The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1879-09-23 00:00:00

THE AFGHAN WAR.

Fitox VICEROY, Bsrr. 17, 1879.

Following telegram from General Doran, Lundi
Kotal, 15th :
Taimur power, Sth troop Guides, arrived late lad
night from Kabul; he states he was in the Bala Hisser
with Gavagnari and other officers; on the 3rd about
8 a.m. the Turkestan' Ordal regiments in Baler
Hisser paraded for pay. Daud Shah gave them one
month, they clained two and broke out; they were
close to Residency, and another regiment was with
them. A soldier shouted, "Let us kill the Envoy,
then the Ameer." They rushed into courtyard of
Residency, and stoned some servants. Guides opened
fire without orders from British officers, who were in-
side house. Mutineers then went for weapons and
returned in aquarter of an hour, during which time British
otikers might have escaped. On return mutineers
besieged Residency, and from commanding position
made the roof untenable. Defenders made a sort of
shelter trench on mud roof and fired from window..
City people joined mutineer. about 10 a.m.

About 1 p.m. Cavagnsrl, who war in shelter
trench, wan struck by ricochet bullet on forehead,
but only wounded. Jenkyns came up and sent
for Munshi to write to Ameer, but Hamill being
too frightened to do so. Tamar wrote, stating
that Residency was attacked and aaking for help.
Letter wag sent by Gholam Nubbi Kabuli, an old
Guide sower. No answer came. Gbolain Nubbi
afterwards told Tabour that the Ameer wrote on
the letter, "If God will, I am just making
arrangementa." Cavagnari was helped into Resi-
dency and attended by Kelly. Jenkyns then sent
another letter to the Ameer stating that Cavignari
was wounded, and demanding speedy assistance. It
was sent by a }Dude, who was cut to
_pieces at once.
About 3 P.M. Hamilton pent Taimur with a
letter promising six months' pay. By that
time mutineers had reached roof of Residency.
Tamur went armed into middle of crowd,
who disarmed bins, but his life was saved
by an officer. Tamar informed them that
he bore a promise of six months' pay. They
threw him down from Residency, and be fell on roof
of • lower house and became insensible. lie was
mbbed of all he bad, and on recovering wee taken
before General Karini Khao, who commanded the
mutinous brigade. Karim Khan wan sitting (m bed
surrounded by 30 or HO men; on Taimur telling him
that he would get six months' pay, he replied that he
WWI helpless, and ordered him to be confined. Tamar
personally knows nothing of what occurred after he
left the Residency, which wag just being set fire to. A
wounded havildar of the Anteer woe brought to house
where Tamar war confined, and in return for his
extracting • bullet, allowed him to escape about day-
light next morning, lie then went to the Residency,
and first saw the corpse of Hamilton lying over •
mountain gun which lied been brought up. The troops
I thee said that Hamilton had killed about three Men
I with his pistol and two with sword before he was shot.
The body war stripped and cut to pieces, but not
dishonoured. A short distance off lay the body of
tar, 'similarly treated. Taimur did not go into
y, but war told that Kelly was laying dead
in.kte, paed that Cavagnari warn In the room among the
wounded when the building caught fire and fell in on
him. His body had not been discovered when Tamar ,
left Oshul, but the other three officers were burnt in •
Wenabout 100 yards from e Residency. Tamar I
th
v ee that no other defender of the Residency
escaped. Gholam Nubbi, to whom Gave/mad gave

the latter, is alive and in Cabul, and etfll hes the letter
with the Ameer's answer on it.
The Guide sowers who were cutting grass are in
Kabul, in the Mean Khans Mahell, but are prevented
from leaving. The grastecutters are in safety, with
Birder Yabya Khan.
There are no troops road from Kabul, nor ;
are there any in J or Dakka ; nor, as far as
Taimur knows, are any coming. baud Shah did his
best to stop the mutiny, having been sent by the
Ameer ; but he was pulled off his horse, stoned, and '
wounded with a bayonet; he was alive, but in a
dangerous state when Taimur left. On the afternoon
of the attack, Sirdar Yaliya and Shutoffs Habibulla
also came to try and stop the disturbance, but were
fired at and forced to retire.
Au Kest, Friday.—Numerous Afghan regiments,
Including a consideuside forced artillery, are in Cabul.
Our troops are healthy. Reinforcements are coming
and the doers are pushed on with intense energy.
Alloodsen Khan, a powerful Chasid chief, brother of
Padishah Khan is DOW in Sir F. Roberts's camp.
Risings amongst the tribes on the road are possible,
but we hope they may be Shutargardan
Is held by a strong e under General Baker,
securely entrenched. reconnaissance has been
made towards Kuehl, but no signs were observixi of
the Afghan army. The troop,' at Herat have
mutined and murdered their commander. The
telegraph is completed to Shu
LAHORI, Saturday.--Gands=l." now occupied by
the tribes. The Slohmunds threaten Dekko. The
troops at Cabul are levying heavy taxes on the mer-
chants. The massacre at Cabul and the Herat out-
break were • almost simultaneous. Kohiatan has
revolted. Official news corroborates previous state-
ments that warnings had been received respecting the
danger at Cabul.
A desperate rising has taken place in Herat. The
Civil Governor and the Military Chief have been
murdered. Complete chars prevails. The British force
is to advance from Candahar to Khelat•i-Ghilzai.
Thirty-one are known to have escaped the late massacre
at Cabul, including V graiscuttens and others *latent
at the time from the Residency.
non Viciotov, September 16, 1876.
Following is prir-is of letter received yesterday from
Ameer, dated 11th September. Letter begins :—" I
have received your letter of 7th instant, and was much
pleased. I fully understood what was written, corn.
piety confidence was restored, and sense of relief felt in
friendship shown by Viceroy, as my prosperity found
favour in his sight. I am dreadfully distressed and
aggrieved at recent events, but there ia no fighting
against God's will. I hope to inflict such punishment
on the evildoers ea will be known world wide and
prove my sincerity. I have twice written on this
subject and third time by my confidential servant,
Shere Mahomed Khan. I had written to say that for
these eight days I have preserved self awl family by
the good offices of those who were friendly to me,
partly by bribes, partly by hoaxing the rebels. Some
of the cavalry I have dismissed, and night and day am
considering how to put matters straight. Please (sod,
the mutineers will soon meet with the punishment they
deserve, and my affairs be arranged to satisfaction of
British Government. Certain persons of high position
In these provinces have become rebellious, but I am
watching carefully and closely every quarter. I have
done all I could to insure Nawab Gholam Husitain'a
safety. I trust to God for opportunity of showing iny
sincere friendship for British Government and securing
niy good name before the world."
FIKDI VICIIROY, SEPT. 20.
Letter from Ameer, dated 16th Sept., and in.
closing Turkistan and Herat reports, as follows
Mutiny of troops and murder Fakir Ahmed
Khan, Civil Governor and Military Commandant
under Ayoub Khan at Herat, disaffeci ion id three
regiments ordered to march from Taktspul and
Mazer Sheriff to All Shaban in Turkistan.
Ayoub's letter to Annear confirms report of distur-
bance in Turkistan, and begs leave to resign his
position. Ameer states that he hopes very shortly
to regain his power, and intends to expend the
whole of his resources and energy in maintaining
his friendship with British Government. Message
ends- This news is confirmed by following telegram
' simultaneously received from Major St. John, in
' Kandahar :

A letter Aent front Ayoub Khan at Herat, to
Siniar itates that on the hth September Cebuli
regiments mutinied, attacked house of General Fakir
.Ull:fled Khan, killed him, plundered and burnt hi,
house, Fakir Ahmed Khan was • noted and very
faithful adherent of Yakoub and his brother Ayoub
Khan ; fled with the latter into Persia in February,
1875, in the time of Shere All.