The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1879-12-23 00:00:00

GEN ER A L ROBFRTS BLOCKADED IN

AFGHANISTAN.

Tho Vicaoy telegraphed to the India Office
on Wednesday that communication with Sir F.
Roberts at Oahul is now interrupted.

qvrictnL TXT.ROILIMS.

(FReM December 17, 1379.)
Communication with Sir Frederick Roberts at
Cabial is now intemapted.
[We believe that the nearest telegraph station on the
na.vl toward. India I, some ten or twelve miles from
the Sherpur Cantannients.L
FROX VICSBOY, December 17th.)
Roberts has at present one British and 32) native
cavalry regiment., three British and six native infantry
regiments, and 23 gums, including two Gatlingn, anakin,g
a total of over 7,000 effectives, with a strong entrenched
position, cover for his troops, and five months supplies
of most necessaries. His original position, extending
from Sherpur to the heights beyond Bala Hisaar, with
Cabul inter% ening, was too extended to be held without
rink and heavy fatigue to the tnopa, crippling his offen-
sive acti. in. All the troops have been withdrawn within
She rpur with the coin parati vely nlight Inas reported, and
in any attack on that ise.ition the enemy must suffer
very heavily. I consider his Present position perfectly
nate, ata.l lie hiennlf contemplates resuming the offensive
an soul as settled in Sherpur; but, an he sari, there is
nothing gained in capturing difficult hills which are far
from Sherpur hk longs. the enemy are out in such large
ntunlsqrs. The enemy will shortly have to disperse
for heel, Ind meanwhile our evacuating Cabul will
encourage them, and probably enable them to hold
out longer than they otherwise could have done, and
will tend to raise the tribes on our comnannicationn.
The Governor or Jellalabad has fled, but has been
satisfactorily replaced.
Letters have been intercepted from Axintoollah
Khan and ltainuo, detailing arrangements for an
attack on Calmat, aiel calling on Kaagians ri.e.
Similar letters have been sent to the Shlnwarin, Mph-
munds, and Afreeslis. hiiigli reports from Jugatalak
a fining of all tribes in his front., and consequent
impracticability of further advancing without more
troop.. General Bright is sending what reinforcements
he con, but does not like to weaken line. Reinforce-
ments of one and a half infantry regiments, one
battery aatillery, Ana one cavalry regiment for front,
cavalry regiments, three British and seven native
infantry regiments, and three batteries ..f artillery is
and reserve division a one British and three native
being funned at reashawur. If the tribes do not
disperse of thenalelves on finding that they can make
no itnpresaaion on Roberta, a strong force will be
pushed up to re-open communication.

ATTACK ON GENERAL GOUGH.

The Special Correaponient Id the Ciril and Military
nealie telegraph. from Jugdulluk Fort that General
Go ugh's brigade took refuge there. Several thousand
Ghil Lair are threatening it, throwing up defences on
thehills, and firing at long ranges. The troops are
field in constant rewlinesi for an attack. The hum
ha-. six days' provisions, and will hold out till General
Bright's arrival. Troops are hurrying up from the
Punjab as reinforcementa.
General Bright reporta that General Gough was
attacked on the Ifith mot, by the tribes in his vicinity.
General Bright I. sending reinforcements to General
Gough, consisting of three companies of the 31st
Regiment. General Arbuthnot, with a wing of the
llth Siklot and a detachment of Goorkhaa, is starting
for Gandamak. Intelligence received here announces
that cliaturbances have broken out at Herat, where
Sinlar ‘lxitillah Khan, with two regiments from
Maimund, has seised the citadel and p:oclaimed him-
self Governor.

PACTS AND NANDI=
Dkcen Pueet's gleseneek.)
So MUCK TO ens (Jum!' —Uncle i.gli hie nephew
home for Use holidays). "Gt mi to me you sea..
Dick Hope you have vent lam this half." Rick. " Oh,
yes, uncle. Ive gone ' Tick for everything!

-
VICLIIIOV6 Gissaosin.—The New Governess. "II you
U. • poor man starvinr in the street, weuidn't you give
him some of your pud.linr, T !“ Tommy. • I'd
giro him some of yours, Mut S uith !"
" VI ILL WIND BL )1,1 4 NOBODY 00311.*—Kogliak
Buyer. 'But you ask t much fdr her, Pat."—lrish
Fanner. "Shore I couldn't let her go for such • thrills,
barrio' I wasn't pails' riot this year I"

- -
Pearomica Leo Calm —(Gluletone,eketing):—(Lord
R, .rapped up on the shore, " Wonderful l—both
wind and limb!!—at our Una, of life, too, when a fall
would be so serious "

The tax which no Chancellor of the Exchequer has
disturbed, or is ever likely to diiturb—Syn-tax.

WHAT./ IN A NA•lll.—SlllpiCimlol bblder On& clam of
" gooseberry " being put up li What's the brand, Yr.
Auctioneer I "—Auctioneer. " Brand ' ! for this sham.
vague! A magnificent wine like that, sir, don't want any
brand 'We sell It on its merit& Shall we say fifteen
ahillingsi"

' Amt-T's llorro.—" Youth on the prowl and pleasure M
the 'elm.'

"Cogutscroas."—Scotch Fiel.l Preacher. "Ab 7,
able% the stiger there. biddies ! lirrtocken,—E-h I But ye
may smock, —La ye may smock "—(crercrale) sus' ye
may smock—but yell smock gry an sabrer wham Tern
pun tae ! !"

" LINKING SWELTNICIS LONG Diussx org."—Comstry lass
(to policeman who takes them over the road at Oxford
Street Circus). " I'm so much ohliged to you foe taking
the trouble—" Gallant constable. " Lo. Was per, miss,
I wish the crude was twice u long I"
As I arc SAXON.—" ca-d. mon?' banns got
one ! But I'd hae you to ken that I'm • Macklistosh "
—" You may be • Flumberelleri for I known but my
fares heighteenpenoe

CCMCLITITZ!—TOLtiIIit (on Scotch Steamer). "I uy,
steward, bow do you expect anyboly to dry their hands on
this towel It's as wet uit it had been dipped In the
sea I "—Steward. " Aweel—depped or no deppod, there's
• hundred (out hae used the toowl, end yore the forret
that's grummelt !"

" Teseoes IlLtrmarrcit..—The Bishop (to his youngest
and favourite sofa "Now, why shouldn't you adopt the
stage as &profession, Theodore Lord Ronald Beaumanoir,
who's a year younger than yourself, is already getting
sixteen guineas • week for low comedy parts at the
Criterion ! The Duchess told me so herself only yester-
day"
ficitscs."—Curate (with sudden excitement, whilst
taking • walk with his new Recta!). "Good gracious ! I
do believe I see • magniflesst— (Trying to peer through
the hedge.) Rector (startled). "What's the—What Ii
it fl !" Curate. "A ranted lady' in the next field r
Dimities off like "mad, and vaults over the gate!) No
wonder the reverend gentleman was shocked. He was
not entomological, and did not know this was the common
name of a fine butterfly (" Vanessa made) very
numerous this year I