ENGLAND'S WARS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 84, 8 April 1879, Page 4

ENGLAND'S WARS.

THE AFGHAN WAR, On January 28th news reached the camp at Khost that many thousands of Mongols had assembled near the fort, and that they were threatening an attack upon it and the Shezada who stood in !he position of our representative. Half the force were at once ordered under arms, and before daybreak bad marched back to Machoond. They found the hill swarming with Afghans, with banners and drums, yelling defiance at our force as it appeared on the scene. General Roberts rescued the Shazada, emptied the fort of its treasures, burnt the store of grain and everything be waß unable to carry away, and then marched back to the camp at Subbery. The retirement of the infantry was covered by the cavalry, who several times dismounted and fired when pressed by the enemy, killing a chief and several of the Mongols. General Roberts has abandoned the Khost country for the present, convinced that similar disturbances will be incessant. The Punjab native contingent is ordered to march to the Eburum Valley to reinforce onr division. Thus ends the campaign in the Kbo»l. We have suffered a loss of prestige in the eyes of the hill tribes, inasmuch as we are nnable to hold what we have conquered, and we shall have to recommence the conquest of the Khost, under circumstances of greater difficulty than those which first met ue. It )B most satisfactory to learn that at last the Indian Government perceives the necessity of largely reinforcing General Roberts, and that the Punjab native contingent, which ie 4000 strong, 3000 infantry and 1000 cavalry, is ordered up to the Kburum Valley. These men, the picked troops of the forces of the Princes of the Punjab, can be relied upon to fight well, and the force under General Roberta will be more than doubled. This will enable him in the spring to move forward through the Shaturgardan Pass, aad to participate in the general advance upon Cabul.