THE NEW AMEER.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4489, 17 October 1901, Page 5

THE NEW AMEER.

HABIBULLAH RECOGNISED BY BRITAIN. - (Received October 16, 6.34 p.m.) LONDON, October 16. Great Britain has acknowledged Sardar Habibullah Khan a» Ameer. Lord Curzon, Governor-General of India, transmitted to the Ameer King Edward’s condolences on the loss ot his father, and good wishes to the new ruler. MOVEMENTS AT PESHAWUR. ' LONDON, October 15. The field hospitals at Peshawur have been mobilised for training. , THE PASSING OF ABDUR RAHMAN. (Received October 16, 10.21 p.m.) LONDON, October 16. The correspondent of the Allahabad “Pioneer” at Cabul states that the late Ameer, after a paralytic stroke, summoned his family and notable adherents to big bedside on September 28th. He asked them to make suggestions as to his successor, and they nominated Habibullah. The Ameer then presented him with his sword, holt of precious stone*, and his will, containing instructions how to; govern tho country. The'younger song were ordered to place the crown on. Habibullah’s head. Tho Ameer died on October Ist. His’death was not announc - ed until the 3rd, to enable Habibullah to arrange a peaceful succession.

Mr R. P. Cobhold, an English travellet, who'was expelled by the Russian authorities from the Pamirs, returned to London a few months ago. Concerning the situation on, ,tbe Afghan frontier, Mr Oobbold said : —The Russians are, daily strengthening their pcsituA. along the Oxus—tho garrisons are being increased, new forts built, and fresh roads made. The Russians have constructed an excellent road from their military centre in Ferghana at Marghilan to Murghlabi, their headquarters on the Par mirs, thus securing a. direct route for their commissariat in ease of an ad. : vance either towards Afghanistan, Chit, ral, or Ghilghit. Evetv precaution hag! been made in the event of the Ameer’s' death (an occurrence: which is openly discussed), plang have been matured, and at a few hours’ notice, and within a, few days of the nows of the Ameer’s decease,—unless in the meantime a British division was in Cabul—the whole of the north and north-west of Afghanistan! would bo overrun by' Cossacks With their railway terminus at Kughk, only 70 miles distant from Herat, a regiment, of Cossacks could, if necessity arose, bo, at Herat within-twenty-four hours." '