The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-04
cneres height, but considerably thicker in build.
The end of the dispute is awaited with consid-
cradle interest.
IN THE sHUTARGARDAN PASS.


BRITISH TROOPS REPORTED sURRoUNDED BY
NATIVE TRIBES IN THE sHUTARGARDAN
PASS -RE1NFoRcEMENTs DESPATCHED yA-
KooB KHAN FEARS FOR HIS PALACE.
[BY CABLE TO THE HERALD
LONDON, Oct. 4, 1879.
Authentic information was received at Simla
yesterday that communication with the Brit
ish troops was cut off to-day on both sides of
the Shutargardnn Pass by the tribes. Reinforce
ments are being sent up the Kurum Valley.
The Standards despatch from Zargun-Shahr
says the preponderance of native opinion is that
the Afghans will make stand this side OF
Cabul. The Ameer is anxious to return to
Cabul. The general opinion is that he was
allowed to leave on his engagement to arrest the
British advance, and he fears the troops will
avenge themselves by attacking the palace.
a General Hughes brigade reached khclat-i-
Ghilzai ON the 3Oth of September. The Gov
ernor OF that place furnished him with supplies.
The tribes profess friendship for the British,
but arc bitter against Yakoob Khan.
IHE NATIVE Tribes DWELLING NEAR IhG
sHATURGARDAN PAss-MEMoRIEs OF THE
RETREAT-THE BRITISH FORCES IN THE PASS.
The startling announcement that communication
with the British troops has been cut off in the
Shaturgardan Pass gives strong ground for appre-
hending that the Ghlzais, who command that pass.
have revolted Therbigotry and the fanatical hatred
they have ever shown toward the English lend
support to this belief the that their leaders
fbn
camp at Gundamak goes tar toward confirming it.
The Ghilzais occupy the country lying between the
scientific frontier the east the Gulkoh range
the west the Cabul River tho north and Khelat
i-Ghilzai or the south. In many places they over
flow these boundaries, for in the east they come
down into the tributaries of the Gomul River and on
many places they the Cabul River. for certain
Ghilzai villages are to be found far to the north
of Jelalabad. The points where the Ghilzai bound
airy crosses the roads converging on Cabul from
Peshawur, the Khurum and Candahar are Jugdul-
luck the scene of the fatal massacre in 1912; Jajee
Thanna. the near side of Shaturgardan. and Asia
Hazara, twelve miles south Of Khelet-i-Ghilzai.
Nothing authentic is known of them until tho Brit
ish invasion of Afghanstan in 1889. Although they
did not fire the first shot in that campaign. they
certainly undertook the first serious attack, Just
prior to the assault Ghizni. They were beaten
off with the loss of about fifty killed. like num-
Der Of prisoners and several hundred wounded.
After the entry of the British into Cabul the
Ghtlzais, not having made their submission to
Shah Soojah, Captain (afterward Sir James) Outram
was sent to reduce them to order with
considerable brigade OF the Shah's troops
and battery Of nine-pounders. He entered their
country on the 9Th of September and traversed
it from end to end emerging the 18th OF October
The punishment inflicted by Outram had the effect
1,,k%
Of spring theyagain commenced their old habits
and for time completely interrupted communica-
tions between Cabul and Candahar. Captain Ander-
son was moved out to punish them, and meeting them
at place called Tazee, after fight in which the
Ghilzais showed the greatest gallantry. defeated
them with loss OF 900 killed. Sales retreat to Je
lalabad was vigorously opposed by the mountain
GERS; he was attacked again and again with the ut
most persstency and with great gallantry; in the
dedle OF Augdulluck his losses were considerably
over one hundred men. After this they skirmished
more or with Sales force until his entrance into
Jellaabad and it is possible that great portion Of
the force which besieged him there were Ghilzais.
But the grand opportunity Of the Ghilzas vet
to come. On the 9th of january. 1912. the British
authorities Cabul tho fatal step OF retreatng
during an Afghan winter with disorganized army
in the face Of tho most treacherous foe From
Bootkhak till tho last OF that force killed
or taken prisoner, tho Ghilzais surrounded them
attacking plundsring massacreing all that came
to hand. Three thousand souls went down
before them in the Khoord Cabul Pass. Before
Elphinstone's troops reached Tezeen his losses
amounted to $4,000. At Gundamak, where last
juno the imperative treaty was signed. twenty
muskets were all that could be mustered. and in
a few hours these too were gone. and the sol-
tary horseman urging his dying steed across the
remnant of tho British army. In September Of the
same year. when Pollock's avenging army
forced its way through the Khyber. the Ghilzai
hordes were found awaiting the British troops on
tho scene of their former triumphs. At Jugdulluck
they stubbornly contested every inch Of ground,
and though defeated, reappeared. with the inten-
ton of endeavoring to prevent the junction Of
McCaskel with Pollock. Later on. at Tezoon. they
again offered battle. and were again defeated. I'm
dismayed by their losses they constant in their
attempts to Pollocks retirement and fought
UNNECESSARILY for a second tno at Tezeen. Haot
Khotal and Jugdulhck.
And 1t is in tho Shutargardan Pass, which is fifty
Ave miles from cabul, that their power is to-day
most dreaded. General Roberts seems to have
tered It with ali his forces to have found him.
self In the trap where Sir William MacNaghtcn was
caught before him. The troops under his COM
mand are the Eighth, Sixty seventh, Seventy-sec-
ond and Ninety second British infanty; the Fifth
Eleventh. Thirteenth. Twenty-arst. Twenty-third.
Twonty eighth, Twenty ninth and Thirty-hrst Ma
two infantry: the First. Twelfth. Thirteenth and
Fourteenth Bengal cavalry. and the Fifth Punjaub
cavalry. three squadrons Of Ninth Lancers. COM
pany of sappors and eight batteries OF artillery.
including two mountain batteries.
CABLE NOTES.