THE DISASTER TO GENERAL BURROWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 282, 17 August 1880, Page 2

THE DISASTER TO GENERAL BURROWS.

FULL PARTICULARS. The following messages appear in late Melbourne papers : London, July 28. The startling intelligence has been received from India that a terrible disaster has befallen a British column in CanSeveral days ago a brigade, under the command of Brigadier General G. R. S. Burrows, a well-known officer of the Bombay Native Army, was seat forward to intercept the advance of Ayoub Khan, Governor of Herat. Ayoub Khan had left Herat some weeks since at the head of several thousand men for the purpose of attacking the newly formed Province of Oandahar, and was advancing by the regular route via Girihk, a for.ified post commanding the ordinary passage and the sumnler ford of the Helmund River, a distance of about seventy miles from Oandahar. Ayaub' s forces arrived in the vicinity of Girihk last week. His army greatly outnumbered the troops under the command of General Burrows, who made preparations to act on the defensive until the arrival of reinforcements from Oandahar. On the night of the 25th a sudden attack was made by Ayoub upon General Burrows'position. The attack was a surprise, and in the darkness the utmost confusion arose. The troops behaved bravely, but the numbers of the enemy were so overwhelming that some of the Native troops gave way, and caused a panic. The fugitives fled towards Oandahar, but the British under the immediate command of General Burrows, retreated steadily and in good order, taking with them some of their

guns. On the receipt of the news in Candahar General Primrose despatched some troops to their assistance, retiring with the main body of his forces to the citadel, which is situated about two miles north of the city, occupying a very strong position. General Burrows and . Shere Ali have since arrived in safety, with the remnant ot the brigade, and measures have been taken for making a determined stand at Candahar. July 81. The further particulars received concerning the disaster to General Burrows' f Dree in Candahar show that the loss sustained was very heavy. The force under his command despatched to intercept Ayoub Khan numbered about 3000 men, including one regiment of British infantry. The remainder of the brigade was native infantry, with some squadrons of cavalry and a battery of horse artillery. General Burrows was accompanied by Shere Ali, the native ruler of the province, with a body of Afghan troops, but upon the approach of Ayoub 9 number of these deserted. In resisting the attack the slaughter was very great, but in the retreat upon Candahar the Afghan cavalry caused fearful havoc amongst the fugitives, who were cut down in hundreds. Of the total force under General Burrows' command, it has been ascertained that 2000 were killed, the greater portion of the loss being sustained in the retreat. The anangementß by General Phayre for the organisation of the force to relieve General Primrose are being rapidlv completed . General Phayre is advancing at the head of a considerable anny by forced marches. The care of maintaining the line of communication has devolved upon General Sandeman. The advance of General Phayre has not met with any formidable opposition, though several skirmishes have taken place with small bodies of hostile Natives. The success of Ayoub Khan has attracted large numbers to his standard, and apprehensions are entertained that he may bring a sufficient force into the field to retard the advance of the relieving forces. The entire province of Condahar is disquieted, and the spirit of disaffection to the British is extending. The effect of the British defeat upon Abdul Rahman Khan is regarded with some anxiety, but the new Ameer has not, up to the present, committed himself to any line of action hostile to the British.

[SPECIAL TO MELBOUKNE " ARGUS ."J London, July 29th. The troops under the command of Brigadier-General G. R. S. Burrows, were as follows:—Europeans ; E Battery B Brigade of Royal Horse Artillery and six Companies of the 66th (Berkshire) foot, under the command of LieutenantColonel Galbraith. The Native force consisWl of 3rd Bombay Cavalry, and the Ist and 30th Regiments of Native Infantry. The blunder which has brought about this disaster arouse from over-confidence on the part of the British Generals, and the bad information supplied to Lieu-tenant-General Primrose. Too few troops were sent to reinforce General Burrows after the desertion of the Wali Infantry. General Burrows should have retired on Candah°r and not have risked an encounter with the largely tuperiov forces of the enemy. July 31st. It is expected that General Sir F. S. Roberts, with 8000 men, will proceed southwards from Cabul if everything at the capital remains quiet, leaving 12,000 men, under the command of General Sir Donald Stewart. There are now 17,000 men on the route of the Khyber Pass, and 8000 in the Kurum Valley. Aug. 2. Ayoub Khan's losses are said to have been severe. When last seen he was camping on the battle field, and he seems to vaccillate as to his further course.