The herald., 1897-08-24
Is Much More Than a
Mere Possibility
THE AMEER OF AFGHANlSTAN
PLEDGES THE LOYALTY OF THE
REGULARS
Military Men Believe Him to Be Act
ing in Bad Faith and Preparing
for War
Associated Press Special Wire.

LONDON, Aug. pa dispatch to the
Times from Simla says: The followirg 3
official communication was issued to-
night iMonday): The Ameer has
promptly replied to the letter in which
the Indian government called his atten-
tion to information received by it to
the effect that Afghan subjects had
Joined Haddah Mullah. The ameer dis
tinctly denies the truth of C'e reports
that Afghan regulars have Joined the
Mullah He engages solemnly and per-
sonally on behalf of General Gholam-
Haidar and the regular army that no
such act of hostility will ever be COM
mitted by them. He alleged that if
tribesmen have joined at all they must
have Joined secretly, for they would not
have dared to do so openly because or
fear of him.
He attributes the disturbances TO the
action of the Mullahs, especially HAD
dah Mullah, who in former years melted
his people to rise against him in Afghan
is.an and he denounces their conduct.
This is a most important pronounce
ment, and If published broadcast on the
frontier may have a great effect upon
the tribesmen.
General Elles will endeavor to induce
the Afridis to leave the hills and venture
into the open, but is feared that they will
cling to the various spurs running out
toward Jamrud and Peshawar. This
may delay the dispersal and they may
become troublesome by demons
against the Kuki Khel villagers living
near the hills. Kohal and the Mohmud
borders are still quiet.
A special dispatch from Simla says the
belief prevails there that the govern
ment, in the official communique, has
suppressed q portion of the Ameer's re-
ply, owing to difference of opinion be-
tween Lord Elgin, the viceroy, and the
military authorities. Lord Elgin desires
to act cautiously and to avoid an open
rupture with the ameer The military
authorities, on the other hand, are con-
vinced that the ameer is acting in bad
faith, and they urge Lord Elgin to act
quickly before the ameer is able to make
formidable military preparations. The
generally we'll informed correspondent
of the Times at Simla says nothing about
his suspicion, which is probably born of
the feeling that the ameer, although he
disowns, does not disapprove of the
doingS of the tribesmen, while there is
the further possibility of Russian in
trigues in the background.
Curiously enough, the Paris Memorial
Diploma tique, which Is supposed to
have connections with Russian diplo-
macy, announced in its Sunday issue
that the ameer was preparing for the
eventuality of war in any case
The Afridls have always displayed
keener readiness for plunder than for
fighting, and the fact that they have ad-
vanced to the attack of fortified posts
for the protection of caravans. travers-
ing Khiber Pass while under pay of the
Indian government, indicates that some
strong motive animates them.
The Afridis number about 0,G00 first
class hill fighters. An anxious feature
of the situation is that the Anglo In
dian army is largely recruited from the
Afridis.
A BATTLE BEGUN
PESHAUWUR, Aug. 23.-The Afrdis
began an attack upon Ali Musjed at S
o'clock this morning and upon Fort
Maude shortly after TO- Both are gar
risoned with Khiber native levees. The
enemy is also entering Khiber Pass
General Wesmacott has sent artillery to
the mouth of the pass to shell them if
possible. The artillery was accom-
panied by the Ninth Bengal lancers.