Note 46 — Chapter XXX
Reading edition
The news of the Maiwand disaster reached Sir Donald Stewart on July 29th, the first telegram speaking of the “annihilation” of General Burrows’ brigade. Later telegrams showed that the defeat, while serious enough, was not so terrible as at first reported. The news was kept as secret as possible, as it was feared that the negotiations with Abdur Rahman might be delayed if the new complications in Southern Afghanistan were made known.