The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-06
THE ENGLISH ADVANCE.
pejwav. Guetta and Candahar Far
the English Have Advanced
Into Afghanistan.
ICGicago 'Tlmes.l

"uVa @'E"s"s'a"'
Ohlcago Times.l
The British Khurum column was at the last
accounts at Kaplyan, n small mud fort across
Tho Khurum two miles from Thai. held orig
nally by some 80 Afghans, but abandoned
the garrison having doubtless fallen back or
the Khnrnm fort, further UP the valley, where
900 Of the Ameer's troops are reported to be
stationed the Peiwar Pass. another march
of, being held by 5000 men aniaaleven guns.
The khurum Valley Il peopledSy Shah Mo
hammedans not over friendly 10 their Afghan
masters: further than this It IL held to 10 the
easiest route from the Punjaub to Cabul,
the ascent not being difflcult and water,
grass and fuel being abundant. The Afghan
Sirdars have, however, removed all the crops
that they could gather The Pelwar pass IS
regarded as the English objective point In
this seasons campaign. 1t Is about seven
thousand feet high and well wooded, and it
would be Nh easy task to advance thence m
the spring, for il is only twenty-five miles t.
the Shootur Gurdan lCamel's Neckl which
once crossed the army is within seventy miles
of Cabul or Ghuznee. From Hair Prs Iiatm
to the khurum Fort otherwise Mohamned
Azim's Fort there are, according to Lums-
den. two routes, one by tho Darwaza Pass,
one by the river, the latter being the ensier
The road ~ sprinkled with numerous
walled Enclosures. At SIX miles y
Duran a village OF two hundred
quarter miles, another large village amid rice
fields, this part Of tho road being open to ma
rauding attacks from tho Musazaes, on the
adjacent hills. From lbrahimzae II is twelve
and quarter miles to kot Mian-jl, artillery
and cavalry going along the rivers bed along
the high bank. On either side the hill runs down
TO the waters edge. The left bank has belt
OF rice fields from mile to two miles wide,
rum fort s two miles away. The fort is Of
considerable extent, with eight bastions, each
surmounted by round tower; u Is surround
cd by wide ditch and covered way, and the
entrance is over drawbridge. The interior
space Is filled up with an Irregular and
dense mass OF buildings. Thence II Is
seventeen and half miles TO Habib kala,
close to the large town of Peiwar. This place
Is on terraced and irrigated ground. richly
cultivated and Astounding In provisions and
forage Leaving Peiwar behind, the road
crosses several deep rayines running through
broken ground, covered with wooded jungle,
and commanded IN many places by spurs
from the mountains. n Ia seven miles TO the
pass, where the ascent Is by regular zigzag,
the gradient not being very steep, but some
labor still being required to make II practica-
BILE for guns. even with drag ropes. The hills |
are thickly covered with pine and yew on the |
English objective point this winter.
The Quetta column menaces Candahar |
where Asian Khan is In command, and In
tends stubborn defense, Judging from the
fact that the Ameer has Just sent him 100
camel loads Of powder and shot For some
their preparations, having accumulated six
months stores, the khan of Khelat aiding |
them greatly. Quetta. which the English oc-
cuoied In November 1875 (gueerly enough, ten
years before the Indian government declined
10 seize IL. though the government urged that
step. the ground of refusal being that the oe-
cupation would be gratuitous menace to the
Ameer4, will be found on any map. n secures
the Bolan Pass, and In q long step toward
Candahar, overlapping the Afghan frontier
and exposing to the English attack the whole
flank and ultimately the heart of the Ameers
kingdom It Is beautiful spot. covered with
vineyards, gardens and orchards, In which