Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-08-28
THE AMEER'S DENIAL

rNaf Afghan Regulars Have Joined the
Muilah Nat Received Without Suspicion
1Lord Eigin Endcayoring to Avoid NJ,
= Apen Rupture with the Aneer-The
j Hand of Russia Suspected In Stirring Up
xfpuble.
esDoS, Aug. ga dispatch to the
Ti&es from simla says the following
oHEial communication was issued to-
a4ht (Monday);
HE ameer has promptly replied to
the latter in which the Indian govern
ineait called his attention to informa-
btti received by it to the effect that
Afghan subjects had joined lladdad
hlHllah. The ameer distinctly denies
tlM truth Of the reports that Afghan
Regulars have joined the mullah. lie
engage solemnly and personally on
behalf of Gen. Gholam-l -lIaidar and the
regular army that no such act of hos
tility will ever be committed by them.
/ ElIe8alleges that it tribcsmen have
j9iaed at all, they must have joined
ssaretly, for they would not have dared
to-do SO openly, because Of fear OF him.
He attributes the disturbances to the
action of the mullahs, especially Had
dab Mu lah, who, in former years, in
cited his people TO rise against him in
Afghanistan, and he denounces their
conduct.
This is most important pronounce
ment, and If published broadcast on
the frontier may have great effect
upon the tribcsmen.
Gen. Elles viii endeavor to induce
the Afridis to leave the hills and ven
ture into the open, but it is feared they
will cling to the various spurs running
out toward Jamrud and PeShaWur.
This may delay their dispersal and
they may become troublesome by dem
oustrations against the Kulti-khel vii
layers, living near the hills. kohat
and the Mohmud border are still
quiet.
A special dispatch from Simla says
| the belief prevails there that the gov
ernment in the official communique
has suppressed a portion Of the ameer's
reply, owing to a difference of opinion
| between Lord Elgin, the viceroy, and
| the military authorities. Lord Elgif
desires to act cautiously and to avoiC
an open rupture with the aIneer
The military authorities, on th,
other hand are convinced that The
amecr is acting III bad faith, and they
urge Lord Elgin to act quickly before
| the ameer is able to make formidabl,
military preparations The generally
well informed correspondent of tn,
Times at Simla says nothing about thi'
suspicion, which is probably born o
the feeling that the ameer, although
he disonns does not disapproye Of th
doings of the tribcsmcn, while there i
the further possibility Of Russian in
triguts in the background.
Curiously enough, the Paris Memo
rial Diplonat,que, which is suppose
to have connections with Russian dip
! lomucy, announced in its Sunday issu
that the amaer was preparing for tn
eventually of war in any case.
The Afridi, have always displayed {
l1ccner readiness for plunder than fo
fighting, and the fact that they hay
! advancad TO tAo attack of fortiic
posts for the protection of caravan
traYeising khyber pass, while nnde
pay of the Indian government ind
Gates that some strong impulse an
mates them. A not unlikely IT
salt of the rising viii b
that the British force will occup
Tirah plateau, the summer healqnal
ters of the Afridis and the Orahz zai:
from which point they could be KEEP
under better control. The Afridi
number about 5000 tirst-class hi
fighters.