The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1878-12-03 00:00:00

THE AFGHAN WAR.
____._.__.
RETIREMENT OF THE BRITISH.

Puwat, 80PDAT AJTWOOS.
wcZliting took place yesterday at he foot of Peivrar
After our force had proceeded a considerable
distance up the Pass, and were preparing their (*nip
for the nisht, the enemy soddenly opened fire with
shell and romd shot from a command.ing ridge at the
top of the Pam
Our Artillery attempted to shell the enemy out of
their position; but as the evening wee approaching,
General Kober% considered it advisable that the whole
of the force should retire to the month of the Pam,
out of range of the orierny's gum
To-morrow forenoon, however, we shall make • fresh
advance in greater strength, and although it is certain
that the fighting will be severe, since the enemy
all thehelsnipal positions at the top of the
Pass, not a doubt Is entertained that we shall be able
to defeat and drive him back to Shaturgardson,
though at that point strong opposition may again be
expected-
At four o'clock yesterday niornWg both brigades of
the form advanced in • westerly ffireWon slow the
Khanna Valley.
The enemy had tied from the cantonment on Wed.
nesday night. The information, however, received
from the 'furl villagers concerning the movements of
the soapy was of the most contradictory character. '
Many of us believed the villagers to be meting
ugly, and to be Kirin Oa false and misleading
rrs. The *yenta of yesterday show bow dangerous
lite to base political or military arrangements upon
the word of the Afighaat
Whilst the 72,1 Highlanders, the lith Ghoorkas, and
the S i pnejeh Infantry, with the General and staff,
were bivouacking here, trying to make themselves
geinfretah,e, firing was heard in the valleys around,
and the smoke of shells was seen curling upwards
as they buret over the top of the pain
The unpleasant discovery was then made that the
enemy at toe top of the Pees had found our exact
ranee, and had established • battery among • clump
of fire on the crest of the Pelwar mountain. Shot
after shot name whining down from the hills, and
orders were given for every man to Imre the open sad
take ehelter Issoesth the rooks on our right
Whilst crossing the open prrottad mother round oh
hounded through the ranks of the ithackm hot again
without touching a mart As it was evident that the
sl=te were ettreetlegrte enemy's fire, they were
or
dered to be removed, mossy theft opened fire
upon tie with shell, which male scrrecting down the
Pass. Many wonderful amps' took plane.
b ittery of the Royal Artillery was placed
in poach-. as soon as possible on the plateau jut%
evactooed by the Infantry, and at ono, Immo • sharp
shell fire upon the enemy's patios. After about •
ten Mc!. hed been tired, and one from a in amide
gun, which had been planted on an adjoining hillock.
It was ism that the enemy's shells were so well 1
dirm.ed that it was deemed advisable to order our
artillery to retire.
A general retirement of our troop, to another I
enerod= neat at the mouth of the Pe m was then
and several cowponies of Ohoork:n
e,
Weds, and of the 3d Poojell Infantry were
ni out for the purpose of A
• arkoess had set in before blaiP"tiadseqouLt4"ll ..,1
0:014 Gordoe's troops arrived them
It was repotted that the sth Punjab Infantry and
the 15th Idolatry bad proceeded in different directions
samagst the hills to the left of the Peet Both them
wegiments eaconatered the enemy, who rwariasd oa
the bags about the heed of the Pegs.
There was brisk firing on both sides, bat our
Isfalatry was unable to turn the enemy's position, and,
hawing by thls time discovered the easeny'a breach,
they retired.
As the position of our present camp is also com-
es aided by the meaty, the General has ordered its
Immediate removal further book towards Khartum
The troops are quit* elkitneted to-day, having
marched 34 miles yesterday, without food, in
C:rh.to 001100 OD with the seamy. The Sexed
tamed only just arrived after • long arch
on the night. The General has, la come-
game% that the meaty cannot be followed up
min to-morrow.
At the premed moment the essay Gen be ems In
"age aembers on the rocks above on, both to our
immediate right sad left
Igestetra, 80111:141%
The news from the frost is dien=ag. The low
el easels in the Mt das Pere is very severe,
end it I.lk, universal belief that the advance upon
Oesdalisr will be delayed until the swiss, if military
froadderegions only be allowed to weigh.-
(Be rdereek)
Au odicial telegram from he Viceroy „kr :
The party who again attempted to interrupt atm.
ilanoioatioe in the Pam were essay dispersed by our
=The Poetise= oommiedosier um
0. against the Pre ansigemeste hi likely soon
So he broken op by force. At Jussrood an eeiDa.
soseey=triely Shreeo the relit thetigtsdred at
boas • Gemara sobern found the esemy on
relwar, abd made raccanabeemos, Mee/min the
eseny's willies. The wee on nos kilied. two
Akan Ned Wild now wooded.