The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-12-12

Several Of the Engllsh Omcers Narrowly
Escape Tho Conflict said To BE the
Outcome OF Russian Encroschme emit
Probability ofa war with Russia -Cabi-
net Council Summoned to Discuss the
situation.
LONDON, Dec 2.-Government dis
patches received from Calcutta report
hard fighting on the Pamir frontier be-
tween British Indian troops and tribes
men claiming 20 be under Russian pro-
lection, in which Colonel Durand, Brit
ish Military Agent at Gllgit, Captain
Aylmer and Lieutenant Ba1cock were
severely wounded Lieutenant Gorton
and several other officers slightly
wounded, and seven Sepoys killed and
twenty-six wounded.
The incidents leading up to this APP
peal to arms are as follows; At Gilgit
is British agency, garrisoned by some
Kashmtrees and Indian Ghoorkas and
battery of artillery. The tribesmen
of Hunza and Magyar, two towns on the
River Indus, have for some time been
threatening the Chalt fort, held by
detachment Of Kashmirees.
This caused Col, Durand to make an
advance upon the Chalt fort for the
purpose Of reinforcing the garrison.
This advance of British troops was
made early in the present month, for,
on Nov. 20 Col. Durand wired tho Com
mander-in- Chief that he should move
upon the enemy on Dec. 2 unless he was
| previously attacked by the tribesmen,
who were reported to be assembling in
large numbers and to have been insti
/ gated in their aceion by the Russians.
Colonel Durand also telegraphed the
| same day that he feared that u serious
| conflict was inevitable, although he had
| done every thing possible to prevent it,
On arriving in the vicinity of Fort
Chalt it is presumed that Colonel
Durand and the attacking forces
found the enemy in occupation, for the
/ dispatches fail to refer to what had be-
come of the Kashmiree garrison, kuow
to have been there. Colonel Duraud
decided to carry the fort by storm.
Captain Aylmer most gallantly led the
storming party, carrying a gun cotton
petard, and, in the face of q hot fire of
musketry, dashed up to the iron bound
gate, affixed the petard to it, lighted
the fuse and retired.
The next moment Captain Aylmer saw
that the petard had blown the ga te Of
the fort to pieces. Captain Aylmer and
| lIleuJenanJS bolSrAgOn anu baucOCk,
followed by handful OF Sepoys, then
made q dash into the fort and after
some desperate fighting, captured field
gun which had been used effec tively y
against the attacking party The Brit
ish officers and Sepoys also captu red
nine prisoners, the remainder of the
ebel tribes men fleeing, leaving a mum
ber of dead inside and outside the fort.
These alarming reports caused con
siderable excitement and mment
when they became known at the mill
tary and naval clubs throughout the
city. Old and experienced Indian
officers regard the outbreak of hostili
ties between England and Russia as a
very grave affair and the most alarming
news received from India since the In
dian mntiny. The younger officers are
elated at the chance of seeing active
service, and are loud in their expression
of hope that the long expected war wi I'll
Russia is actually on the taps.
A cabinet council has been summoned
the purpose, being, it is understood, to
discuss the Eastern situation as modi
fed by the battle.