The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-10-26 00:00:00

ENGLAND AND AFGHANISTAN.
The Times correspondent, telegraphing from Darjeeling
on October 20th, says:—

_
"Nothing authentic is yet known as to the nature of
Shere All's reply to the Viceroy's missive; but it is re-
ported, with a considerable show of probability, that
he is making an earnest endeavour to effect a com-
promise. Native report states that, although he
peremptorily refuses to receive an English mission at
Cabal, still he is perfectly prepared to hold a personal
Interview with the Viceroy at Peshawur. The
Met of his sending back our Envoy in the face of the
strong warlike demonstrations which are everywhere
being made on the borders of his territory seems clearly
to indicate a strong intention on his part if not to sub-
mit absolutely to our terms, at all events to temporise
for the present, and so escape the threatening emer-
gency of immediate war. But, whatever his diplomatic
or warlike intentions may be, they will have but little
or no effect on the settled and deliberate resolves
of the Indian Government. Nothing less than
an instantaneous and unqualified submission will fend
off the impending war. The Government can, how-
ever, also afford to parley for the present ; there can
be very little doubt but that all intention—if, indeed,
it ever existed—of prosecuting a winter campaign has
been completely abandoned. The Government can
without risk wait patiently for the spring, and
meanwhile so consolidate their military prepara-
tions as to render resistance fruitless and hope-
lets, and to insure perfect and permanent success
at a minimum cost of life, both of our soldiers
and those of the Afghans. It is well, too, to remem-
ber that the present Afghan war will differ from
ordinary frontier wars, not alone in the magnitude of
the undertaking, but in this essential—that the object
in view will not consist in the successful achievement
on a large scale of a mere punitory expedition, but a
permanent military occupation if not complete annexa-
tion of the most important strategic routes affording
access to British India through Afghanistan."

The Daily News of Tuesday publishes the following from
their Special Correspondent at Simla, under date Oct. 21 :

War with Afghanistan is now rendere4 unavoid-
able by the Ameer's further message, forwarded by
the British Envoy returning from Cabul. The terms,
"You may do your worst, and the issue is in God's
hands," are scarcely to be brooked. The Ameer's
message has been telegraphed to the Home Govern-
ment, and a reply indicating the course of procedure
is expeoted the day after to-morrow. Until then it
would be unwise to refer in detail to the character of
the preparations and intentions, the issue of which
necessarily hangs on the home instructions.
It may be said, however, that there exists a fall
realisation of the danger of any rashness. A short
delay, however unpalatable to impatient people, is
infinitely preferable to a chance of a reverse, however
small. Much may be done before the winter, and
during the winter operations are possible throughout
a large area of the theatre of the campaign.
Jellalabad possesses the same climate as Peshawur.
and the Khyber Pass is open all the year round.
Should the southern column not be in position at
Quettah for an advance on Candahar before January,
nothing in the weather of that month need hinder
General Stewart from penetrating at least thus far.
That general, just arrived from England, is now
here, in conference with the Viceroy and Commander-
' in-Chief.
That a short, sharp, and decisive campaign is best
is of course undeniable. Famines have drained the
Indian treasury, and recent droughts played havoc
among the animals available for transport. In the
regions adjacent to the respective bases, transport
and supplies are fast accumulating; but it must never
be forgotten that the cotuitry to be campaigned must
be regarded as destitute of supplies, and that every-
thing must be forwarded from the base.
The Ameer's forces are believed to number about
60,000 all told, no longer brought together on the
primitive feudal system, but a standing army farmed
by conscription, and under something of regular dig-
cipline. Judges, believe, however, that the Afghan
forces were more formidable under the old conditions
than now, when unwilling conscripts constitute a force
only nominally regular, and without officers capable
of utilising the altered conditions. The Ameer
is not destitute of improved small arms. We
have placed in his hands some 5,000 Sriders, and
10,000 Enfields, and he has his own factories both of
small arms and ordnance, Of the latter in all he is
believed to have nearly 3,000 cannon of various sorts,
including about eighteen batteries, fully horsed. A
force of 20 regiments was concentrated three months
ago around Cabul. It is now dispersed partly towards
the Khyber, partly towards Candahar.

Another telegram from the Daily News' correspondent,
dated Simla, Oct. 22, says :
" The British Envoy, Gholam Hussein Khan will
reach Simla in a couple of days. During hisstay at Cabul
he lived in a species of honourable durance. He was
prohibited from intercourse with everybody, save the
persons authorised by the Ameer. He had three in-
terviews with the Ameer, and frequent interviews
with his emissaries and Ministers. He was well
treated, and received presents at his departure, a
politic act, he being a native. He states that the
Russian Envoy was still at Cabul when he left. He
was informed that the Ameer is at heart friendly to
the British, bat is dominated in a contrary direction
by a strong Conservative opposition. His own im-
pression is, however, that the Ameer desired to have
nothing to do with either Russia or England, and that
the Russian Envoy's arguments, substantial as they
were, with difficulty overcame his reluctance to take a
side."

The Evening Standard of Wednesday publi,thes the
following from their Special Correspondent at Lahore,
under date Oct. 22:

"ow that it is becoming apparent that the Afghan re-
sistance will be formidable, many of the native Princes are
coming forward with offers of service.
" ihe Rajah of Pnttiala, Nabha Kupperthalla Faridkot,
and the Nawab of Bhawulpore have offered Government the
disposal of the whole strength for active service wherever
required. The Nawab of Bhawulpore also offers his per-
sonal services, as does the Rajah of Jhind.

"The Viceroy has cordially welcomed these offers, and an
opportunity will, if possible, be found to utilise a contingent
from the Native States.
"Offers of service are also pouring in to the Punjaub
Government from numerous lesser chiefs and native gentle-
men, and in some cases offers are made to provide baggage
animals and drivers."

The Lieutenant General commanding the South-Eastern
District, has received orders to hold the klth Hussars, 2nd
Battalion sth, and 30th Regiment in readiness to embark
for India. Large drafts are being prepared for embarkation
on the 29th inst. in Her Majesty's ship Malabar for
India, to reinforce regiments proceeding on field service with
the Afghan expeoition. A large number of vacancies
having been reported to exist among the duty officers of
batteries of Royal Artillery in India. the War Office is filling
the same by volunteers from batteries at home.

More competition for British farmers, and this time
In relation to their most hopeful cereal, barley! A corre-
spondent of the Breuvrs' Guardian says that maize has been
successfully malted and that beer or porter brewed from one-
third maize and two-thirds barley-malt is equal in every
respect, if properly brewed, to that made from barley•rnalt
Moue, ant is onto toll to the tut.—Mark Lane lowan.