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him with all the necessary intelligence. The attack on the capital and on the person of the King and the capture of the public treasury in broad daylight had been thought out with such care that nothing but chance could have thwarted Bacha's plans. He reached Bagh-i-Bala, a fortified military hospital about three miles from Kabul, with- out meeting any resistance. He took posses- sion of the place without difficulty and large supplies of ammunition fell into his hands, as the military magazine was close- by. It was from there that the War Ministry received a telephone message for the first time, conveying the horrible news of Bacha's arrival. One can easily guess the consterna- tion and perplexity of the negligent officers on learning that the enemy was already at the door, while they were wholly unprepared to meet him. Abdul Aziz Khan, the War Minister, was at his wits' end. It was with great difficulty that he could arrange to send a few soldiers to check the enemy's advance and save the Arg from immediate capture. Distressing news went round the city. Bacha had by this time reached Shehr Ara. While he was passing by the Military School 30