THE AFGHAN WAR.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1549, 5 February 1879, Page 3

THE AFGHAN WAR.

| By Telegraph.] [prom our own correspondent.] Dunedin, February 4. Tho following news has been received by the Suez mail: — After the victory of General Roberts at Poiwar Kotul, particulars of which have been published, tho Afghans precipitately with rew, abaodocimr all their guns, eighteen in number, and a quantity of arms. General ( oberts has since then poshed on to Shutar Garden Pass, which was found unoccupied. Arrangements are now being made with some of the tribes for protecting the road in bis rear. The news from General Bid hilph’s column is cqnady favorable, his force having occupied the Khojuk Pass unopposed, and subsequently pushing on to Chamal Choki, a fort on the Gandahar side of the Pass. General Donald Stewart, tho Coram mder-in-Chief of this, the Qnettnh division, joined General Biddulph at Khojuk. Lud Lytton left T ahore on the afternoon of the 19th inst. for Calcutta Previous to his departure his Excellency reviewed tho feudatory contingent, composed of upwards of 3000 men of all arms, with ten guns. After the review the Viceroy made a speech, addressing the corps of each state separately, and referring in w inn terms to their services in 1857, and to the readiness of their rulers at the present time to assist the Government. Not only had all the important Sikh, Rajpoot, and Mahomed.m chiefs, but also tho Sirdars natives and former officers of ti e Government spontaneously and promptly offered their services, and all were equally anxious to place Heir swords and personal influence at the disposal of the Queen. The Viceroy in referring to the war, said the British Government was never an ungenerous foe, but justice must precede generosity. Tho Governmei t would be unworthy of the loyalty of its subj -eta and its noble allies wore it unable or unwilling to pnnisti an unprovoked insult or to effectually protect from a foreign menace the peace and prosperity which it was endeavouring to promote within its borders. After concluding his speech the Viceroy assured the Maharajah of Cashmere that if the war should extend beyond the spring the Government would avail itself f his troops. 4 he contingent, which is under the command of General Watson, starts on Saturday for Pcshawnr, and will, it is proposed, hold Cabnl river and the Khyber pas-es in order to allow troops to advance. British officers of all branches of the service are attached to tho contingent. News received from Cabnl states that there are eight regiments of infantry there, but the troops are not inchnod to fight. Mirakhn, or the Master of Horses (tho official who met Cavngnari at Ali Musjid) has been attempting to induce the Hill tribes to exert themselves actively against our troops. An a-tempt was made to capture him but ho fled to more lofty parts of Sated Koh range. The tribes about tho Khyber Pass having given serious annoyance by harassing camp followers and stragglers, and attacking baggage convoys, an expedition was seat against them which destroyed some of the offenders’ villages. Authentic news arrived ■ nt.be 2Dt that the Ameer, accompanied by the remaining officers of tho Russian mission, had fled to Turkestm. Ya'-oob Khan had boon released, and hud been lefrat Cabnl in command. The Ameer seems to have lost nil authority before his departure, large numbers of his soldier? having deserted. Sir IS. Browne has marched into Jellalabad, which place had invited his assi tanca to put down the anarchy which reigned there. On his arrival at Jellalabad, which was entered on the ffli.d, all the notables came to meet Browne and I’.is troops outside the town. All was quiet, and the inhabitants showed a friendly disposition. Tho site for "cantonments was chosen between tho town and river.

At Jumrood large numbers of our prisoners ai’c employed making roa'’s. A new frontier brigade, under Colonel Jenkins, has been formed. The European troops continue in good health, but the cold is very trying to the natives. Comparatively few men, however, are in hospital. Khojuk Pass is strongly held hy the combined troops of Generals Stewart and Biddulph, and supplies are coming in freely. Rumour states that the Ameer has instructed the tribes in this direction not to oppose our advance as far as Kandahar, but afterwards to attack and molest tbe convoys in the rear. The Ameer has sent his family and treasure to Maimanain the north of Afghanist n. It. has been ascertained that Mirakhu has been poisoned by a follower. [by telegraph to point de GALLE ] Bombay. January 9. It is reported that Yakoob Khan has made overtures of peace to Sir S Browne. Generals Browne and Roberts are making arrangements for securing the positions they have won fo- the winter. All General Biddulph’s force is now crossing the Khojuk Pass cn route to Kandahar. Mir Af/.ul Khan, Governor of that place, has, it is reported, informed the Ameer th t without outside help a good defence is impossible. The fighting is now considered virtually over for the present, with the exception of small expeditions to punish the tribes which molest and harass the convoys.