATEST NEWS-AN APPARENT LULU(Bee. May 13, 7.30 p.m.) Simla, May 11. No further operations are reported from Landi Kotal. Excellent results were obtainod by an. air raid on the enemy's headquarters camp at Dakka, Afghanis* tan, on May 9., Naib Salar, of .Talima' bad. who is in'command at Dakka, is seriously wounded. No further reinforcements of Afghan • regulars have reached Khost, but considerable liveliness prevails along- the. Kurmni border. All is quiet in the other frontier areas.-» 'Reuter.