The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-08-12
The Situation in Afshanistan.

The Situation in Afghanistan.
The official reports Of the disaster to
the English forces in Southern Afghan
istan, which are now coming in, show
that the first reports were not exagger-
ated. Worse than this, they prove that
the disaster was due to recklessness and
incompetency on the part Of General
Burrows, the commanding officer. 1t
was stated in the earlier dispatches that
the English were surprised while in
camp and overwhelmed by the superior
weight of Ayoob Khan forces. It now
turns out that there was no surprise at
all, but that General Burrows, with a
force not much exceeding 1900 men,
deliberately marched out and attacked
q force of 1900. 1t must also be borne
in mind that General Burrows brigade
had but very few English regulars In it,
and that Shere Airs cooperation
amounted to nothing, since his infantry
deserted and went over to Ayoob Khan
some time before the battle; while on
the other hand the Afghan force was
not only five times larger, but was well
provided with small arms and heavy
artillery.
1t appears from the report of General
st. John, stationed at Candahar, that
General Burrows learned on the motn-
ing OF July % Of the approach of Ayoob
hban's forces, came up. with his adj
vance guard about nine o'clock, and at
once opened fire upon them with his
artillery. Shortly afterwards the entire
force of the Afghans appeared in SUI
perb battle order and in a position
every way superior to that of Burrows
brigade. Ayoob Khan had posted
seven regiments in the center. with
three In reserve, supported by six bat
teries of guns-one Of breech- leaders
1000 cavalry on the right, 400 cavalry
and 2, 600 infantry on the left, with other
cavalry and infantry also in reserve.
The battle opened with an artillery
duel. which lasted three or four hours.
Notwithstanding the superiority of the
English guns, they made little or no
impression upon tie Afghans. At noon
the English batteries were in state of
decentralization, and then the Afghans
charged along the left and entire
front OF Burrows forces, and broke
up their entire position. General
Burrows made futile effort to
rally them, but panic set in. There
was not only no position but no organ
ization left. Every man took to his
heels upon his own account for Canda-
har. The victorious Afghans pursued
them to within ten miles of that city,
and, if the pursuit had been as vigor-
GUS as the attack, hardly man of the
brigade would have reached it. As it
was, while the brigade was not annihi-
lated, its remnant reached Candahar
in such condition of decentralization
that it can be of little service to Gen.
eral Ii :ii;rose, commanding IT that
place, and left almost lis entire arma-
ment on the battlefield. Had General
Burrows fallen back upon Candahar,
the position of which is very strong,
instead of rashly hurting his brigade
upon a greatly superior force, this dis
aster would not have occurred. Itonly
emphasizes the mistake, which the En-
glish have made many times before, of
undertaking the skill as well as the fight
ing qualities OF the Afghans, who are
the most warlike of all the mountain
tribes in Central Asia. 1t was also
shown by this battle not only that
they are good fighters, but that they
are well armed with improved gums
and cannon, and that they know how
to use them. General Primrose him
self in one of his earlier dispatches tel
egraphed that they had heavy guns and
served them well. Reinforcements are
now pouring into Afghanistan after the
mischief has been done, as usual; and,
while the Afghans may not be able to
reduce Candahar, as they are poorly
provided with siege material. it is not
impossible that we may yet hear of fur
Their disasters in the open field if they
follow up their victory with celebrity
and vigor-the more so as they are
likely to receive fresh accessions to
their ranks from the discontinued
tribes, The moral effect of the victory
is seen even in Cabul, where it has pro-
duced so much excitement and commo-
ton among the followers of the new
Ameer that the proposed interview be-
tween Abdurrahman and General Stew
art has had to be postponed, and the
English had to make a military de-
monstration to prevent open disaffec-
ton.
It isevident that the victory of Aycob
Khan has reopened the whole AT CHAN
question just at time when the Liber-
al Ministry was so confident of order
and peace that the English forces at
Cabul were on the point of leaving for
India, and it was even proposed to re-
duce the forces at Candahar. merely
leaving small garrison there. 1t is
the most serious calamity that has be-
fallen the English since the massacre of
1912, and involves either the abandon
ment or another long and costly war to
hold the ground and establish their
4" scientific frontier war that must
cost many lives and pile up the fright
full bill of expense which has already
India, and left an enormous
deficit, the result of reckless financial
as well as military mismanaeement. In
this miserable middle there appears to
be but one paper in England that has
taken a commOn-sense view of the stu
alton, and that is the Pail Mall Gazette,
which urges that England should get
out of Afghanistan, bag and baggage
Chicago Tribune, august 5.