The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-23


have news of his safe arrival in Cabul. Major
Jenkins and the guides are believed to have
marched in from Butkhak and to be
safe in Sharpur. Meanwhile the supplies
are being hurried forward from India,
and General Roberts friends are so
secure Of his safety that they are carrying
with them a stock Of old magazines and periodi-
Gals to enliven the winter campaign i'll Cabui.
There is much hustle and animation at Pesha-
wur. Troops are pouring in daily from the
northwest. Camels are being laden with stores.
The government is advertising for laborers on
the railway works from Rawal Pindi to Pesha-
wur, and though the sappcrs have come in from
the khyber Valley the frontier operations are
being pushed steadily forward. The Kurrum
route is totally blocked with snow. The
dawk-bungalow recently opened ut kohat,
beside which the mail cart used to run, has
been abandoned. The telegraph wire, COM
pleted up to Basawal, has not yet been put into
use. All the dawks sent through the Khurd
Cabul Pass have been looted by Azmatullahs
Ghilzais, under the command of his naibs,
Kader and Sadu, and Sadu has informed the
British that, he was promised handsome sum
for keeping the pass open. The streets of Cabul
definite news from the city.
YAKooB AT MEERUT.
A despatch to the Times from Calcutta
says 1.-THE ex-Ameer, Yakoob Khan, has ar
rived at Meerut. He is confined under military
and police guards, but it is doubtful whether he
will be kept there long, us the proximity Of
Meerut to Delhi and to other centres of Mus
sulman tradition renders it an inexpedient
place for the safe custody of Mohammedan
State prisoners" General Roberts was
made acquainted with the Ameer's de-
termination to abdicatc on the morning
of October ~, the day fixed for the durbar in
the Bala Hissar, at which the proclamation was
read. The sovereign, who merely the pup
pet of o set of intriguing Ministers, and was
doubtful of his future treatment at the hands of
the British, showed just flash of resolution on
this OCCASION and leaving his camp, below Siah
Snng Ridge, came to headquarters with only
two personal attendants. He saw General
Roberts, and after explaining that his life was
miserable that he would sooner be grass cutter
in the British camp than Ameer Of Afghanistan
begged that his abdication might be accepted.
He was very anxious to leave Cabul, and as
he would have stood fair chance of having his
throat cut by his late subjects, it was decided
to send him to India Acting on statements
made in apparent good faith, General Roberts
ordered his guard to be suddenly doubled; all
tents to be cleared away from that in which
Yakoob Kahn was lodged, except one small one
for four of his servants; and at the same time
sentry with fixed bayonet was placed within his
own tent and four others stationed outside. 1t
was said Yalxoob Kahn had the design of escap-
ing to Turkestan, and that his horses were stand
ing ready saddled near at hand to be used as
soon as night closed in. So the same guard
remained over him, except that during the day
the sentry was withdrawn from inside the tent
His food was also carefully examined before
being sent into him, and he was cut off from all
communication with his friends He had been
made the tool of clever intriguers ever since his
fathers death, and the British were obliged to
be on their guard against. any secret combina-
ton of chiefs who might seek to upset their
newly born authority. The mere presence of
Yakoob Khan in the camp since he left Kushi
had raised him host Of enemies, but it was
thought that this ehmity would be concealed so
long as his name could be of service to ambi-
tious men Once he had served their purpose
he would be thrown over and his life would be
in jeopardy. He was too weak even to head O
party.]
The st. Petersburg Gazette says the Afghan
revolt is due to the cruelty of the English VIC
tors. 1t charges General Roberts with gross
cruelty toward the Afghans.