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All the telegrams speak of the personal bravery of the

Afghans, and of their accurate though slow fire, while all indicate that they lose heart when they see their line of retreat cut off. This, their peculiarity also in the old war, renders their ultimate defeat almost inevitable, and is the more noteworthy in the attack on the Peiwar, because the troops are believed to have been com- manded by Prince Ahmed, recently declared the heir to the monarchy. The Prince, too, had received reinforcements, a proof that the intention to keep the Pass was serious, and that no general orders for retreat bad been received from Cabul. There seems, indeed, every reason to believe that the Afghans did their very best, and were outmatched and outgeneralled.

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