Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings about Afghanistan [‎85r] (173/312)

SIMLA, Thursday.
There is at present but little news from the
frontier. The Government are hastening on the
preparations for the expedition vid Quetta. Each
of the native infantry regiments ordered to the
frontier are to receive an addition of two hundred
men, who will be drawn from other regiments.
The native cavalry regiments will also be
strengthened by a draft of sixteen sabres per troop.
While the Quetta expedition is the first object
of attention the preparations for the division
intended to advance by the Khyber Pass are also
being pushed on, and if the necessary supplies and
transport be got together while the weather
permits a movement in advance will take place
here also. A small force is already advancing to
occupy Jamrood, which lies at mouth of Pass.
No letter has yet arrived from the Ameer, and
although the natives bring down word to Peshawur
that the Ameer is collecting his forces from all
quarters to oppose our advance, it is thought that
even yet there may be no fighting. The Afghans
do not yet realise that England is in earnest.
When they perceive that we intend to force the
passes and invade their country in earnest, events,
which it is at present impossible to reckon upon,
may occur to alter the whole position of affairs.
The greater portion of the Sirdars Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. are hostile to
Shere Ali, and are inclined to be friendly towards
England. They will, therefore, object most stronglv
to be compelled to take the field against ua merely
because the Ameer has chosen wantonly to insult us.
The Ameer s position is, therefore, considered to
be most unstable, and with so' many discordant |
elements at work, disturbances are expected which
may not improbably end in his deposition.
In that case England might be able to make what
terms she chose, without the necessity for fighting,
as the mere demonstration by imposing f orces would
suffice to show the Afghans that a country dis
tracted by internal dissensions would be in no
position to resist our power.
(By Great Northern Telegraph.)
(from our owk correspondent,)
ST. PETERSBUEG, T huesday.
With respect to the telegram of the Agence
Havas of Oct. 1, giving details regarding the
question put by England to Russia and the
answer of the latter, the Golos of to-day says :—
We cannot say whether any despatches regard
ing the mission of General Stolieteff to Cabul have
passed between the Cabinets of St. Petersburg and
St. James's ; but we can Boldly affirm that Russia's
answer was not to a question arising out of the
refusal of the Ameer to receive the Embassy of Sir
Neville Chamberlain."
This throws a doubt upon the Havas telegram,
the opinion of the Golos being founded on logic and
a knowledge of diplomatic usage.
" Surely," says the Oolos, " the British charge
^affaires would not be entrusted with so delicate a
question at a time when Lord Augustus Loftus was
bound for St. Petersburg, and had had an inter
view with Prince Gortschakoff on the way
hither. Under any circumstances we consider
it most important to know the date of the inter-
change^ despatches. While it was simply a question
of explaining a step not as yet denounced by the
British press and the Ministry as a step hostile to
England, the Russian Government could give its
explanation a somewhat apologetic form, but now
that that moment has gone by Russia is
openly accused in England of having instigated
Afghanistan, and to such an explanation as
Great Britain would now think of demanding from
St. Petersburg it would simply be impossible to
send any reply resembling an apology."
The Russki Mir of to-day remarks ;—
" Our understanding with England regarding
Afghanistan was arrived at in the hope of
British diplomacy assuming a more definite
form, and certainly not for the purpose of
having intrigues directed against us, nor for
depriving ourselves of the possibility of having
a point d'appni against the many weak points of
the Anglo-Indian Empire. If we have made
some movement in Central Asia to meet any
eventuality which might arise, it was simply an
involuntary and feeble answer.to the daring posi
tion assumed by England at the entrance to the
Black Sea."
The Novoe Vremya of to-day observes:—
" English inquisitiveness is gratified. Russia,
in answer to England's question about the
object of General Stolieteff's visit to Cabul,
says that it was sent under previously-
existing circumstances, and to pay Russia's respects
to the Ameer, a mocking reply worthy of
the insolent question, although perhaps it would
have been better to have left England's Note
unanswered. The English, by occupying Quetta
and the Bolan Pass, have finally violated the
neutrality of Afghanistan. How, therefore, the
London Cabinet had the daring to remind Russia
of the obligations that Great Britain had herself
destroyed only an Englishman can explain,"
The Moscow Gazette of yesterday, referring to the
Renter's telegram in which Russia is said to deny
the existence of any understanding between her
and Afghanistan, observes :—
"We trust the telegram is of English fabrica
tion, and that we have given up the dangerous and
degrading habit of always righting ourselves before \
England as a schoolboy does before a strict tutor, I
It is all the better for us if we can live peaceably i
with Afghanistan when England is unable to j
do so."
LONDON, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4.
Our Correspondent at Simla reports but little
tiom fT fro 1 ntier ' bu t says that the prepara-
mSL jf a \ adv f nce are bein g hastened on
A mbe? i^rnn^r # 0 Peshawur a re porc that the
Ameer is collecting forces from all quarters to
Sr ll *>! 1 troops, but it is thought that
after all there may not be any conflict. There is
of theAMEEu may
lead to disturbances, which would end in his
fiT T' C , h event > it i3 pointed out
The St PpfiT * What terms she chosa -
Petersburg newspapers contain some
fw g J 0 TT nts on th0 tele gram reporting
but thev dn n f 0te been Pf seuted ^ Russia,
y + T? ^ 7 a ? ree as to whafc was result.
Indeed, the Golos throws discredit on the report
and asks whether the British chargi d'affaires would
LordTl^ mth SUC ^ " delic " te ^on while
capital^* amfT/'lf T 18 Way back to the Russian
capital, ana had had an interview with Prince
Gortschakopp en route. The Novoe Vremya con-
tends that it is England who has violated the
Quetba 1 y Afghanistan by our occupation of
The Affghan Policy of the Government.—
At a meeting of the North Walaham Agricultural A'so-
cfation oa Wednesday-Lord Suffiald presiding-SIr
Thomas Fowell Baxton remarked that the suspension of
the connual gift to the Ameer of C-ibul, the oacupatioa of
Quettah, and the claim to have no other than a British
repreaentative at the Affghan cipitil might have led to
the present situation in Affghaniatau, though it was pos
sible Eussia had contributed to it. CMcmel Daff, M.P.,
said ho only looked at the fact that the Crown had bean
insulted, and, whether the Ameer was backed up by
Russia or not, chastisement must be administered
and reparation enforced. Lord Oarington also
spoke in approval of the Government policy.-
A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Birmine-
m Liberal Aseociation, held oa Wednesday eveaiae
passed the following resolution " Th»t this commUtaa
regards the action of the Governmeat of India ia reUtba
to the Am«T of Affghanistan, constituting as it doe3 a
reversal of the sagacious and prudent policy pursue! for
a ktg period by the mcst eminent Indian statesmea as
rafb, aggressive, and unkaaeiy, and as likely to lead to au
jd glorious war, which must serioasly incraase the fiaancial
burdens already prmmg with such severity oa the E ig-
lush and ladiae people*," s