NEWS OF TEE WEEK •
A GREAT disaster has fallen upon us in Afghanistan. We -a. have more than once expressed our anxiety lest Ayoub Khan's advance from Herat on Candahar might end in mis- fortune, and on Monday—so far as we can make out the exact .date (Sir R. Sandeman telegraphs to the Viceroy that he can give no distinct information where or when the action was fought)—the blow fell. Ayoub Khan, with 12,000 troops and thirty-five guns "well served," appears to have fallen on General Burrows, who had only about 2,000 men, and six guns, —probably at or near Girishk,—and defeated him severely, driving the troops before him towards Candahar. Two of our six guns were taken, and though driblets of the dispersed force were coming into Candahar on the 27th, the defeat was prob- ably a crushing one. General Primrose had retired into the citadel of Candahar, which is said to be victualled till October, with a force about 1,700 strong, which would be increased by the refugees from General Burrows's force. Seven Euro- pean officers are known to be killed, and five seriously wounded; -while eleven, including General Burrows himself, with the Wali of Candahar and the political officer with the Candahar Force, had reached Candahar in safety.
