LATEST FROM AFGHANISTAN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2300, 31 July 1880, Page 2

LATEST FROM AFGHANISTAN.

THE RECENT DISASTER, A YOUR KHAN’S MOVEMENTS. AN AFGHAN WARRIOR DESCRIBED. In the light of the sad disaster that has just overtaken the British troops in Afghanistan, the following account from the “ European Mail ” of the movements of Ayoub Khan and his forces in Juno last will be read with interest : Ayoub Khan is said to have encamped outside the city of Herat, with the intention of making a second attempt at invading Candahar. It is generally believed that he is acting under the compulsion of Khusdil Khan and other extreme partisans of the late Ameer’s family, who have complete control over the live Cabuli battalions. These have long been clamouring to be led against Candahar, or to be paid and disbanded: and the news of the Abdul Rahman’s success in Turkestan, and of the likelihood of our leaving the country after coming to an agreement with him, which has doubtless been transmitted from Cabul, has most likety determined Ayoub, or the men in whose hands ho is, to make a bold stroke to seize the southern capital at least before Abdul Rahman. The hatred between the Herati and the Cabuli troops is said to have increased increased of diminished ; although Ayoub has patched up a truce for the present, dissensions arc known to exist among the leaders. Altogether there seems every likelihood of the Herat army breaking up before it reaches near the frontier,^ which is at the River Khasb, about 150 miles from Candahar, and 250 from Herat. If, however, contrary to expectation, it should succeed in domg so, the consequences may be serious, though not absolutely alarming. Our not having taken Herat,' which has been at our mercy for lo months, is quite inexplicable to the Afghans, and we are no doubt held to have some occult reason for dread in that direction. For the last six months the partisans of the late dynasty have had their eyes iixed on Cabnl; but there the game is played out, and now their only hope is in Herat, with which they believe us afraid to 'meddle. Although the muss of the people is far from being inclined to 1 he old regime, there are many who would welcome this change, in addition to the number of fanatics, glad of au ,

opportunity for fighting the infidels, and numerous idle ruffians always ready for a row, all of which classes would be likely to rise should Ayoub appear with his troops on the scene. Ayoub has five Cabul regiments, numbering at the outside 2500, live Herati regiments, and one Candabar regiment. Of these, he may take two-thirds with him.

AN AFGHAN WARRIOR. The following is an extract from a private letter from the Punjaub : “ April 13. There is a very line fellow here, a sort of State prisoner, Daood Sha, the Cabul general who, they say, tried to stop the massacre of poor Cavagnari. He is six feet four inches high, and a handsome Jcwish-looking man, like all Afghans. The officer, in whose charge he is, brings him to the club to read the papers to him sometimes, for he is a most interested student of events, and very eager for telegrams. His comments on European politics arc amusing though it is hard to make him fairly understand Radical and Tory, and Russian Nihilism. Still, he is wonderfully well-informed, and a striking contrast for mental activity and general vigour to Indian swells. We want to get him a kricyspicl, or war game ; for he is an enthusiastic soldier, and a great student of battles and plans thereof. Wc made a mistake in underrating opponents like these. He is out of it now but he freely criticises General Roberts, and points out his mistakes. It is a pity to keep a mountaineer like him down here in the heat. We all say he should be sent to Simla to teach our Commander-in-Chief the art of war. These Afghans are a queer folk. He is the mildest mannered man that ever cut a throat, and yet throat cutting would come as easy to him as saying his prayers. He prays devoutcdly five times daily.”