Omaha daily bee., 1897-08-25
CAPTURE A BRITISH FORT
Indian Rebels Take Fort Maude Aft r
Desperate Fighting,
GARRISON RETIREs WITH SLIGHT LOSS
Fate of Another Command Attacked
by Afridis ut the Same Time
Is Unknown TO the
Authorities.

LONDON, Aug. 24.-An official dispatch to.
day from Simla announces that Fort Maude
in the khyber pass, has been captured by
the Afrids after desperate fighting. The
garrison. which was composed of native
leveies. known as the Khy0er Rifles, retired
with the loss of three men. The AfridiS
afterward burned the fert. The fate of Abul
Musjed, who was simultaneously attacked by
tho Ardis is not known.
The British officer commanding at Jamrud
moved battery of artillery, escorted by the
Fourth dragoous yesterday, to the mouth of
the Khyber pass, and shelled the enemy
at range of 1900 yards. The Afridis re-
tired. The officer in command deemed it in
advisable to enter the paes.
General Ellos will begin a concerted move
ment against the insurgent tribesmem today.
1t is admitted even in official circles that
the news from India Is of the gravest de-
scription. All those who are familiar with
the situation attach the greatest Importance
to the uprising Of the warlike Afrids, who
are estimated to muster $4,000 men. The
Afridis, however, only form part of the
insurgents. letter from India published
in the Standard emphasizes the belief that
the sultan Of Turkey is at the back of the
whole uprising.
The African newspapers comment severely
upon what they term the Marquis of Sails
bury's bad diplomacy.
BOMBAY, Aug 24.-The bridges in the
Upper Punjab are strictly guarded by small
| bodies of troops 1t is reported that when
the Mohammedans attacked Fort Shabkadar
they burned all the sacred books of the Sikh
temple there. This excited the greatest in
dignation among the Sikhs.
The plague is increasing in Poonah
The Bombay Gazette announces that three
OF the principal chiefs of Beuchistan, Sirdss
Mehdratta Whan, Ghomesbehaks and Var
mahomed, were arrested on the arrival of
the Hemushkaf Bulan mail train on which
they had been induced to come to Quetta
to meet the governor generals agent. The
three chiefs are suspected of having en-
gagged in intrigues against the government.
The arrests caused a great sensation among.
the Mohammedans and further important de-
ve!opments are expected.
SlMLA, Aug. 24.-Later details of the cap
ture of Fort Maude by the insurgent tribes
men show that the garrison of that place
retired at 1880 p. m. yesterday, and that
the fort was burned half an hour later. The
garrison reached Colonel Westmascott,s re-
llef column coming from kohat at IL 80
p. m. AT the same time that Fort Maude
was abandoned the Khyber rifles garrison
ing Fort Jewangera were compelled to
abandon that place The area of active fight
ins is enlarging rapidly.
The Afridis last evening attacked with
Sudda, but were not successful in capturing
it. --
Parochinar was attacked today. The re-
suits of this attack and of the fighting at
Fort Ali-Musjid are not known. There are
two English cannon with the garrison at
Parochinar.
Tho British military authorities have now
massed $4,000 men for the frontier opera
tions while the frontier garrisons make
1900 men available for use against the in
surgents.
PEWASHUR, Aug. 24.-It is reported that
a large number of Afridis, led by fanatical
priests, attacked the Sepoys near Fort ALI
Musjid at noon yesterday massacring 300,
capturing their rifles and proceeding in large
fcrce to make an attack on the garrison on
the lower gate.
There Is very uneasy feeling in Quetta
where the troops under orders to be in
readiness to march to New Chalon, which
L. the extreme outpost OF the Afghan from
tier Goutheast of Kandahar and on the edge
of the Registrar desert, between the prov
inceS of Toba and Pishn.
LONDON Aug. 24.-The rumor that 300
of the government forces were killed at Fort
Ali-Musjid lacks confirmation. The garri-
son was composed of Afridis with Afridi Off
GERS If, as one report says, they died fight
ing desperat tely, it may be regarded as proof
of the continued loyalty of the Afridis in the
Indian army.