HC Deb 28 July 1881 vol 264 cc66-7
SIR STAFFORD NOETHCOTE

I rise, Sir, for the purpose of asking Her Majesty's Government, Whether they have received any information with respect to a report stating that there has been a battle in Afghanistan, and that the forces of Abdurrahman have been defeated by Ayoub Khan?

MR. GLADSTONE

Yes, Sir; that is a fact. We have received a telegram this afternoon, dated Simla, July 28, and it is to the following effect:— Telegram just received from Chaman says that, in action fought yesterday morning at Karez-i-Atta, Ameer's forces were totally defeated, 18 guns taken, and all baggage. The Khelat Regiment and Kandahar horse went over to Ayub. Gholam Haider has fled towards Kabul. Sirdar Shamsuddin still in Kandahar with 400 men of Kabuli regiments and some police. That is an important engagement, so far as the Candahar country is concerned. I will only add that the Anglo-Indian force in the neighbourhood of that country is very considerable.

MR. J. COWEN

I wish to ask, has Ayoub Khan possession of Candahar?

MR. GLADSTONE

No, Sir. The words I read are these—"Sirdar Shamsuddin still in Candahar with 400 men of Kabuli regiments and some police." That is evidently the force of Abdurrahman.

MR. ONSLOW

In what neighbourhood is the Anglo-Indian force? The Prime Minister says that the Anglo-Indian force is in the neighbourhood of Candahar, whereas we understood that it had been withdrawn. This battle was fought near the Helmund. What Anglo-Indian force is in that neighbourhood?

MR. GLADSTONE

I was not speaking of the Helmund at all, but of the Candahar country.

MR. ONSLOW

I would ask what forces are in the Candahar country at the present time? We always understood that the Anglo-Indian forces had been withdrawn from Candahar, and we want to know where the forces of which the Prime Minister speaks are. This action was fought, I think, on the West side of the Helmund; and I ask the Prime Minister what Anglo-Indian force is in the neighbourhood of that district?

MR. GLADSTONE

None whatever, Sir. I never said there was any.