The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-21
AFGHANISTAN.


TONS OFFICIAL UTTERANcEs-AIL WE'LL AT
CABuL AND IN THE pAssEs-sIR STAFFORD
NoRTHCoTEs FRANK DECLARATION.
[BY CABLE TO THE HERALD.]
LONDON, Dec. 20, 1879.
The Russian press is very violent in its criti-
cisms on affairs in Afghanistan. The Gazette dc
S. Peersboury says:-"We must candidly con-
TESS that Russia would not break her heart
in the probable event of General Roberts col
umn sharing the fate of Cavagnari's Embassy"
The government of India has published an ex-
PLANTATION OF the military situation in Afghans-
TAM stating that General Roberts has ample
transport and ammunition. Besides the twenty
three cannon belonging to his force he has pa
captured cannon, many of which are rifcd.
His intrenchments can easily be held
by $500 men, leaving 5000 free for often
sive operations. General Bright has $4,000
men between Jumrood and Jagdulluk, with
thirty cannon, two months supplies and CON-
plcte divisional and brigade transport. In
Guiding the forces at Candahar and in the
Kurum Valley the total field force is $4,000
men, with 16O guns, which is considered ample
for present requirements
AMONG THE MOUNTAINS
dated December 10, says :-'It was reported on
Thursday that General Cough would probably
retire upon Peizeran, three miles west of the
Surkats River; but it is now believed that he
will remain at Jagdulluk and shortly clear
away the Ghilzais in his front. Gen
eral Arbuthnot's brigade is distributed
along the road between Gundamuk and
Jagdulluk. Contrary to expectation the
tribes below Jelalabad continue quiet.
Had General Bright advanced with his whole
force doubtless the Mohmunds and Afreedis
would have risen, but the system Of forwarding
troops from Jelalabad only as reinforcements
arrived from Peshawur affords them no OPEN
ing. Great efforts are making for u speedy con-
centration at Peshawur. Many native princes
have rendered their assistance. General Rob
erts' statements of his ability to hold his posi-
ton, and take the offensive on favorable oppor-
tunities, have been so positive that the anxiety
at first felt on behalf of the garrison in the
Sharpur environments is much abated." 1t is
officially stated that despatch from General
Bright dated December IS, informed the
Viccroy of India that if General Cough
was unable to force his way to Cabul with his
brigade, he General Bright proposed, as soon
as arrangements could be made, to hold the
posts from India to Gundamuk and advance on
Cabul with division numbering 5000 men.
A telegram from Pczerau, dated to-day, says:-
"There is no serious fighting. All is WELL"
ENGLANp's FOREIGN POLICY.
Sir Stafford Northcote, Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, delivered an address to-day at great
conservative demonstration at Leeds He made
a detailed reply to the recent speeches of men,
hars of tho 1iharo1 Marty ond oo,np1o;poJ
that Mr.. Gladstone's comparison of the expen-
ditures of the liberal and conservative gov
ernments was fallacious, as he made no
allowance for the extraordinary war expendi-
ture necesstated by the Eastern complications
The tone of Mr.. John Bright's recent speech at
the Potter banquet, he said was remarkable.
Mr.. Bright Ind gone near possible to
recommending republic in England, and,
in comparing the United States with the
British Empire, he had pointed out
that the wide extent of the latter was merely o
cause of weakness. The Chancellor asserted
that the policy of the government in Afghan
istan was one of defence, not of annexation
They still adhered in the main to the policy set
forth in the Treaty of Gundamuk, but wished AZ
ghanstan toreceive government suitable to its
population, that the country might form u
barrier between India and any Power that might
encroach upon it. He assured his auditors that
the government was concealing nothing rela-
tive to the situation in Afghanistan. The
government, he said, would take measures to
alleviate the distress in Ireland without
pauperizing the population, but while careful
of the material prosperity of Ireland, would,
above all, insist upon the maintenance of law
and order, and would never coqucttc with any
demands for home rule which the responsible
statesmen of all parties knew to be impossible
AYooB KHAN's Observation-Disclosures OF THE
DURAN s1RDARs-pAwN OF COMMERCIAL.
PROSPERITY.
A correspondent of the London Times telcgraphs
from Candahar on the 9Th inst. :-"Rumor is cur
rent in the city that Ayoob Khan with twelve
regiments Of infantry and three OF cavalry, has
marched from Herat with view to draw
ing out of Candahar. Such u movement
Is not unlikely. but II is to be feared that kyoobs
troops will never come within striking distance.
Money. here rs elsewhere the sinews of war. Ayoob
Khan has none. 1t is probable. suggested last
week. that no Is acting under compulsion. or is
partly. perhaps buoyed up by vain hopes of Persian
assistance. Mir Afzul makes no sign, but the
people of Bakwa. the northeast district of Farah
have shown their opinion of him by driving his
syn. who came to collect revenue and raise horse
men. out Of their country. Everything. indeod 10
ready for advance IL necessary. The troops
arc in splendid health and the condition of the
transport service is equal to carrying the whole
division to any point on the Herat road. One
cavalry and two infantry regiments in Pishin are
also fully equipped and ready to take our
places hero. srdar shore Ali Khan is laying in sup
plies tho road and at Girshk. Everything con-
tinucs to show that tho Duran Chiefs apart from the
clique OF the Barakzai sirdars and their followers
are we'll satisfied with the existing regime, and no
effort Is being spared to keep them so. Their clans
form at least hve-sixths of tho inhab-
tants of the country south of the line
drawn from Herat to Kelat-i-G hilzai. through
which lies tho commercial aud military
49,, a.. r,,,ia Tho uo1,,,cd hasi, ,c nroso.ro,,.