NEWS OF THE WEEK.
• THE week opened with bad news from Afghanistan. The corres- pondent of the Daily News reported the closing of the Khyber between Jumrood and Ali Musjid, by Hillmen, who beat back convoys with supplies on their way to Dhakka. On Monday also a telegram was published from the Standard correspondent in the Koorum, showing that General Roberts had on Saturday, November 30th, commenced an attack on the Peiwar Kotel, or " Crest," and had been repulsed, the fire from the Crest being so severe that orders were issued to retire to the Koorum Fort. It is not probable that General Roberts intended this to be the serious assault, as his troops were weary with twenty-four hours' marching, and without food, though he may have been deceived by the native reports that the Afghans were in full flight. They were only retreating from the Habees Killa, the Afghan can- tonment in the valley, to their position, a strong crag upon the crest of the Peiwar ; but General Roberts hoped to secure their guns. However that may be, the movement failed, and as it was certain that the General could not accept failure, the result of his attack was expected with great anxiety. A defeat would have made all the Hillmen soldiers of the Ameer, and perhaps have created a deep sensation in India, while it must have been re- paired by an expenditure of valuable English lives.
