AFGHAN REBELS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19505, 29 December 1928, Page 13

AFGHAN REBELS.

BEING DRIVEN BACK. CONSULATE BURNT. REPORT FROM JALALABAD. (irrrrsD pebss association— by ( electric telegraph—copyright.) (Received December 23th, 10.35 p.m.) LONDON, December 28. The rebels are being driven from the Kabul bazaars, which are reopening. A gang of bandits has been repulsed by Afghan troops and driven into the hills. The Jalalabad situation is improving and negotiations are being conducted between the rebels and Afghan officials. A Peshwar report says that the British Consulate at Jalalabad was burnt during a recent attack by the Shinwaris and the Consul's life threatened for refusing to give up the Legation money. The Constantinople correspondent of "The Times" says that the Afghan officers who were being trained with the Turkish Army have been recalled. It is reported that Kiazim Pasha, of the Turkish Military Mission, who was proceeding to Afghanistan to act as instructor to the Afghans, has been ordered to remain in Bombay.—"The Times" Cables and United Service. THE KING'S MISTAKE. ILL-ADVISED REFORMS. (Received December 28th, 8.45 p.m.) LONDON, December 27. "The Times" military correspondent states: Eing Amanullah, after his return from his tour, seems to have adopted, without adapting, Mustapha Kemal's tactics, forgetting that he has not the weapons which the Turkish dictator so skilfully wielded. The stability of King Amanullah's throne depends on the army. The Afghan soldier is a conscript, and often an unwilling one, with his meagre pay months in arrears. The re-importation of Turkish military instructors, who showed such galling superiority toward the Afghans that Amir (Amanullah's father) dispensed with their services, may be largely the cause of the reported disaffection among a portion of the Eoyal troops. Probably the causes of unrest lie far deeper than reforms; these may supply the Bpark, but the tinder lies in antagonistic tribes' and sects' interests. Any attempt to enlarge Afghanistan's external influence may endanger her still incomplete internal unity- , , „. It is peculiar that the rebellion appears to lack a leader. No rebellion can long exist on mere negation, such as hostility to reforms.—"The Times ' Cables. WORK OF BRITISH 'PLANES. (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, December 27. The women and children already evacuated by British aeroplanes from Legations at Kabul other than the British Legation are:—Sixteen Germans, ten French, one Swiss and one Rumanian. Arrangements have been made for British aeroplanes to bring from Kabul to Peshawar the women and children of the following further nationalities: —Italian, American, Persian, Turk, and German. It was hoped to carry out the evacuation of some of these yesterday, but snow fell heavily and made it impracticable. The difficulties attending their rescue by air are of course very considerable. The distance from Kabul to Peshawar is 160 miles, and the aeroplanes have to fiy not only over wild country inhabited by hostile tribesmen, but also over lofty mountain peaks. Every precaution has therefore to be taken.