Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings about Afghanistan [‎98v] (200/312)

GoivrsciiAKOFFS most finislied models—and he
has supplied abundance of examples—should be
allowed to weigh for one moment against the
concentration of troops in the Oxus Valley and
the presence of a Muscovite Mission in Cabul.
They are actualities ; while the language of
the Chancellor is mere ink or breath. It would
have been an evil omen to India's peace had an
English and a Russian Envoy met in the streets
of Cabul; but it is far more sinister when the
Czar's General is welcomed and the Viceroy's
representative is turned back. The mischief is
enhanced by the assistance as well as counte-
napce that Russia lends, and has for five
months lent, to the Ameer. It is no longer
allowable to doubt that something more effective 1
than promises has been transported to Cabul; ■
and, however the Porte may have shrunk from
calling Russia to account when her soldiers and :
Generals occupied Alexinatz, no English Govern- i
ment dare overlook or treat as trifling similar
underhand, yet none the less hostile, proceedings |
in Afghanistan. All India will readily com-
prehend that S iiere A li is a mere puppet
moved by the White Czar, and sound statesman
ship, which is the highest duty to the Empire,
demands that we should recognise and deal with
realities.
So far there is no reason to complain either of
the plans or the firmness of the Indian Govern
ment. The imaginative or u lying spirit," how
ever, is again abroad, and unscrupulousness '■
imputes all kinds of mad schemes to Lord
L ytton , apparently to-gratify a wanton appe-:?
tite for censure, or an inordinate self-conceit.!
A march on Cabul at this season could only i
have entered into the mind of a lunatic, and
when such a move is described as the Viceroy's >
policy the allegation betrays a perverse aifd
discreditable animosity. Nor is there any ground j
for the hints and charges that the Indian Exe-1.
cutive has been guilty of delay. A fortnight has f
elapsed since the Ameer's agent gave his rough
answer to Major C avagnaei . Immediately on I
the receipt of that unwelcome intelligence. Lord \x-
L ytton directed the assembly of troops at I
specified rendezvous. No act surpassing this
in promptitude has ever been done in India, j ;
The points indicated implied a settled military
policy which we have often described, and that
policy is now being pushed forward as rapidly as
time and spaces will permit. Any one who has
a rudimentary knowledge of the subject must be
well aware that if it were possible to plant in
fourteen days from the receipt of the order a
properly-equipped column of five thousand men
at Thul, a much longer term would be required
to array eight thousand in the camp at Quettah.
Indian armies can be promptly got together,
and Indian troops can march long distances;
but even they are men, and their efforts must
be limited by human capacities. It is abso
lutely essential to collect, transport, and arrange
for commissariat supplies, as well as to bring up
batteries, squadrons, and battalions to the scene
of action. The slightest reflection and a com
mon-sense allowance for the conditions of all
military operations, especially in India, will
show that the charge of delay or absence of
firmness, if nfrf ignorant fault-finding, is utterly
groundless. Neithe^ir P aul H aines nor Ge
nerals B iddulph, H toberts , and S tewart are
the men to trifle with an emergency, or, if a
lower motive is preferred, peril their well-won
reputation by slowness and neglect. With
ample railway accommodation and a prearranged
route system, it took the German armies a fort
night to reach the French frontier, from which
they were not separated by either mountains or
deserts. That, during a like interval of time,
' the Indian War Department has been ceaselessly
active there is not the least reason to doubt.
I Zeal is a fine. quality, but efficiency is better ;
I and the Indian Government would commit a
j grave error if it issued hasty orders to march.
' From the known energy of the Indian military
and civil authorities it is only common fairness
to assume that the means placed at their disposal
will be found ready and .able to carry out suc
cessfully the active policy so wisely adopted by
the Government.
STANDARD. MONDAY. OCTOBE R 7
THE AFGHAN WAR.
' FORWARD MOVEMENT OP
TEOOPS.
OCCUPATION OF JUMROOD.
CAPTURE OF FORT ALI MUSJID.
(B y E astern C ompany's T elegraph.)
(from our special correspondent.)
BOMBAY, Sunday.
The Ameer has summoned the tribal jirgahs, or
1 councils, to afford him assistance. All, even the
recently-conquered Jowalds, are believed to have
assented.
The frontier tribes from the Khyber to the
Bholan mimber 180,000 fighting men, of which
150,000 are of Afghan blood and 30,000 of Belooch.
There are 23,000 Afreedees. The Belooch tribes
and the Afreedees will probably remain neutral.
The Ameer has reinforced the garrisons of Can-
dahar, Jellala-bad, and Ali Musjid, and has also
freed Yakoob Khan.
An Afghan army is proceeding to Khurum.
We have occupied Jumrood with three com
panies of Sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. .
The whole of the Peshawur garrison is marching
against Ali Musjid, which it is intended to attack
to-morrow. Our troops are hastening to the
frontier from all directions.
War is considered to be inevitable, but we still
await the possibility of the Ameer making over
tures. Dissensions are reported to have broken out
among the great Afghan chiefs.
Sunday Night.
The capture of Ali Musjid is reported, but has
not yet been officially announced. If confirmed,
this event must exercise great influence upon the
conduct of the bordering clans, and it also, practi
cally speaking, secures the Khyber Pass for us.
A Proclamation announcing the intentions q £
Government will be issued to-morrow. The trooj& r
have been telegraphed to advance from Dera GhaA
Khan, thus threatening Afghanistan from a new-
point.
(B y E astern C omp'any's T elegraph.)
(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)
CALCUTTA, Saturday.
Jumrood has been occupied. The Khyberees
have declared for us. The Momunds are marching
i
i to join the Ameer's forces at Ali Musjid.
j (B y I ndo- E uropean T elegraph.)
(FROM OUR SPECIAL COiRRESPONDKNT.)
SIMLA, Saturday.
The death is reported of Adhan Khan, chief of
the southern Ghiljies, a very/powerful Afghan tribe.
It is impossible to say yet whether this may affect
the position-or not.