The New York herald., 1879-03-02

with the remnants OF his forces to Candahar.
where lie re-established communications with
Herat. then governed by his son. Yakoob
Khan In March. 1867. the fortunes OF Sherc
All were at their lowest ebb and it seemed almost
impossible that. after two disastrous campaigns he
should ever make head against his victorious broth
ers. Indeed such was the Amcer's own convictions.
and he accordingly made overtures to the Russians
for aid. promising to hold Afghanstan a fief at
their hands On the death of Afzul. in 1867.
Azim left in divided control with his nephew
Abderrahman. of Cabul. and acknowledged
ruler by the English government But the Afghan
rivals, both he of Cabul and he OF Herat. continued
undecided which Power they should definitely ally
themselves with and Russia spared no diplomatic
effort to confuse the public mind to her
Intentions and to keep both pretenders. as
the saying is ION her books. In this she succeeded
well. Aim Khan although possessing that part of
Afghanisan nearest to British India, at last placed
himself without in the hands of his Russian
advisers Intrgues were none the less carried
on by Muscoytc agents with Shere Ali; but.
whether this potentate less credulous OF
the disinterestedness of his would-be allies. or
well informed OF their transactions in Cabul these
did not produce any permanent result. SO it came
to pass that. although Shere Ali entered into
any express alliance with England. and although tho
British had more than repudiated him. the Eng
lish interests supposed to be represented by
the younger Of Dost Mahomet, while the Russian
by the elder. strange diplomatic tangle. to
be sure.
TE1UMpHs OF YAKooB KHAN.
Up to this point in the history of the civil
Shere Ali had always conducted his army i'll person,
while his son preserved the frontier of Herat
against the cravings OF the Persians. Now, how
ever. he induced to place that in the
moment the war took Numerically opposite COM
plexion to that which it had before worn. rapid
march Candahar placed that important town again
in the possession of Shcre Ali. and Yakoob Khan.
with true military prescience secured the
country in his rear by occupying Quettah and
Kheat. At this moment a quarrel between Aim
and Abderrahman occurred to still further
| the chances of the side of Shere Ali.
| Nothing daunted by the detection of his nephew.
Azm assembled all the troops his disposal and set
from Cabul to meet the youthful Srtlar Yakoob
Khan. Aims forces were more numerous than
those of the of shere Ali. and they knit
| together by frmer links than the hastily
| collected levies of Yakoob Khan He was,
| however, equal to the occasion. and by
| two three forced marches he reached Ghizni
before Azm although the latter had not half the dis
| tance to traverse So bold measure not only put
| fresh courage into his soldiers. but it also
struck panic into the heart Of tho government and
| people OF Cabul. for Ghizni is only seventy five
miles distant from that city. He drove everything
before him.
EVENTS LEADING THE WAR.
Shere Ali at last thoroughly and peacefully
master of his country. The Anglo-Indian govern
ment had in 1868 endeavored to repair it's mistake
and now. in reply to the letter Of Shere
Ali. it determined that some special mark of Eng
lsh friendship should be bestowed on him. Accord
ngly, the Viceroy the late Lord Mayo, invited the
Afghan ruler to grand durbar at Umbala: and the
success Of this gorgeous ceremonial was supposed to
be complete. Shere Ali went home convinced Of
Great Britains immense power and omnipotence.
II is WELL perhaps to bear in mind that other
thoritics affirm that he only impressed
with o belief in the enormous loot that would
be ut the disposal Of Indian conqueror On
his return To Cabul he at once commenced the
ganization Of his forces the European system.
Up to the end of 1872 Shero Ali chiefly guided
in his policy by this who held the post Of vizer
| or Prime Minister and Commander-in-Ch Chief COM
| bined; but palace intrigue already on
foot him from his position and to supplant
| him in the heirship by Shere Mi's youngest son.
| Abdulla Jan. Yakoob Khan not the man to
tamey submit to the loss Of his heritage. in the
gaining Of which. too he had borne prominent a
part and he fed from the palace TO his former gov
ernorship at Hcrat Here for time he maintained
| his independence. but at last he fell into the
power OF his father. In all probability but for tho
energetic interference Of the British government he
would have been summarily executed; it
| he placed in captivity. An almost impene-
/ trable mist shrouds the history Of these
| last few years of internal warfare. and not
withstanding the rumors uninterruptedy
sent from Cabul. it is not known what has been the
exact fate Of this gallant soldier The faction of Alb
dulla Jan he young Prince who died last year,
| manded no weight in the country and was purely
| Court clique, while .Yakoob Khan was not only
! the favorite of the army but also popu.
| lar with the people. When the broke
out after Shere Ali's defiance to the English the
progress of the invaders rapid that the Ameer
| gathered his money and his women about him and
set out to the northward for MazarSkarif. Before
leaving he rcinstated Yakoob Khan in his affections
and left him in charge of the government The death
Shere All will hardly raise the question Of the
cession.