Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings about Afghanistan [‎49r] (99/312)

actually hostile g^ernment—ana tHroiig^thc
same Khyber Pass, swarming with the same
vile ipen that a few months before had made
such easy prey of the blocked mass of fugitives,
and were still exulting in the successful carnage.
To-day, however, the circumstances are altoge
ther changed and in our favour. The Punjab
is peacefully in British possession, and affords us
some of the finest soldiery in the world, the
Sikhs, who hate the Afghans with a traditional
hatred, and would prefer them to any other
enemy. More than this, the Viceroy, Lord
Lytton, has, with a wise foresight, subsidised
the Pass men, who, while serving us, become, by
that very fact, the enemies of the Afghans and
their Ameer. This enmity, however, is no
new thing, for interwoven in the early
history of the country are the feuds
between the mountaineers of the Pass and
the Afghans proper—feuds arising from the
contemptuous refusal of the latter to recognise
the former as clansmen of equal dignity of
descent. Not only, therefore, are both the |
Punjab and the Pass friendly to us, but the j
Punjabis and the Pass men have grudges to pay |
off against the Afghans. With these circum- i
stances in our favour, it is hard to understand
how there can be any reasonable or honest
doubt as to the result of a repetition of that
advance which, thirty-live years ago, was so
triumphantly executed in spite of every circum
stance being so strongly adverse.
It is to be noted that the advance of Generals
Pollock and Nott was made in the month of
September. The month is now fast drawing to
a close, but as the snows fall nowhere in Afghan
istan before December there is ample time both
for action and deliberation before the Viceroy of
India. And that Lord Lytton will act when
the time comes with promptitude and strength
we have already had as sound assurance as that
he will not now sacrifice . prudence to the just
eagerness of the nation to obtain reparation for
the insult offered to him and them.
4
J hr^L/
ty-
ENULAND AND AFGHANISTAN.
SIMLA, S ept . 26.
Three thousand five hundred troops are to be sent to re
inforce the Quettah garrison, tnd a force of 4,000 men will •
be assembled Lt Thall, at the entrance of the Koorum
Valley. A reserve force of 6,000 men will be concentrated
at Sukkur.
Sept. 27.
Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Grholam Hussein Khan, the Special Envoy sent
by the Viceroy to CaV>ul, has returned to Peshawur.
BOMBAY, S ept . 27.
Several papers designate Lieutenant-General Crawford
Chamberlain us the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for
Afghanistan.
BERLIN, S EPT . 27.
Lord Augustus Loftus, the British Ambassador at St.
Petersburg, in passing through this city, had an interview
with Prince Gortcaakoff. It is believed that the Afghan
istan question will not lead to any explanations between
England and Kussia.
RUSSIA AND CENTRAL ASIA.
ST, PBTEBSBUKG, S ept . 27.
The Russian St. Peterslurg Journal of this evening pub
lishes the following from Vernoe, in Russian Turkestan,
under date September 24 :—
4 ' If Kuldja were to be surrendered to China, Russian
rule in the eastern part of Central Asia would be under
mined. The western frontier is already half in the hands
of England, and if Kuldja is given up the operations of the
Russians in that region will be attended with great risks—
Eastern Turkestan would, in fact, no longer exist for us.
The surrender of Kuldja to China would be another
triumph for England, and the Manchus would hold their
heads still higher. In line, Russian influence in Central
Asia would ba shaken."
INDIA AND AFGHANISTAN.
BERLIN", S ept . 27.
Trustworthy intelligence from St. Petersburg
states that the Russian Government will permit
Russian merchants and manufacturers to sell arms
and ammunition to both parties in the impending
war between England and Afghanistan*
The German Press, considerably excited by the
Afghan news froltt the-very first, gradually begins
to take sides. Conservative journals are favour
able to Russia. It is hardly necessary to say that
the number and circulation of such papers is ex-
ceedingly small. Governmental organs are reserved
and endeavour to be impartial, but rather incline
towards the Russian side. In point of numerical
strength and influence this sort of papers are even
less formidable than the Conservative organs. The
rest of the German Press is anti-Russian. Ultra
montane and Socialist journals, always opposed to
the Russian Government, now vie with one another
in denouncing the ambitious policy attributed to
our Eastern neighbours. Of the Liberal journals,
forming the immense majority of the German Press,
the more moderate represent military measures as
unavoidable and just; while the more advanced,
though likewise defending the action of the
Calcutta authorities, have a great deal to say upon
the remissness of the London Cabinet in allowing
things to reach this climax. As a specimen of
Moderate Liberal opinion, I may quote three lead
ing organs. The Cologne Gazette says :—
" England cannot afford to ignore the affront
which the Ameer has dared to inflict upon her.
Inactivity in present circumstances would by her
Indian subjects and the semi-independent
Sovereigns still existing among them be interpreted
in a manner dangerous to her prestige and power
in the East. Shere Ali, there can be no doubt,
listening to the whispers of Russian emissaries,
prefers a Muscovite alliance to English friendship,
even at the risk of war and defeat. Shere All
must be aware that England cannot allow him to
give her a slap in the face with impunity. Know
ing this,he has had the audacity to insult England ;
he must, therefore, rely upon the promise of
Russian support, and perhaps upon reminiscences
of English defeat in his mountainous land. We
shall soon see that he is out in his calculations.
Even if Russia were to send all her Central Asiatic
forces to his aid (which she clearly cannot do), or
if she were to lend him all her money and military
genius (commodities she can scarcely call her own),
the ruler of Cabul would soon have to deplore the
part he has taken. England is incomparably better
prepared for an Afghan war now than she was 36
years ago. Her army is far more numerous, her
resources are infinitely greater, her communications
better insured, her allies more trustworthy. Strong
enough to avenge defeat 36 years ago, England is
sure to punish Asiatic insults at this time of the
day. Measures have long been taken to prevent a
repetition of the Khyber disaster."
The Berlin National Zeitung has the following :—
" A considerable force will be concentrated to
give a fitting reply to the provocation of the in
solent Ameer. Though Shere Ali evidently relies
upon Russian help, it is greatly doubted that Russia
will openly assist him in the war. Of course, it is
foreseen that General Kaufmann will place his
advice and resources at his disposal. Since the
Servian campaign we are aware that war may be
carried on not only officially, but also semi-officially.
The impending campaign will probably result in
the expulsion of Shere Ali and the annexation of
his domains to the Indian Empire."
The Bremen Weser Zeitung, alluding to the pro
bable action of Russia in the event of an Afghan
campaign, says :—
" If England enters Afghanistan from the south
east, Russia is sure to look for guarantees in the
north. In other words, Russia must be expected
to occupy the long-coveted oasis of Merv. The
move will be accompanied by the excuse that
Russia's proposal that Afghanistan should be
recognized as a neutral zone by both Powers was
rejected by England in 1873. England, on the
other hand, is only too fully justified in regarding
Russian intrigues in Afghanistan as imperilling the
safety of her Indian frontiers. The extent of the
measures to be adopted will depend upon England's
determination to anticipate Russian plots at the
risk of a Russian war. People at St. Petersburg
obviously aim at making up by Asiatic success for
defeats sustained at the Congress."
The Biclefelder Zeitung, an organ of the Advanced
Liberals, expresses itself more vehemently :—
" Were England to tolerate the affront she has
received, her authority in Asia would be gone. It
being impossible for England to run this risk, she
has to confront the contingency of an Afghan and
may be a Russian war. This is the penalty England
has to pay for her indecision in the Russo-Turkish
War. Had England's power been employed in
supporting Turkey, Russia would have exhausted
her strength in Bulgaria, and could not have
dreamt of, taking the offe nsive on th e Ind ian
frontier. The shortsighted and cowardly policy
pursued by England on that occasion is now con-
dignly punished. The value of a Convention which
professes to protect Asia Minor when the dismem
berment of European Turkey is quietly 6ndured is
strikingly illustrated by what is going on in the far
East."
In conclusion, I may say that our political circles
are seriously interested in this latest complication.
It is generally felt that in this age of steam and
electricity events impending on the Hindoo Koosh
will exercise a direct and possibly an immediate
effect upon the course of European politics. The
Russia that operates in Central Asia is the same
who occupies the iEgean shore and comes up to the
German and Austrian frontiers.
A St. Petersburg letter in the Berlin Conserva
tive Kreuz Zeitung, sure to come from an authentic
source, is as follows :—
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