48 THE TWENTY-THIRD WAR : THE AFGHAN WAR. 



presence in the capital roused the fanatical hostility of the Afghans 

 and on Sept. 3 they were basely betrayed, and cruelly slain after 

 severe fighting. Immediately on the sad news becoming known 

 the British forces were hurried forward to Cabul from the captured 

 fortresses ; and on the 15th October Generals Roberts, Massey, and 

 Baker having fought several stubbornly-contested battles, made a 

 triumphal entry into the capital, taking Yakoob Khan prisoner. 



For some months after these deplorable events, general anarchy and 

 disorder prevailed throughout Afghanistan, for several aspirants for 

 the vacant Throne appeared in the field, the most powerful of whom 

 was Abdurrahman Khan. 



At this juncture the General Election in 1880 sealed the fate of 

 the Government of Lord Beaconsiield, and it fell, and this change of 

 administration at home, by the accession of Mr. Gladstone to power, 

 soon caused a change of policy abroad, and as a natural sequence, 

 negotiations for peace and tranquility in Afghanistan were set on foot 

 with Abdurrahman by the new Governor-General of India Marquis 

 of Ripon, but whilst these negotiations were proceeding, the British 

 forces under General Burrows, that were advancing to the relief of 

 Herat, threatened by Yakoob Khan, suffered a crushing defeat by 

 overwhelming forces at Maiwand, his army being practically annhi- 

 lated after a heroic defence, few only escaping the general massacre 

 which followed. 



General Roberts advanced to the rescue a second time, for the 

 victorious Afghan troops pushed rapidly on to Candahar,and oncoming 

 up with them, attacked and routed them, and these bloody conflicts 

 closed this inglorious War, and opened the way for the pacification of 

 this unhappy country, torn by factions and feuds, the result of British 

 intervention. 



