THE CABUL MASSACRE.

South Canterbury Times, Volume XV, Issue 2068, 8 November 1879, Page 2

THE CABUL MASSACRE.

The following epitome of recent news from the “ Civil and Military Gazette’s” Persian news writers in Cabul has been furnished to the “ Times” of India: —

On the IGth of August the Ameer advised Major Cavagnari to discontinue the custom of riding about Cabul and its vicinity, as an attempt might be made upon Major Cavagnari replied that if he were killed there were many more in India who would be ready to act as his succesors. This episode occurred before the arrival of the Heratee troops, in whose rebelli n on the 3rd September the massacre originated. Warnings of danger had, however, occurred as early as about the 13th of August, when a street riot occurred between some soldiers of Yakoob Khan and some members of the envoy’s escort. The populace siding with the former, the latter were completely beaten. This is authentic, as is also the evidence of Yakoob’s coldness towards our envoy. As early as the 7th of August their interviews became shorter and less frequent, Yakoob occasionally declining to receive the. envoy under the flimsy excuse of indisposition. Finally the audiences became merely formal interviews of a few minutes’ duration.

For weeks before September 3rd disturbances between Yakoob’s troops and the envoy’s escort were of frequent occurence, culminating in the mutiny of the Hcratee regiments. The Heratees promptly on their arrival on August 18 clamored for their arrears of pay, uttering at the same time a w r ar cry against the British. The Heratee officers abused the officer as an infidel for his friendship with the English. They demanded the expulsion of the latter, shreatening as an alternative their extermination. The Ameer, terrified by their menaces, wept, and embraced the Heratee officers, and attempted to pacify them by asserting that the English alliance was inevitable. He then paid the troops three months arrears of pay, but the soldiers refused his request to deliver up their arms and to disperse to their homes.