File 3443/1914 Pt 5 'Persia: German agents' [‎23r] (52/395)

here united. Large crowds of many tnoueande aasemtoled at Jeihi
the 1 nglish threw bomhe among at the a, and used guna and machine
jruns. exceptional condition of affairs everywhere. Laraages to
main lines of railways, ae well as telegraphs. The Ameer is
of differences of religious belief, the Indian people were
indignant at ill-treatment of ussulmans in India by the British.
He believed India to be on the eve of a revolution, and
considered it a favourable opportunity for the declaration of
war by Afghanistan* tin 1 the extension of his rule to the sea. He
had the frontiers occupied at the end of May, and proclaimed a
holy war, the main forces being despatched against leshawar under
command of a recently appointed War Minister, formerly Laib .alar. i
It was stated that the latter was to tahe up his position on the
frontier for defensive purposes, until G'mrpletion of mobilisation;
however, he crossed the frontier with a t ew officers, until driver
back by the English frontier officer; a few hours later, arrived
English reconnaissance aviators, who were fired on; they were
followed by bombing aeroplanes, which carried out a raid upon the
camp. The War Minister was wounded. The new comroander attempted to
advance, but the British - with 12 aeroplane*, - put the army to
flight with bombs, guns and : .0.s, all officers having deserted
their men. English infantry and artillery were not engaged to any 1
great extent, only a small detachment being in the battle. The |
Afghan army suffered heavy losses, saving received no supplies
for three days, the starving amy plundered Jalabad, wnich has 3 I
been almost entirely ruined by bombing raids. On tae iollowlng .|ll
day, an Afghan bearing a flag of truce went to Daka, to treat with :
the British. The troops arriving at Kabul are completely demoralised, .
On 24.6 an aviator appeared over Kabul, and threw 7 bombs.
The factory An East India Company trading post. was dama ed, otherwise not much harm was done. The
bombardment of the town and the news, of defeat deprived the
population of all desire for oombat. Only tribesmen like the
Wohmande inclined (?) to revenge {?), but had not enough guns.
English officers already arrived in Kabul for negotiations.
Only 9 Germans and one ‘tunRarian subj eot still on Afghan soil.
5