The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-11-22
THE AFGHAN WAR.
The British Rapidly Advancing.
A Column Marching on Quettah.
Several Positions Abandoned by the
Afghans.

LONDON, Nov. 2lst-A despat III from lord
Cran6rook, Secretary of State for India, to
LORD Lyttou, Viceroy of Iodia, is SUMMARY
papers which Beaconsfield in his letter to
OF Lord Lawrence promised that should be dis
tributed before the end of the month. II il at
once an indictment of the frontier policy of
the Gladstone administration, defence of the
policy of the present government, and reply
to the anti-war agitation of the Afghan COM
mittee. Its PRONUNCIATION is equivalent to a
thereof
The Daily News says that the Indian coun-
Gil has never been consulted, or had an oppor-
tnnity Tor expressing any opinions in respect
to the Afghan question.
The British force at Thai, which it is be-
Ieved, is designed to march to the head of
Khurum. Valley to drive out the Afghan force
there, has secured the highest point of tie
pass in readiness for further advance or for
cooperation with the force operating against
Jellalabad, through Khyber pass 1t is under
the command of Gen. Roberts, and consists of
two brigades, the first under Col. Cobbe, COM
prising the eighth Kings and the 9Th and 18th
Punjaub native infantry regiments.
The second is under Col. Thelwall, COM
prising the second and twenty-irst Punjaubs
attached as they come up from Keohat. No
resistance is expected until the upper end of
the Khurum valley is reached. The ma tive
tribes IN the valley profess good will towards
the British
A despatch from Bombay says that the India
Times prints despatch from Thai, dated
today, which announces that the British
troups occupied Fort Kasson without re-
sstance, the Afghans retiring hurredly be-
fore them from Fort Kassion to a station be-
yound the frontier line opposite Thai. The
abandonment was anticipated.
An order has been unexpectedly received at
the royal arsenal at Woolwich, England, for
nearly 100 tors OF camp equipage for the army
embarked for Immediate despatch.
LONDON, Nov. 21-A despatch to the
Standard from La Hore on Thursday saws /:
If the attack on Fort Ali Musjd is successful
the advanced brigade will press forward and
encamp outside the pass. 1t is only intended
to push the advance of this column to Datka
near Lolpura this year. The Quettah column
Stewart The Khurum column has occupied
Fort Ahuldishams. Up to 8 o'clock this
evening no news was received concerning the
attack on Fort Ali Musjid.
BRUSSELS, Nov. 21.-The Russian organ LIE
Nord 10 al article on the Afghan war saws:
The reports which will doubtless be propoga ted
relative to the complications between Englan
and Russia may be characterized beforehand as
false. All prospect of such eventuality may
bs put out of the question with perfect as.
Surance
LA HoRE, Nov. 21-The British force ad.
vancing on Quettah has arrived at Hushlak,
ten miles distant. The cold is intense, ard
about 100 men are sick in each regiment.
Warm clothes are urgently required. Con-
siderable anxiety is felt regarding the weather.
A proclamation of the Vieeroy was read to
the Belooch chiefs, stating that the war was
only to be waged against the Amer and ad.
visng the people to remain at home. The
Quett.h columns number $3.50 men. A division
commanded BY Lieut.. Gen. Daniel Stewart
numbering $3.50 men has left Mooltam for
Qaettah.
BERLIN, Nov. N.-Gen. Hartmann while
presenting sword to the Afghan envoy OF
Tashkend for transmission to the Ameer
declared that whoever sided with Russia need
iured