THE MILITARY STRENGTH OF AFGHANISTAN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5525, 11 December 1878, Page 3

THE MILITARY STRENGTH OF AFGHANISTAN.

(The Times' Own Correspondent.) Berlin, September 28.

The following observations on the military strength and geography of Afghanistan are extracted from the records of the Russian Central Staff Office at St. Petersburg “Afghanistan is portioned out among many semi-independent tribes, each of which has a separate ruler and a standing army.

“ Cabul and Oandahar have a considerable regular force, consisting of infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The greater part of these troops is distributed over rural garrisons, and under the control of the local governors. The . regular Cabul force, which does not seem to have been increased in the 30 years intervening between 1838 and 1863, is as follows :—lnfantry (Djasaltohi), 2500 men ; regular cavalry, 3000 ; irregular cavalry, 10,009 ; artillery, 45 guns. Besides these there were, in times of peace, one regiment of Infantry at Candahar, one regiment at Ghuzuee, one regiment and five guns at Kale-i-Gilsai, one regiment of infantry, one of rifles, and five guns at ICuratn, and a force of full 10,000 men, with three batteries, at Balkh. The regular troops are maintained and reinforced by conscription, ir-. regulars being called in as time and circumstances require. In Cabul the troops receive pay and provisions, a practice which can hardly be said to obtain with any degree of regularity in the provinces. The infantry are armed partly with matchlocks, partly with excellent modern rifles, the gift of the British Government. They also carry swords and kindjals. The Djasaltchi, or rifles, are armed with long solid muskets, rested on a forked support when firing, while the cava'ry boast a large variety of weapons. The infantry are, many of them, arrayed in cast-off English uniforms, bought up by special agents of the Cabul Government at Peshawnr and Sciude. Some regiments wear uniforms of European cut, made of Afghan cloth—the coats are brown, the trousers white. The troops quartered in country towns generally live upon the people. All the Afghan troops endeavor to imitate the Anglo-Indian forces in their tactics, drill, and oommisariat service ; but in this respect the success of the Cabul military is small in comparison with that of the Herat men.

“ The Herat regular force was originally organised by Sultan Djan, and consists of five regiments of infantry of 500 men each, five detachments of cavalry, one in each district, of 450 men each, and eight guns. The whole forms a total of about 5000. Young men of the peasant class are liable to conscription at an age when they may almost be regarded as children. The cavalry being the more national force, its recruits are supplied by the district authorities. There is a commander-in-chief, subject to the personal commands of the Sovereign. The artillery is under the direction of a special commander, the Toptchi Bashi. The regiments are divided into companies. Officers* titles are taken from the English army ; the Djemal, Koronal, and Midjir answering respectively to the General, Colonel, and Major, The Sovereign has a special adjutant called Adjutant Baahi, a post occupied in the days of Sultan Djan by a Russian ensign, Prince Vatchmades, Discipline is exceedingly strict. Commanders have .unlimited power, and may kill subordinates'with impunity. The soldiers live in special houses with their families, and receive pay, food, uniforms, and arms from the Government. The cavalry, too, get pay from the Government, but have to find their own arms and horses. The infantry are provided with flintlocks, modern rifles, the crooked Afghan sword, and kindjals from Ift. to l|ffc. long. The uniform is of a light skyblue cotton, after the English pattern, with ample folds, stand-up collar, and metal buttons. The trousers are of white cotton, very tight and short. They wear a sort of slipper on their naked feet, black Persian hats when on duty, and red fiat hats in undress. In the case of recruits these hats are yellow. AU the different regiments wear the same uniforms. The cavalry are distinguished by the national Afghan dress, and armed with pikes, matchlocks, kindjals, and crooked swords. Drill, as a rule, is entrusted to Anglo-Indian deserters, and carried on in accordance with English rules. There is a great deal of regimental service going on, with a fair degree of success in tactics and manoeuvring capacity. The word of command is given in English. “The small IJabek Khanates in Northern Cabuliatan also have standing armies, the strength of which some time ago may be seen from the following list : Infantry. Cavalry, Artillery. Men. Horses. Guns. Maimeno .. 100 .. 1,500 ~ Shibbcrgan 1,500 .* 2,000 Aktcha .* .. .. 200 .. Balkh .. .. 10,000 .. 2,500 .. Kyhn ~ .. Kuntlos.. .. - - Cabnlistan—* Navasal .. «• 500 •» 200 lendaiSind .. *. ~v •• 13 Pyar •• «. 400 50 .* Babusl .. 500 200 . . u All these troops are liable to take the field at the summons of the Ameer of Cabal, their feudal lord and sovereign. In addition to these regulars there is a militia—a numerous force in a country every male inhabitant of which is ready to take up arms at a moment’s notice. As was proved in 1839, one-eighth of the entire population may be assembled, fully equipped, and sent out with the utmost despatch. By the side of the general levy there is the special militia, called Defteri, whose members have their names registered in time of peace, and are in receipt of a small salary, or a certain quantity of com, or else enjoy the free use of canal water, The strength and division of the militia is the subject of the following table Horse. Infantry.

Csbul .. - .. 21,000 A. 10,000 CanOahar .. - 12,000 .. 0,000 Herat 8,000 .. 10,000 Lash (Sistan).. .. 500 .. 6,000 Khulm .. .. 8,000 - 3,000 Ealkli 2,600 .. 1.000 Ser Pul .. - 2.000 „ 2,000 Kundus -- .. 2,000 .. Aktcho .. .. 200 .. Andkui .. .. 1.800 .. COO Shlbbotgan .. .. 2,000 .. 600 Malmene .. Gesarate — Seidnat .* .. 4,000 “T Pusht Kug .. .. 6,000 .. 3,000 Yeiikholin .. .. 3,000 '» 300 Heaandfi .. .. 400 .. Sur Dflngoll .. .. 600 .. _ 860 FiraaKugl .. .. 3,760 - 0,400 Kiptchak .. .« “ -» Taimun .. .. 1.200 - 10.000 Total .. .05,360 .. 01.200 .156,650 " Almost every town and village in Afghanistan is surrounded by a brick wall, and. may be easily converted into a defensive position. There is also a largo number of small towers distributed over the country, for the protection of passes, ravines, and village grounds. Some of these towers, thanks to their advantageous situation, are formidable enough to check the march of European troops, though none could hold hold out against a regular siego. “ The most important fortress in the western parts is Herat, enclosed within a square wall, each side 4200 ft. in length. Tho wall is of brick, 35ft. high, and stands on ground artificially raised. It is protected by a moat, and on two sides by a glacis, constructed by tho English in 1838. Six pates, defended by brick towers, lead to tho city. There is also a citadel, Tchagar Bag, in tho south-eastern corner of the city, likewise built of brick. The town is provided with water by the Cheri End river. Ferro, another fortress near the Persian frontier, is built on the same plan as Herat, but only half the size. Tho walla of this place are of a very solid sort of brick. Terra, protecta the road from southern Persia to Afghanistan. “Northern Afghanistan is defended by.the fort of Maimene, situated on a small, river, in a mountainous region. Its wall is sft. thick and 12ft. high. Tho moat is shallow. “ On tho eastern frontier there is Jolalabad, a place of respectable strength, but now abandoned. Tho citadel of Cabul is likewise, a strong place, and accessible only by a winding path. The citadel can hold out against a prolonged siege, and commands the town, which has no walls.

“ In the interior of Afghanistan tho most important fort is Ghuznee, tho citadel of which was accounted unconquerable before its capture by tho English. Candahar is a large but weak fortress, being commanded by adjacent heights. The place has no glacis and an insignificant moat. It is easy to cut off the water supply. Tho citadel occupies tho northern part of the town. “All tho important roads of Afghanistan lead from cast to west, and aro merely tracks,

without the slightest attempt at assisting nature. In the more open parts, however, they are serviceable for vehicles and field artillery. Taking Herat as a starting point,' we have a whole network of roads leading respectively to Meshed, Merv, Maimene, Oandahar, and Sistan. “ The road from Herat to Meshed leads through the open and accessible valley of the Cheri Bud. Water, provisions, and fodder are to be found in abundance. Beyond Kussan tho road, which has been repeatedly trodden by large armies with vehicles and siege artillery, crosses the Persian frotier. “ The road from Herat to Merv, a very well known track, leads through a practicable pass into the valley of the Murgab, and farther on to the borders of Turkoman Steppe. “ From Herat to Maimene there are two roads as far as the river Murgab, The western road, which is the shorter and more practicable of the two, leaves the Herat and Merv road at Kushk Assiab and traverses a well-watered and cultivated country. There is plenty of food for man and beast. The pass is narrow, but easily surmounted. “The other road, striking to the east, crosses the hills by a difficult pass close to the snow line. The road further on traverses two ravines (Derbend) on the river Murgab, and surmounts the steep hills of Tolkgezar. Horsemen perform the way in four days; camels take eight. The road is recommended by immunity from robbers. “ From Herat to Oandahar you pass along the spurs of the hill through a barren country. There is little water, and the little there is is not always good. The read is even and easily traversed by carriages and artillery. “Of these roads the second, which leads by the town of Herat, though a little longer than the first, is better watered, and considered the more eligible. The two other roads aro nearly parallel. At Girishk the three roads meet. “ The way from Herat to Sistan leaves the Candahar-Ferra road at the town of Lash, near the Lake of Khamun. It connects Herat with southern Persia, but is scantily provided with water. From Lash, which is 84 versts from Ferra, there is a road on each side of the lake. Near the mouth of the river Gilmeud the two roads join the track leading along the river to Girishk. The western road also joins the way to Kirman in Persia. “ In East Afghanistan Oandahar is the issuing point of the principal roads, being connected with Oabul, Sistan, and India. The road from Oandahar to Oabul, one of the best in Afghanistan, is easily traversed in summer. In winter the gorge of Sher Degan, on the watershed between the Cabnl and Gilmend rivers, is choked with snow for four months, and passable only for pedestrians. The defile is two versts long, and in some localities only 170 ft. broad. The way was trodden by the English in 1339 and 1841. “An extensive road traverses tho whole of Afghanistan from west to east, proceeding from Herat to Badakshau by Maimene, Balkh, and Kundus, with tho branch road to Cabal. The Maimene-Khulm section of this road leads to a densely populated and wellwatered district, and is practicable for artillery o£ heavy calibre. “ At Khulm the road forks, the one branch leading south to Cabul, the other east to Badakshau.

“ Though the principal caravan road from Central Asia to India, this track is not without difficulties, and in winter obstructed by snow in the Hadshihaks gully. Yet heavy artillery up to 18-pounders have been moved along this road ; 6-pounders meet with no obstacle. Near this important path the Hindu Kush is traversed by two other passes, the Irak and the Pushti Hadshihaks. Another road across the Hindu Kush to Cabul issues from Kuudus, and leads along the Pendjir. “There is no lack of communication between Afghanistan and India. Proceeding from Cabal, Ghuznee, and Candahar, -these roads cross the intervening hills by more or less practicable defiles, and reach the Indus valley after traversing a good deal of stiff country. Of the five roads from Oabul to Peshawur on both banks of the Cabul Darya, the following is the most frequented “ The road from Cabul to Kogat does not present any particular hardship to caravans, but, being infested by robbers, is much avoided. It is the shortest cut between the Indian district' of Kogat and Cabul and Ghuznee. “The road from Ghuznee to Dere Ismail of the principal commercial thoroughfares between India and Afghanistan. From Ghuznee it follows the river Gomui to the Guailer defile, and thus reaches the Indian plain. The road lies through formidable hills, and in some places is so narrow as hardly to admit of loaded camels passing along. There is plenty of snow in the winter. Another road from Dere Ismail Khan goes through the Tchiri defile; a third road reaches the Gomui valley by the Derbend ravine. The latter is joined by the road from Dere Gaz! Khan. “The road from Candahar to Shikarpur, one of the three principal commercial highways of India, is the one by which the English marched in 1839. Tt is a serviceable road enough, but has little fodder in the Bolan defile, which is 90 miles long. Caravans suffer from the border tribes. It intersects a portion of Beloochistan. “ Between the two latter there are several other roads, formerly trodden by whole armies, but at present abandoned, and only visited at rare intervals by couriers and fast caravans. The principal of these leads from Dere Gazi Khan, through the Sakhi Sarvar defile, to Bori and Candahar. It is famous for the passage of Sultan Baber’s army in 1805. “ There Is hardly any water communication in Afghanistan. The rivers are torrents easily forded in summer. Only a few of them cairy rafts. The only exception is the Gilmend, navigable to steamers from Girishk to where it falls into Lake Khamun. It has a depth varying between seven and ten feet, its breadth sometimes reaching 14,000 feet,”