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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 30 July 1880, Page 2

The news of the terrible disaster that has befallen the British troops in Afghanistan will create a profound sensation wherever it is read. It was generally thought that the war was at an end, and that all thatremained to be done was to sortie tiie terms of peace. The creation of a Ameer has, however, pn.ved even ;> greater difficulty than was anticipated. Ayoob Khan, a son of Sheer Ali, the late I Ameer, and a bold and daring man was known to view with anything»but satisfaction the proposal to raise Abdur Rahman Khan to the dignity of Ameer, and it was known that he had gathered around him a stropg f.orce of fanatics. That he would endeavor to resist the appointment of Abdur Rahman might hq,vo been anticipated, but he appears to have acted more suddenly, and with greater effect, than was probably deemed possible, and the result has been one of the most serious and lamentable disasters that has befallen the British Army for many a long day. That an attack could not have been forseen, and that the British were therefore totally unprepared, seems certain. We can scarcely believe otherwise than that treachery has been at work, and that Sheer Ali, wfoils professing friendship to the British, has been the traitor. Further intelligence of the destruction of General Burrow's brigade will be anxiously looked for. In the meantime we can scarcely form a correct estimate of the causes that have led up to the dire catastrophe, or its extent. One thing, however, is very clear : Our troubles in Afghanisran are not yet over, and we fear that for a long time yet the presence in that country of a large British Army will be necessary. The Imperial Government appear to have recognised the gravity of the situation, for a late cablegram informs us that it has been decided to despatch further troops to India, as reinforcements for Afghanistan.