Fall of Kabul

Kabul grew too hot last week for gleaming-eyed, white-tusked King Habibullah, the savage onetime bandit who last winter wrested Afghanistan's throne from weak, well-meaning little King Amanullah (TIME, Jan. 28). All through the summer, Usurper Habibullah has been harassed by the lean, ruthless, white-chinned Nadir Khan, ill-famed for boiling his captured enemies in oil (TIME, Sept. 2). Last week Nadir converged three armies of overwhelming might upon Kabul. Prudent Habibullah fled in an airplane to escape being French-fried. Without resistance the city fell. Since victorious Nadir was once a general in the service of ousted King Amanullah, news of his triumph was received with elation by the exiled weakling in Rome.

"Nadir has always been more than loyal to me," said he with emotion. "But if he thinks his victory entitles him to the throne of Afghanistan then let him take it. Moreover I would be willing to be his minister to Rome. Just fancy, I, his one time master!"

The first secretary of Afghanistan's Paris Legation was asked by U. S. correspondents what he thought were the intentions of Nadir. "To you gentlemen," he replied, "I may best characterize the Nadir Khan a sort of George Washington. There is the interesting possibility, that like your great countryman, he may prefer to experiment with some sort of a republic."