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themselves free to carry out their plans; urging on the King the futility of continuing the campaign, and advising him to seek his safety in flight, they soon prevailed upon him, and all of a sudden on the 26th of April at about 9 in the night, the order for immediate retreat was given.
This unexpected turn was a great shock to the well-wishers of the country. They implored the King to stick to his guns, but all in vain. The royal army was soon marching on the Kandahar Road in a very disorderly manner closely pursued by the Bacha's men and by some of the local tribes. At every stage they were attacked and fired at and large numbers were killed. Once or twice the King found himself encompassed by these tribal lashkars and could only make his escape after a severe engagement. With great difficulty he reached Mohmand, the last post on the Kandahar Road. He did not enter the city, but calling the members of his family, he left for Chaman in cars. From Chaman, he proceeded to Bombay, where after a short stay at the Taj Mahal Hotel, necessitated by the birth of his daughter, he left for Rome, where he has been living since.
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Roughly two thirds of characters agree with a modern printed edition of the same text. Much of the disagreement is editorial, not misreading. Treat the transcription as a finding aid and read the page image before quoting. How this was measured.