THE AFGHAN WAR

Dunstan Times, Issue 961, 17 September 1880, Page 3

THE AFGHAN WAR

The following telegrams appeared in the

Sydney papers : Ayoub's flight from the field of battle Was so precipitate that the whole of his •camp and equipage fell into the hands of the victors. The spoils are immense. In consequence of the strategy of < I,-acral Roberts, a large portion of the Afghan ' army was covered by the I’ritish artillery, and Ayoub’s troops surrendered in thousands. Ten thousand Afghans were captured. The total collapse of Ayoub’s force was due to the want of collision between the soldiers from Herat and the mutinous regiments from Oalml. The t.’abuleso fled down the Arghandah Valley ami the Heratese were drawn oil’ towards the Hclnmud River. The cavalry started in hot pursuit, killing 500 of the fugitives who refused to surrender. General Roberts brought his whole force up to the attack, leaving only the garrison in Candahar, which was aided by friendly Afghans, under the Wali of Candahar. The total loss, including killed, wounded, and missing on the British side amounts to upwards of 1000. Of those only 90 wore Europeans. Colonel Maclaine, who has been in the hands of the Afghans since the defeat of Ccueral Burrows, and who up to a recent date was well treated by them, was murdered before the battle. The deceased oliiaer was a great favourite in the army, and his sad fate is universally regretted. The cavalry patrols report that the villages near Candahar are fu'l of Afghan dead and wounded.