The New York herald., 1878-11-23
Of what the republican newspapers have been saying

of what the republican newspapers have been saying
since the speech delivered
FRENCH MERCHANT SERVICE.
deputation representing the French shipping in
terests had interview with the French Min
lister OF Marine. who assured them that he was
OF the condition of the merchant service and consid
cred it urgently necessary the should
assist the shipping interests.
BUSINESS DEPRESSION IL GREAT BRITAIN.
The long continued pressure on the linen trade of
Belfast. Ireland. has at length begun to show its
effects. The failure of Mitchell Brothers. large firm
OF hax spnncrs and power-loom weavcrs. is an
nonnced with liabilities estimated at from f500 900 to
tso,0D. Orders have been issued for the closing Of
two OF the largest slate manufactures at Bangor,
Wales Most Of the quaires in that district are
reducing force and lowering wages. The representa-
tves OF the mine owners and miners of Newcase-on-
Tyne have compromised the dispute about rules and
hours and the miners have accepted seven and one
half per cent reduction of wages thereby ayertng the
threatened great strike The strike of the Clyde ship
builders is virtually ended The rvetters accept
ing contracts at the reduction. Some engineers have
also resumed work. The apprentice carpenters will
resume on Monday.
a DOUBTFUL STORY.
La Correspondence. of Madrid. asserts that several
European Cabinets have informed the Swiss govern
from Berne if Switzerland continues to give refuge to
anarchists from all countries. This statement is i'm
probable
DESCRIPTION OF THE APPROACHES TO FORT ALI
MUsJIp--TaE KHYBEn PASS AND THE ROAD
TO CABUI..
The Khyber Pass begins ten miles west Of
Peshawur. and winds for thirty thi miles in north
westerly direction till it reaches the Jealabad plain
at Dakka Close to the entrance stands the fort and
ruined village Of Jumrood. almost within
the gorge and in situation exposed to at
tack from the surrounding hills, whose tan
gled ravines afford excellent hiding place
for the wild guerilla bands of Atreedees Ornkyae.
An outer fortifcation some three hundred yards
square protects the old octasonal stronghold Of the
Sikhs. whose shattered walls crown the summit of .
small natural mound, conspicuous object from
every part of the adjacent plain. Here in 1887. the
great Sikh leader. Hurree Singh, who had occupied
this fortress in the teeth of the hated Mohammedan
Afghans, fell bravely successfully defending the
furthest outpost of the religion against the forces
Of Dost Mahomed The Afghans had attacked the
post with their artillery and were about to
commence assault when Hurree Singh fell
npon them with all the enthusiasm Of his
creed and only driven back in the hour of
victory by fresh party OF the enemy under
the nephew of the Ameer After the British occupa-
ton Jumrood allowed. for some mysterious
reason fall out Of repair while Peshawnr in
stead be the guardian station for the Cabnl valley
approaches and the mouth of the Khyber. The
actual gorge of the Khyber begins at the kadam
Caves, little west OF Jumrood. where massive
cliffs OF slate line the pathway at dis
tance of only $50 yards from one another. Tho
ascent follows the of the shrunken stream
which represents the ancient outlet OF the prim
tive lakea roaring and foaming food after Sudden
rains and dangerous TO the lncautious traveller IN
weather. but diminishing to u mere thread Of
water drying altogether during periods of drought
WHERE ALI MUSJID STANDS.
Up the bed of this treacherous little streamlet,
through oycrshadowing crags about l500 feet in
height, the pathway winds for ten miles through o
dAtie with an average width Of $50 feet to the point
on which stands the fortress of Ali Musjid which the
Aiglo-lndian troops occupied on yesterday morning.
This small but formidable fortifcation occupies u
most imposing situation on great wall of rock,
when from below. yet it might really be conf
manded from several OF the neighborng heights.
avoldee ass little to the north sf the
Khybcr. But the portion of the path immediately
! adjoining Ali Mnsjid certainly offers some Of
The road down to the boulderstrewn bed of
the torrent while almost perpendcular rocks enclose
it on either side and the rude little Afghan fort
hangs it threatcningly from above Unimportant as
it is from European point OF view Ali Musjid has
twice played conspicuous part IN indian history once
Khyberees compelled British force to evacna.e the
/ dangerous post and lately the scene Of Major
ent complications In all previous attempts to force
the Khyber it has always proved the main centre OF
resistance.
| OTHER DIFFICULTIES TO BE MET.
| Two miles further on, at Tala Beg. the defle
| widens into little valley containing large pre-
| historic mound 'tope. probably Of Buddhist
| origin This valley occupies the middle point OF
the route, but lies considerably below the SUNNI,
or crest Of the pass. to reach which the traveller
must still scale the narrow natural staircase Of
| Sundee Khana mere ledge Of rock along the
treacherous edge Of cliff. with rocky wall towering
| above the one hand and yawning abyss opening
btipw the other. This ledge forms the most defen
eile point of the entire pass almost impracticable
| for artillery and easily held by small body
| against comparatively numerous assailants. From
| the crest which lies about 1.420 feet above the
level OF Peshawur much less difficult descent leads
down into the higher tableand Of Jelalabad. about
| eight miles distant. At Dakka the open plain is
rea1 he'd more and an invading army would find
its way moderately clear for forty miles to Jellaabad
which stands in the relation to the Cabul mouth