The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-08-07 00:00:00

tEe ctoatitti;)ge d,As(ti'::-c,

SAIURDAY, AUGUST 70, 1880.

THE Nr.WS FROM AFGHANISTAN.

IN a wide-spreading empire like that of Great
Britain, it is inevitable that the multiplication
of tauubles should be commensurate with the
extent of our responsibilities and the range of
our vast dominions. if our territories were in-
cluded within the limits of our own islands,
small would be our anxieties and light would he
our sorrows. Surrounded on all sides by the
sea, washed by the waves of it restless ocean, we
never come into collision with our neighbours,
who can raise no question of disputed frontier at
our doors. It is in connection with our poEses-
sions in distant climes that a constant succession
of national cares follows closely one upon another.
This has been illustrated during the past few
years in a remarkable way. Ever since 1875,
in one way and another, there has been a cloud
over the affair 3 in the East, affecting our inter-
ests in a greater or less degree. It was in the
autumn of 1875 that the outbreak of an insur-
rection in the Herzego%iva, which speediiy ex-
tended to other disaffected provinces of the
Turkish Empire, heralded the approach of a
storm which led to a great European war, and
rendered necessary on the part of the Govern-
ment of Great Britain the taking of measures
for our own protection. The disastrous intelli-
gence from Afghanistan shows the price which
has sometimes to be paid in order to maintain
the interests of a great empire.
It is satisfactory to know that the Adminis-
tration is making every effort to meet the worst
that can possibly happen in Afghanistan and in
India. The usual relieving regiments and rein-
forcements are to be sert from England with as
little delay as is practical. General Phayre is
not likely to advance from Quettah until he can
do so with effect; but the authorities at Bombay
are fully able to send a brigade, and of the twenty
thousand men in Cabul a considerable body are
in a position to march by the Ghazni road to
Candahar. There can be no doubt that the
most prompt measures will be taken—and that
such are necessary there is equally no question.
Whenever a disaster to the British arms is re-
ported, the natives of India show signs of ex-
chement ; and it is probable that in Afghanistan
the news of Ayoob ;shan's success may have the
effect the fiery cross is represented to have had
in summoning the Scotch mountaineers to arms.
The Afghans contend that they have no reason
to love us, or to treat us with forbearance. The
exigencies of our policy in respect of the inter-
ests of our empire are, they declare, no concern
of theirs. They find an I.lvader in their country,
and do their best to drive him out.

Bad as the calamity is, now that the surprise
at the reception of such news has passed away,
it. is some satisfaction to know that the disaster
is not quite so great as was at first announced.
The word "annihilation" has a very ugly
sound about it in English ears, and when it is
applied to an English brigade as the result of an
attack by a body of Oriental savages, the reflec-
tions are of a decidedly disagreeable charictf-r.
Certainly the ear:iest news was the worst that
could have been sent under any circumstances ;
and we now know, upon the authority of tile
Secretary of State for India, that tho first tidings
of the catastrophe were exaggerated. 'the word
annihilate would convey the impression tlatu et
a man had escaped to tell the sad tale; but hap-
pily this was not the lite of the brigade. The
General himself and many of his olli,:!ers were
,Inabied to return to Candabar, and several
stragglers had come in. The cutting of the
telegraphic wires leaves us without po6iiive in-
formation of the details of the battle ; and it is
natural enough that many conjectures should be
forwed as to the recent occurrences more or less
pro babe. Putting the best construction possible
upon the news, the reverse seems to have been
ci a painful and serious character. The truth
appears to be that Ayoob Khan determined to
try his chances against the British troops as soon
as he found hiulself at the head of a large force
of infantry and cavalry, which increaeed in
strength as he advanced, and which was sup-
ported by thirty-five or forty well-served gnus.
Details will come in time, and will be 7received
with great interest. The British nation is not
accustomed to have its brigades cut to pieces by
Asiatics; and there will be no difference of
op nion amongst any classes or sections of the
community that such a disaster must be re-
trieved without delay, and that no effort must
be spared to re-establish British prestige in the
East.