New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-29
THE CANDAHAR DISASTER.

RECOGNITION OF TIE WALL OF CANDAHAR-POsI-
TloN OF THE BRITISH AT THE TIME OF THE
MUTINY-AYooB KHAN's ADvANCE-THE WARS
OF TIE SUCCESSION.
One of the last acts of Lord LyttOn as Vice
roy OF India was the recognition of shere Ali, Wall OF
Caudahar. independent ruler This decision was
carried out on April 2 before the Of the early cleo
tions the return Of the Liberals to power
The peaeeable attitude OF the people had increased the
ongstandng auimOsty between them and the northern
tribes and brought down on them violent reprodehes
from Ghuzuee and Herat whence no efforts were spared
to stir the Durans INTO revolt The failure OF these
efforts was due In great measure TO Shere All, but
mainly TO the conviction of the Durans that they would
not be abandoned TO fate they felt themselves
abandoned after the Treaty Of Gundamak Until the
city was evacuated the very day or the Caoul mas
sacre the people refused to believe that the British army
was really leaving No secret had been made of the
intention of the Cabu Government to evade far
possible the terms OF the amnesty clause of the treaty
and all who had not actively resisted the English were
held by Yakoob Khan enemies. To restore Candahar
to he supremacy Of Cabul was considered by Lord Lyt
ton out OF the question, and he accordingly created
new state with shere All as ts ruler The material pros
perity Of city promoted by this act, and became
subject Of envy the people OF Herat. naturally the
most indus and peaceloving In Afghanistan The
value OF the land within dozen miles Of the city has
more than doubled In the last nine months while the
customs receipts In spite OF the reduction OF the duty
on foreign goods from IL 10 per cent rose from 10000
10 rs 900 rupees per month shere Ali, however was
mere creature the British, and could not stand alone
The advance of Ayoob Khan from Herat could not be
met by the sovereign without assistance from the
invaders had put him the throne. brigade was
sent TO his assistance reserve division ordered
from Bombay to keep the peace at Candahar and the
terrible disaster to the British column described in the
cable dispatches was precipated
On July IL General Burrows with his brigade was at
Grisbk on the Helmund see map), with abundant sup
plies The Wall, shere ALL with his force was about
twenyeght miles northeast Of Girishk, awaiting the
advance Of the Heratees On July ID the old Cabu
Regiment. the Wallis infantry, mutnied on being or
dered the river to the east SIDE They seized
the guns and carried the rest OF the regulars with them
The cavalry remained with the WALL The mutineers,
who marched up the west bank, were followed by
force OF British cavalry and artillery ana smau pody
OF infantry General Burrowss force crossed theRiver
Hemund and having oyertaken them, an engagement
ensued I'm which the deseres routed and dispersed
with the loss of 200 The guns and baggage were
recovered. The Wall, at the time the mutny occurred
a. endeavoring to execute retrograde movement la
the direction of Grishk.
Ayoob Khan at that time was reported two marches
distant THIS chief is the full brother Of Yakoob Khan,
who was recognized by Lord Lyton as Ameer OF Caoul
aud subsequently deposed and made prisoner OF war
Ayoob s now about twenty nine years OF age In 1874
when Yakoob visited Cabul under safe-conduct from
hi, father shere Ali tnot the present Wall. but the
former Ameer), Ayoob was appointed Governor Of
Herat during hi. brothers absence. After shere All ar
rested Yakoob he took to reasscrt his author
~ at Herat and Yakoob compelled to take refuge
in Persian territory. From tho spring OF 1876 to the
winter of 1879 Ayoob was exile in Khorasan, occs
onay writing Ishcron. After this LONG exile he reap
pcared at Herat at the moment that shcre Ali pre-
parine for fight from Csbul The release Of Yakoot
from ment was the signal for the return OF Ayeot