The Indianapolis journal., 1897-08-26
Thousands of Troops Pouring Into the
Swat and TOchi Valleys to Sup
press the EnsurrectiOn.
AMEER LOYAL TO BRIT Ain
AFGHANISTAN'S RULER MAKES A
SOLEMN DECLARATION.
Talk with "The Hero of Chitrnl"-
British Suezerainty DisOwned by
the South African Republic.


BOMBAY, Aug. %, II o. m.-The latest
dispatches received from the front indicate
that the situation the frontier is getting
worse 1t is evident that the Indian gov
ernment must face a grave crisis involving
heavy expenditure and probably great loss
of life. The government is confronted with
the following state of affairs: Khyber pass
has fallen into the hands of the Afridis;
the posts in Kurram valley are threatened
by the powerful tribe of the Orakzais; the
Mohmand tribesmen are meditating a re-
newal of hostilities around Fort Shabkadr.
while thousands of troops are engaged in
crushing the revolt in the Swat valley, and
two large brigades are holding the Tochi
valley, where the Mahsud-MaZiris are
again restless.
The authorities are convinced that Fort
Ali i-Musjid could only have fallen after des-
perate fighting as the native garrison of
Khyber rifles was made up of men who
rendered valuable assistance in the Black
mountain expedition of 1888. The fall of
the fort is a very serious blow, for it iso-
lates Fort Lundi- -Kotal which is at the
extreme end of Khyber pass, gar
risoned by 300 Khyber rifles and necessi-
tates the prompt reconquest of the pass.
This is certain to prove formidable task,
of which the British troops had a fore
taste on Monday when a body of artillery,
cavalry and infantry left Fort Bara, south
of Peshawur in order to repel the Afridis,
who were then advancing down the BaZai
valley The troops returned early yesterday
morning and reported that many of the
men had dropped out from want of water,
none being prOcurable along the route,
while the Afridis, although shelled by the
British, maintained their position on the
heights, threatening the loyal villages of
Kadam and the British position Fort jam
rud, at the mouth of the pass.
Fort Jamrud is held by strong force
of British and native troops and the Brit
ish front extends about thirty-five miles
from Shabkadr along the north side of the
Cabul river and southwark to Peshawur,
where the troops are massing as a base
of a demonstration against the Orakzais,
who occupy that region south of the Af-
ridis but have not yet assumed the bellig-
erent proportions of their northern neigh
bors. There is an uprising, however of
small parties which is proving trouble
some near Kohat and it is expected that
both tribes will try to close the Kohat pass
Numbers of tribesmen are moving up to-
wards Khyber from KOhat and that dis
trict making the salt tariff the pretext
for hostilities.
The widest excitement prevails among the
Hindoo traders at Banu. on Kurram river.
1t is rumored that 1000 Waziris intend to
swoop down there tonight, sack the town
and massacre the inhabitants. The Mullah
and his emissaries, especially those from
the Afghan government of Khost, are ac-
lively stirring up the Wazris, who are also
affected by the disloyal attitude of the Kur-
rum tribes and emboldened by the knovI-
edge that the garrison at Banu is very
weak.
There is one ground for satisfaction III the
fact that except in a few instances the
Afridi levies remain loyal in the face of
temptation to join their kinsmen, as was
conspicuously the case at Fort Maude.
Somewhat more hopeful intelligence
comes from the Swat valley where the
Bonerwals have opened peace negotiations.
The authorities expect that this will have
widespread influence, especially if it is fol-
lowed by submission. 1t appears that the
Bonerwals suffered far heavier losses dur
ing the recent fighting than had been sup
posed
The Ameer Loyal to Britain.
SIMLA, Aug. 25.-The British agent at
Cabul, the capital of Afghanistan reports
that the Ameer held durbar Convention
of chiefs) on the 17th inst, and read the
protest of Lord Elgin, the Indian viceroy,
against the completely Of Afghan subjects
in the outbreaks of the Indian tribes on
the frontier, and then read his own reply
to it, following this With a solemn declara-
tion, attested by an oath, that he would
always maintain friendly relations with the
British government.
LONDON, Aug. 26-The important news
that the Ameer has sworn fidelity to
Great Britain and read the dispatches
which have passed between Cabul and
Simla at an open public durbar has a reas-
suring effect, both in India and here, as
tending 10 remove any doubt as to his 10y
atty. Inqliries at the India Office late last
night Wednesday elected the information
that the question of sending troops from
England remains open, it is believed that
the forces already on the frontier will prove
sufficient to conduct the operations Ad-
vices from Simla show that a further con-
centration of movements has been decided
upOn; the troops are being brought down
from the hill cantOnments and stationed al
points along the railways.
The STANDARD this 81 morning takes the
pass without British troops.
Fort AIi-MusJid Evacuated.
SIMLA, Aug. 25.-It is officially an
nounced to-day that Fort Ali-Musjid in
the Khyber pass, was evacuated after
eleven of the garrison. composed of Khyber
Rifles (native levies) had deserted No news
has been received Of the remainder of the
garrison and there is no confirmation Of
the report that the Afridis have massa-
cred three hundred of this force. Ali-Afuslfd
was burned by the enemy Fort Jehangesa
which has been occupied by the Afridis
&c cgffxr n
10 I.ukarai, twelve miles from Fort Bara
which is southeast of Jamrud Gen Elles
will attempt 10 cut off the retreat 0f the
enemy. Fort Lundikotal has not yet been