The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-21
The Fighting strength of Aighaniston,

traction and amends expired yesterday. An
important despatch from India was received
in London on Tuesday, which may or may
not have been SHERE AL1's reply to the
Viccroys ultmatum. Upon the tenor Of
this reply. II it has been made, depends the
question OF peace or war.
II il is to be war, we know that opera
tions will be begun, notwithstanding the
latcncss Of the season, in at least one
direction. According to the kilograms
strong column Is in readiness to
push through the Bolan Pass, and with
Qucttah az base to press forward against
Candahnr. 1t becomes interesting TO learn
something definite about the military
resources Of the Afghan ruler. What is the
real volume and character OF the force
welded 10y the master Of the hill fortress,
the eagles nest, which dominates the plains
Of India
The area Of the region which comedies q
species Of icudal allegiance to the son of
DosT MoHAMMED Is equal TO that OF Ger
many but the population is not rated at
above 100000 in the statistics lately COM
piled for the Russian Military Department
More important than any territorial di-
vision is that Ut races and tribes, there being
no less than nine distinct Municipalities in the
| country. OF these the Usbcks aud Hindoos
! form the agricultural and commercial clio
ments. The Afghans OF Pathans, the domi-
| mating race. are about 100000 strong, aud
are distributed into five tribes or 405 clans.
II is worth noting that most OF these
boast Of deriving their descent from the
ten tribes Of Israel a claim in favor OF
which certain amount OF evidence
seems to be alleged. We may add that
the bulk OF the Afghan population, being in
vetcrate mountaineers, prefer the rugged
eastern aud southeastern frontiers TO the
central and western valleys; and we are
chiefly concerned TO know how many fight
| ing men the clans along the Indian and
Bclooch borders can put into the field.
The most powerful Of all the Afghan tribes
is the Durani, to which the dynasty of DosT
MoHAMMHD belongs 1t follows that SHERE
ALI is not only the suzeran but the ilnme-
date chief OF the Duranis. n point OF obvious
import where lands are held ON feudal
tenure. The Duranis inhabit a large tract
between llerat and Candahar, number some
thrce-quartcrs 81 million souls, and can
muster upward Of 100000 warriors. They
are well spoken Of by all travellers
in Afghanstan, and are credited with supe-
rior spirit, bravery, and civilization; as a
rule, for instance they have no intcrneclne
feuds like the other Afghan clans. For them
Candahar Is invested with halo Of super
stiton being the traditional place Of inter-
ment for the bodies Of their great men; and
an English occupation Of that city would
naturally meet with strenuous opposition
from its founders.
In the southeastern angle Of Afg hanistan
dwell the Ghilzais a powerful tribe compris-
ing not far from 100000 souls, and able 10 fur
nish the Ameer at least 10, 900 lighting mon.
A race, the Ghilzais are fine, stalwart men.
capable Of undergoing great hardship and
fatigue; and their history is interesting,
descended, as they are, from the illegitimate
son Of an oxled Persian Prince, Shah
IUssEIN. Next ON the north, in the Koo-
rum Pass, we come upon the Juris computed
10 muster about 5000 soldiers, highly priced
as irregular cavalry Of the koOrd or Circas-
sian stamp. II is probable that the Juris
will throw in their lot with the English In
the coming contest. Next on the north,
passing along the slopes OF the SOliman and
Suiaid Koh ranges, we reach the Shlnwarls,
who can furnish some 1909 lighting men,
hut Of whom We know very little be-
yond the fact Of their marked aver
sion 10 the English. Six years ago
they harbored the murdcrcrs Of Major
McDONALD; and in the last war Gen. Mon
TFlrH marched into their territory and
summarily punished them for an unpro-
Vulled assault on a British post. Just be-
yond them. however and reaching 10 the
southern flank Of the Khyber Pass, dwell
the Anidi,, unque-tionably the most powcr-
ful OF pathan clans next to the Duranis and
the Ghilzais They are able to draw forth
not less than $500 warriors con
spicuous for fortitudo and daring
There is no doubt that the Afrdis
are definitely secured to tho English
side in the present struggle indeed one OF
their Khans has voluntarily taken up his
resi- lcncc in Pc-hawur. Already the Afghan
troops have sought to punish this elan foI
their adhcrcnce to their compact with the
British authorities, but 50 far have not sue
cccded in iuilicting severe injury. We come
next to the Momunds, whose territory lies u
the north Of the khybcr Pass, and who ar,
able TO turn out from 1900 10 10000 men
armed, for the most part, with rifles Of Eng
lish manufacture. Until very recently it was
supposed that the Ameer could certainly
count on their assistance, and the most i'm
portant piece Of Afghan news Is the detection
TO the English Of this formidable clan II
appears that their chief Is lAKOoB kHAN's
father-in-aw and firm supporter When tn,
Prince was released by his father not long
ago, and given a command the tribe at once
joined the Afghan monarch; but, ON VA
KooB's subsequent arrest, they went over
10 the British Viccroy.
We need not 20 on b. enumerato the Oh
scure names Of tribes 10 tho northeast %
Pe-hawur, and commanding the Kashmcel
frontier, but it may be said in brief that tn,
I number of lighting men already pledged t'
; the English ON the part Of Pathan clans
I exceeds 10000 Against these SHERE Al
{ can oppose militia Of at least 100000. II,
possesses also the Nucleus Of II regular
army. recruited mainly from the Duranis
ana tolerahly well armed year ago Ia,
~ was supposed TO be weak in artillery. bu
3. tho want seems 10 havo been mcasIrablj
SuDpiiCu. since "A rpcDuuOissa nee ten dn y,