THE AFGHAN WAR.

Kumara Times, Issue 1060, 23 February 1880, Page 4

THE AFGHAN WAR.

The fighting in the vicinity of Oabul on December 10 to 14 was severer than was stated in the telegrams published at the time. It would appear that at one time the entire British force was in imminent peril, from which it was relieved by the intrepid conduct of Colonel Macgregor of Chinese fame. It appears that General Roberts deputed three relatives of Dost Mahomed to the governorships of Maidan, Loghtnan, and Eohistan, and proposed despatching Sirdar Wall Mahomed with a well-equipped force to Turkestan. Unfortunately, the tribal chiefs evinced a decided opposition to the General’s nominees, whether beoeause they were representatives of the British Government, or beceanse the old feeling of loyalty to the Barakzal House is dying out, It is Impossible to say. One of the newly-appointed governors, a son of Dost Mahomed, was murdered within a few days of reaching the Maidan district, and the other two were compelled to take refuge in Cabul. The murder of Sirdar Mahomed Hussein Khan was an outrage that demanded an adequate punishment. It was rumored that the crime was the work of a party of Affghan soldiers belonging to a large body of men who were marching up from Ghazni with the avowed object of joining with the Kohlstanis from the north, and so making a combined attack on our position at Cabul. Sic Frederick Roberts determined on crushing this movement before it had time to develop. He accordingly en December 8 detached Brigadier General H. Maopherson, V.C, C.B-, with a squadron of the 9th Lancers, a squadron of thejlAth Bengal Lancers, four guns, a mountain battery, the 67th Regiment of Foot, 900 men of the 3rd' Sikhs, and the sth Ghoorkhas towards Urgundab, on the Ghazni road, with instructions ( to attack them and drive them on to Massey’s brigade, consisting of five troops ,of the (sth Punjaub Cavalry,. 450 men of the 6th Punjaub Infantry, and four mountain !guns. On the 10th, Macpheraon reported that he had cut in between (the enemy and E evented the junction of (the Ghazni surgenis with their, friends from Eohistan. This latter force had occupied a strong position on a pass overlooking the Ghazni road, from which they were dislodged with considerable loss. It appears that, having driven off the Kohlstanis, Maopherson, on December 12 placed himself in communication with Massey, and determined on making a combined attack on a strong and wellequipped force under the leadership of Mahomed Jan. Here it would seem that the movement miscarried altogether. Massey, with two troops of the 9th Lancers, a troop of the 14 Bengal Lancers and a battery of Royal Horse Artillery, arrived at the point of junction too early, while yet Maopherson, with his ;infantry, was toiling over the hills to develop his flank attack. THE BATTLE, Massey, who had advanced too confidently through a difficult country, intersected with water cuts and studded with walled villages, suddenly found himself confronted by the Ghazni insurgents in great force. Loth to retire, as prudence dictated, he opened fire with bis guns, but without checking' the advance of the enemy. The cavalry charged In order that time might be given for the guns to be extricated, but the enemy were too numerous and the charge was repulsed. A second desperate charge was attempted with a similar result. In attempting to withdraw the guns they got into difficulties, were upset in the water-cuts, and were abandoned, but not before the 9th Lancers bad lost four officers and forty-three men killed and wounded in their one weak squadron—an evidence of the severe nature of the fighting The retreat of the gunners and cavalry was covered by the 14th Lancers. Macpherson now pushing forward, was enabled to cover Massey’s retirement; and Colonel Macgregor, chief of the staff, repeating the feat which earned for him a recommendation for the Victoria Cross in the China War,, saved and carried off the abandoned guns. No words of praise are too’ great for this action. This temporary success apparently emboldened the insurgents, who pressed on to the city up the Oandahar road, with a view of threatening the British cantonmen t. The 72nd Highlanders were at once turned out to occupy the gorge to the west of the city through which the road runs, and they succeeded in checking and driving back the enemy. On December 13 General Baker returned to cantonments, after a series! of cavalry encounters in the plain around the city, in which the cavalry were able to make some very successful charges; the 9th Lancers, however, suffering heavily iu officers. Driving the enemy before him from the villages of Beniskah and Indiki, Baker prepared to co-operate with Macpherson, in clearing the formidable position still held to the south of the city. Here, as far as the meagre official despatches show, some stand was made, but the Gordon Highlanders, mindful of their past fame, were not to fee denied. Led on by Major George White, whose conduct at the battle of Char-Asiab on October 6 was also most marked, • they headed. the advance, and after a hand-to-hand fight, in which Lieutenant St. J. W. ; Forbes and his Odor-Sergeant Drummond conspicuously distinguished themselves, and there met a heroic death, the enemy’s position was carried. As the Highlanders approached the summit the enemy streamed away, and Colonel Money occupied it unopposed a few mimutes before could reach it. of the tribesmen *nd|Hw|Twho had spent the night in villages, attacked GenerpSKitet’a troops, left at the foot of the heights, and spread

themselves over the country as far as Siahsang. These were not finally dispersed until General Baker was rejoined by the troops from the hills and until the cavalry were dispatched in several directions from Shirpur. In this service all the cavalry had an opportunity of distinguishing themselves. The Guide Cavalry, under Lieut-Oolonel Stewart, made two very effective charges. The city remained quiet,'but the outskirts and General Baker’s rear had to be cleared, the latter by some companies of the 6th Punjaub intantay, tor on the smallest success the population would have joined the insurgents. OUR LOSSES. In this affair were heavier than in any engagement during this or the previous campaign, the proportion of officers to men being unusually large. On the 12th we lost 18 killed, including Lieutenant Hardy, Artillery ; Hearsay and Ricardo, 9th Lancers ; and 25 wounded, including Clelland and Mackenzie, 9th Lancers ; Major Cook, 3rd Sikhs; and Forbes, 14th Bengal Lancers. On the 13 and 14th we lost:—Macpherson’s brigade Two men of the 3rd Sikhs killed ; Lieutenant Ferguson, 72 Highlanders ; Major Cook, sth Ghoorkhas ; Lieutenant Fasted, 3rd Sikhs; one man 67tb, three men 72nd Highlanders, and five men sth Ghorkhas wounded. In Baker’s brigade: Lieutenant Forbes and Color-Sergeant Drummond, 72nd Highlanders, killed; Captain Batson, 9th Lancers, killed; Lieutenants Chisholm and Tower, 9th Lancers, wounded. Total casualties in three days;—Killed, 6 officers and 37 men; wounded, 10 officers, 66 men. GOOD FEELING. In his despatches to the GovernorGeneral, General Roberts mentions this pleasing incident“ When the 67th and 6th Ghoorkhas were hurriedly withdrawn from the Bala Hissar the former regiment were provided with quarters for the night in the tents of the 72nd and 92nd. There were no tents for the Ghoorkhas, whereupon a large number of the 72nd Highlanders came forward and insisted on making over their greatcoats to their Ghoorkha comrades for the night.” General Roberts says ;—“ Only those who know the coldness of nights here can realise what practical proof of regard for the regment that has served so long with them this most creditable action on the part of the 72nd furnished.” FURTHER FIGHTING. On December 16 General Tytler attacked Zawa, which was deemed impregnable, and was stored with grain of ail the Zaimukht tribes. The enemy occupied both sides of the gorge leading to the cluster of villages in Zawa valley. Their strong opposition was broken by the screw guns of the European Mountain Battery, which did excellent execution. General Tytler operated with two columns, securing the heights with his right and pushing with his left up the gorge. After shelling the enemy he occupied the pass commanding the valley and captured Zawa. He burnt twelve villages stored with grain. The enemy suffered severly, leaving a large number dead. General Tytler returned to his position at Dagh by five in the evening, his retirement being unmolested. The country is of a very difficult nature. The narrow gorge opening into Zawa is but a few feet broad and commanded by sheer cliffs. Telegraph wire and British property have been found, proving the complicity of the population in the outrages. Our casualties were : Wounded Lieutenant and Adjutant Benny, 4th Punjaub Infantry, dangerously ; a native officer severely ; and two sepoys mortally. The following was sent to the ‘ Times*’ from the India office:—

“ From Viceroy, December 15, 1876. “Roberts reports losses yesterday nineteen killed including Captain Spans and Lieutenant Gainsford, 72nd Highlanders : eighty-eight wounded, including Captain Gordon, 92nd ; Captain Battye, Guides ; and Lieutenant Egerton, 72nd.” MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES.

Several officers and men are mentioned by General Roberta, and in a separate despatch the following list is given of those whose services have been more particularly marked and valuable General Baker, Colonel Macgregor, Lieu-tenant-Colonels Heathcote, Clarke, and Money, Majors Galbraith, White M'Queen, and Fitzhugh, Captains Kennedy, Pretyinan, Stratton, Swinley, and Morgan, Deputy Surgeons-General Townsend and Porter. The name of Captain Shafto would have been included had he lived. Honorable mention is made of the conspicuous gallantry shown at Ohar-Asiab by Private Maomahon, of the 72nd, particulars of which appeared in our columns a fortnight ago. General Roberts says; “This young soldier, closely followed by a few Ghoorkhas, by his courage and coolness was to a great extent instrumentaljin taken an extremely strong position on our left flank. His intrepidity was specially marked by Capt. Cook, and 1 purpose addressing to the Military Secretary a recommendation that he may be granted the decoration of the Victoria Cross.” Color-Sergeant Hector Macdonald, of the 92nd is specially mentioned for his gallant’and skilful management of a small detachment oppossed to superior numbers in the Hissar-darakht defile, and again for his conduct at Ohar-Asiab. Jemadar and Native Adjutant Ganesa Sing, of the 3rd Sikhs, distinguished himself highly at the defence of the Shutargardan. Colonel Money says of him“ This native officer when the order ‘ charge’ was given dashed to the front with six men. He was first among the enemy, and receiving one man’s matchlock fire almost in is face succeded in capturing the standard, said to be that of Pir Dost, a Machagal-Malik. I never saw a more gallant act.”