THE AFGHAN DIFFICULTY.

Grey River Argus, Issue 3211, 29 November 1878, Page 2

THE AFGHAN DIFFICULTY.

Our cablegrams have announced the advance of the British troops, and that they had captured AH Musjid. Prom the Ceylon Observer we extract the following telegrams which show the action taken by the Indian Government up to that date : — Allahabad, October 8. The storming of Ali Musjid was fixed first for the sth and then for to-day, but has now been indefinitely postponed by orders from head- quarters, as our force is considered inadequate, and it returns to Peshawur. October 9. The Pioneer's Peshawur correspondent, telegraphing on the 7th, says that all timeexpired men have been ordered to give an additional year. The following is the force now at Jumrood : Seven regiments and three batteries, including a fortypounder battery. General Ross is prepared to assault and take Ali Musjid ; but his force is not strong enough to hold it, and he is therefore ordered to wait reinforcements. Detachments of the 9th and the 81st and detachments of the Artillery have arrived from Cherat. Lahore, October 9. Ali Musjid has been strongly reinforced by the Ameer's troops. The arrears of pay due to the Ameer's troopa have been paid up with three months' advance added. The Russians are said to have offered one crore of Bokhara tillas for a footing in Herat, and to be purchasing grain for troops in large quantities. The Indian troops are massingjon Peshawur, October 9Large reinforcements are ordered to Peshawur. Amongst other troops, the 72nd and 10th Bengal Lancers. The Civil and Military Gazette publishes the following reports, namely, that Russia has offered a million tillas, equivalent to L 690,000, for a footing at Herat and Tuktapool, on the road between Balkh and Tsshkurgan ; also thafXakub Khan, being released, has enlisted in defence of Kandahar. Ahmed Ali Khan has doparted from Kurn with a large force. Ali Musjid is strengthened by 10 regiments. > The Civil and Military Gazette publishes a special telegram from Peahawur 1

that the Ameer's heavy guns are firing in the Khyber. Jumrood is being put in a state of defence. The commander-in-chief, Sir F. Haines, will command the Peshawur force, which will amount to 35,000 traops, all available artillery being brought into requisition. Invalids have been recalled from the hills. It is reported that the women, children, aud sick have been ordered from Peshawur to Nowshera forthwith. Troops and artillery are passing through daily both for Mooltan and Peshawar. Allahabad, October 10. The Pioneer's Peshawur, correspondent, telegraphing on the Bth, Bays : — " A nine-pounder battery, with ammunition from Ferozepore and treasure, passed Nowshera for Peshawur this morning under a strong guard of the 27th N.I. The Envoy Nawab Ghoolam Hoosein has returned. There are guns at Ali Musjid and on both sides of the Kyber. Oa commissariat is defective. The Ist Sikhs, the Guides, and a mountain battery reached Jimrood yesterday. The enemy is reported to have been reinforced. . Simla, October 9. Nawab Ghoolam Hoosein, our envoyis known to be well, but other reports here about him are discredited. There has been a considerable movement of troops on both sides of the frontier. A reconnaissance proves Ali Musjid to be stronger in gunß than was expected.

[FROM THB MADRAS MAIL.] Calcutta, October 8. The attack on Ali Musjid has been postponed, owing, it is believed, to news received that the enemy are stronger than at first supposed, having 6000 armed i^p and 18 guns near the fort. p The force at Jumrood has been largely strengthened, six of the Ameer's regular regiments being within four miles. It is reported that the Ameer has appointed Yakub Khan to command at Khurrum. J ellalabad and Kandahar are being largely reinforced.