The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-08-04
AN AFGHAN MASSACRE
OF A WHOLE BRITISH BRIGADE.
Tremendous Sensation in Parlia-
ment When Harrington An
nounces the Destruction at
Candahar of the Com
mand of General
Burrows.

LONDON, July 2S.-Lord Harting-
ton startled the House this morning
by announcing that the Government
had received news from Candahar.
stating that an engagement had
taken place between the Afghans
and General Burrows brigade, in
which the latter was completely an
initiated Lord Harrington further
said that the Government was not
vet in possession of full details of
the disastrous engagement, but from
what's known of the relative position
of the British and Afghan troops, it is
inferred that the Afghans who are
reported to have destroyed Gen
Burrows brigade were under COM
mand of Ayoob Khan, who is sup
posed to have been reinforced by the
mutineers consisting of the old Ca
bul regiment, who deserted from
Sheere Ais command at Candahar
on Wednesday, the 14th inst. At
that date Ayoob Kahn was at Sars,
two marches distant from Candahar
with his whole regular force of ten
regiments of infantry, exclusive Of
the mutineers, who are believed to
have joined him subsequently, three
regiments of cavalry, numbering
about four hundred bayonets and
nine hundred sabers, with thirty
guns. In addition to these troops.
he had the irregular cavalry, vari-
ously estimated from fifteen to thir-
ty-tive thousand men. OF these,
one thousand men under ShahagasSi
Khusdil, the late Governor Of Turk
estan, formed the advance guard
This force left Herst about the 10Th,
and marched directly toward Canda-
har. with the evident purpose Of
trying conclusions with the British
garrison ut that place as soon as a IA
vorable opportunity offered. Ayoob
is known to have had plenty of AN
munition.
The morning news is confirmed
by later dispatch. 1t Will explain
the reticence of the Siradoirs at the
late meeting, when they were i'm
plored by General Dugald Stewart
to sink their differences and unite
with Abdurrahman Kahn, the new
Amere, To pacify and unite the coun-
try under the new administration.
Ayoob is merely the tool of the Ca
bul chiefs. who are all friendly to
Russia and against English rule
Notwithstanding the apparent
friendliness of some of them. these
Cabul chiefs have been suspected
for some time of stimulating Avoob
Kahn to the desperate enterprise of
attacking Candahar, and to get up
an enthusiasm among his soldiers
he made them profusc promises Of
plumber at Candahar in case of sue
cess. The doubtful state of affairs
in Southern Afghanistan also ex-
plains why the British representa-
tive at the late meeting at Cabul de
clined to 90 further than to recog-
nize Abdurrhman Kahn as Ameer
of Cabul and not of Afghanistan.
which had been the title of his pred
/ ecesSOrs.
1t is believed that in some wav
General Burrows was enticed beyond
/ the walls of the Candahar fOrtifica-
tions and entrapped into a fatal am
buscade. If Ayoob's victory is as
sweeping as reported it is conceded
that the war in South Afghanistan
is reopened in all its horrors. the
evacuation of the country by the
British indefinitely postponed, and
possible the New Ameers seat made
more than doubtful through prob
able early revolution in his own cap
ital.
Still later dispatches say that
/ Ayoob Khan crossed the Helmund
river on the 23rd inst. and surprised
General Burrows, whose force was
encamped on the left bank of that
stream, opposite Girrushk. Since
the battle General Primrose has re-
tired with a portion of General Bur
rows force, which succeeded in es-
Gaping to the citadel ofCandaharand
will try and hold the place until the
arrival of reinforcements. Mean
while AyOob Khan, who has march
ed in front of Candahar. threatens
an assault, and fears are entertained
that he may take the citadel before
assistance can arrive. 4 relief force
under General Phayre is said to be
concentrating for march on Can
dahar.
/ Owing to the recent dry weather
the Helmund is everywhere fordable
and this fact probably facilitated the
surprise against which it would APP
pear General Burrows had taken in
sufficient protection.
Lynch Law I'm Missouri.