The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1879-12-16 00:00:00

SERIOUS FIGHTING NEAR CABUL.

Four Horse Artillery truna, escorted by two
squadrons of the Bth Lancers and one squadron of the
lith Bengal ',tamers, were proceeding to join
Macpherson', Infantry Brigade in the Chardeh Valley
to-day, when they encountered llshomed Jan's force,
numbering ten thousand Sepoys and tribesmen. The
cavalry made • brilliant charge, but they made no
impression ,o 2 the vast body of the enemy.
The country is • most difficult one, and is cut up by
watercourses.
The four guns in retiring got upset in some ditches,
and were spiked and abandoned, but recovered by
Colonel Macgregor later on.
The enemy mule for Cabal gorge, but were checked
there by a detachment of the 72nd from Sherpur.
They then turned towards Baber's tomb, and they
now occupy the heights to the south of the Bala
Hirer. _ . .

General Baker is on his way from Maiden.
The enemy, who were admirably led, included two
or three thousand who were armed with Snider.. They
lost heavily by the artillery fire and the cavalry charge,
bur they never wavered.
Our loss is not yet fully knowlil. Lieut. Hearsey and
Lieut. Ricardo of the 9th Lancers, and Lieut. Hardy
of the Artillery, are killed. Colonel Cleland is severely
wounded. The total loss is believed to be 18 killed and
21 wounded.
The Guides have arrived from Luttabund.

- -
General Macpherson is now attacking.
General Macpherson attacked the Kohistanis, who
had assembled to join 5,000 men on the Gltuznee road.
The enemy advanced boldly, but were shaken by the
mountain guns, supported by thirteen companies of
infantry. The dead were left on the ground. Our
casualties were Fitzhugh, of the sth Goorkhas, and
seven men wounded.

General Macnherson attacks Mahomed Jan's 5,000
followers to-diy in the NLatdan district. General
Baker blocks the retreat towards Ghtunce.

The following telegram has been forwarded from the
India Office for publication :

•FILOX VICIMOT, December 12,

--ac Robertak
December,
erson
advanced as already reported, and Niamey b
endeavour-
ins, with horse artillery and cavalry, to intercept
enemy on Ghuznee road, was attacked by great num-
bers In difficult ground. The guns upset, and were
abandoned temporarily, after repeated charges of
cavalry. They were subsequently recovered by
Macgregor on arrival of Macpherson's force. Later,
the enemy attacked bills south of Bala Hisser, but
were beaten off with loss. Roberta reports combina-
tion of tribes against us considerable. Our loss 18
killed, including Lieutenant Hardy, Artillery;
Hearsey and Ricardo, 9th Lancers. Twenty-live
wounded, including Cleland and Mackenzie, 9th;
Cook, 3rd Sikhs; and Forbes, 14th Bengal Lancers,
CALCCTTA, December 14.

A telegram from General Roberta of yesterday:a
date announcee that the enemy, having collected in
large numbers around Beniskah, were attacked by
General Macpherson, who, however, failed to dislodge
them. General Baker, with the 92nd Regiment, the
Guides, and • wing of the 3rd Sikhs with four guns.,
and four pieces beloneng to • mountain battery, a
squadron of the act., Lancers, and the sth Punjab
Ca‘alry, attacked the enemy on the morning of the
13th inst., and ultimately succeeded in driving them
from their positions.

Boxtur, Dec. li.

Acoording to infotmation published here from
Candahar to the let instant, General Stewart has been
ordered to send a messenger to Herat to intimate to
Ayub Khan that if he will not agree to hold Herat on
account of the British Government, he will not long
remain in possessi,n of the place. This step is inter-
preted here as indicating that a British advance will
be made upon Herat should Ayub Khan refuse com-
pliance.
.11TON.

LORD