Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1878-12-10

1t Is an evident fact that owing to in
ternal disagreements. treachery. and
loss OF confidence. the Aishsns are
yielding to the superior skill, efficiency
and power OF the English forces, aud
total submission. even to disintegration,
IL required, is merely . matter Of short
time. The real political contest for
supremacy Of power in the premises is
between England and Russia. Afghan
istan il the sufferer. and IL Is not at all
impossible that the final result will be
the dismemberment OF that unfortunate
country and a division OF the spoils be-
tween England and Russia. In such a
settlement. England would naturally. as
the conqusrsr. claim the lions share Of
the spells. During the brief struggle
thus far. however. the worlds attention
has been naturally attracted to that
quarter. and the country and people
have both been made subjects Of study
and research. Among the natural de-
fences Of the country are its famous
mountain passes. so easily defended by
n lev resolute soldiers. and most i'm
portan, and prominent OF them all is the
Khybsr pass or passes, so interestingly
described in the following article which
we copy from the New York Tribune Of
the ID instant:
The assault on the Kiawar Pass, which
II was anticipated the British would
make on Saturday. will open the attack
on the great Khyber Passes, that have
so often held the key to the critical
crisis In the worlds history. Alexander
came through this opening from Persia
10 conquer India. and Mahmoud fol-
lowed him. frat bringing the Mahometan
religion to Hindostan. General kauf.
man on Thursday called on his Govern
insnt to notice that its occupancy by the
British would DO q standing menace to
Russian Turkistan.
Our readers would do well to bear IN
mind the condition and situation Of this
gateway in order to better understand
the events which most probably will
o occur there. II il. in fact. n gut or
cleft in = savage Alpine region. drained
by the Cabul River. and ramparted by
wastes OF snow. and the peaks OF the
Hindoo Kush covered with perpetual ice.
The businesses OF these mountains are
guarded by disjoiu,ed. fana,ical tribes OF
Atghsus. The Afebans are not sensual
nor brutal. but like most mountaineers,
powerful in physique and brain. biz
oied, sincere and cruel. especially In q
religious war.
IL vas down this great Pass and
through these people that, a month
later ia the Winter than now, the Brit
ish army attempted to pass back into
India. OF 5000. including women and
children, but n man reached Jellala-
bad to tell the tale. The assailsnts
were in most instances said to be
Ghazees. religious enthusiasts who
fought for the love Of God. The khy-
bcrees, q elan who lived along the
heights Of the Pass. refused to join In
the conspiracy with the other tribes. but
harried the flying wretchss, killing and
robbing them to within a mile Jellala'
bad. The bones OF these 10000 are
scattered still along these dehles ; even
their borders never were regained. IL
Is q significant fact. too, which We lind
In the contsinporaneous accounts OF this
previous struggle between the British
and Afshans ON their own ground. that
no reliance could be placed on the ln-
dian allies OF the English. The Sc
poys." says the official report. who
make such good soldiers under the
broiling sun Of India. are ensrvated and
stupeied by the extreme cold OF these
high ATTITUDES and succumb at once.
They fell by the thousands by the way.
side, or IL living were carried OF as
slaves to the voslik Tartars.
II Is the remembrance Of the details
Of this massacre. only 30 years ago.
which most probably caused the Home
Government TO check the Viceroy in his
Impotence. and instruct him to give the
Amser another chance to keep the peace.
IL Is not the Afghan forces against which
they have to contend. nor even the Rus
sian, but a Winter and lack Of transpor.
taitou and provisions which would para.
lei the retreat IRON Moscow. IL was
the brother Of Shere Ali. too, who ma.
nruvered the ~marauding hordes so skill
fully. aud they are equally under the
guidance Of the Ameer.