The proclamation alluded to was dated October 2nd, and was sent off to-day to Cabul. It is as follows:—
“Be it known to all that the British army is advancing on Cabul to take possession of the city. If it be allowed to do so peacefully, well and good; if not, the city will be seized by force. Therefore all well-disposed persons who have taken no part in the dastardly murder of the British Embassy or in the plunder of the Residency are warned, that if they are unable to prevent resistance being offered to the entrance of the British army and to the authority of His Highness the Amir, they should make immediate arrangements for their own safety, either by coming into the British Camp or by such other measures as may seem fit to them. And as the British Government does not make war on women and children, warning is given that all women and children should be removed from the city beyond the reach of harm. The British Government desires to treat all classes with justice, and to respect their religion, feelings, and customs, while exacting full retribution from offenders. Every effort will therefore be made to prevent the innocent suffering with the guilty. But it is necessary that the utmost precaution should be taken against useless opposition. Therefore, after the receipt of this proclamation, all persons found armed in or about Cabul will be treated as the enemies of the British Government; and further, it must be clearly understood that if the entry of the British force is resisted, I cannot hold myself responsible for any accidental mischief which may be done to persons and property, even of well-disposed people who may have neglected this warning.
Two sowars belonging to the 12th Bengal Cavalry, who were spending their furlough at Cabul, arrived here to-day, and report that the mutineers mean to fight. We have just heard of an unsuccessful attack upon the Shutargardan by Mangals and Ghilzais.[8]
The Shutargardan was held by the 3rd Sikhs and 21st Punjab Infantry with four guns of No. 1 Mountain Battery. Colonel Money of the 3rd Sikhs was in command.
The force is now concentrated, for the first time, for the march onward to Cabul. It is made up as follows:—
──────────────────────────────┬──────────┬─────────────────────┐ │ British │ Other Ranks. │ │Officers. │ │ ──────────────────────────────┼──────────┼──────────┬──────────┤ │ │ British.│ Native.│ ──────────────────────────────┼──────────┼──────────┼──────────┤ Divisional and Brigade Staff │ 60│ - │ -│ F-A, R.H.A. │ 7│ 118│ -│ G-3, R.A. │ 7│ 137│ -│ No. 2 Mountain Battery │ 3│ - │ 223│ 9th Lancers │ 4│ 118│ -│ 5th Punjab Cavalry │ 7│ - │ 325│ 12th Bengal Cavalry │ 6│ - │ 328│ 14th Bengal Lancers │ 7│ - │ 407│ 67th Regiment │ 18│ 686│ -│ 72nd Highlanders │ 23│ 746│ -│ 92nd Highlanders │ 17│ 717│ -│ 5th Punjab Infantry │ 8│ - │ 610│ 23rd Pioneers │ 6│ - │ 671│ 28th Punjab Infantry │ 8│ - │ 636│ 5th Ghoorkas │ 7│ - │ 574│ 7th Company Sappers and Miners│ 3│ 2│ 93│ Two Gatling guns │ 1│ 34│ -│ ──────────────────────────────┼──────────┼──────────┼──────────┤ Total │ 192│ 2,558│ 3,867│ ──────────────────────────────┴──────────┴──────────┴──────────┘