The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-10-09 00:00:00

AFFAIRS IN AFGHANISTAN.

THE publication vf the nflkial list of casualtiet
in the disaster of the '27th July has awakened
the sympathy of the people towards the relatives
of those who fell in thet sanguinary fray. The ,
Royal Patriotic Fend, raised at the time of the .
Crimean war, showed how snbstential was that
sympathy then for those who were dependent on
our gallant soldieis, at that time fighting the
battles of t;Joir eount,y urou ialmspitable shores
and in an ureeertiel climate. again the Indian
Mutiny of 1857 drew forth heedsome subscrip-
tions for the farai ies of the men who shed their
blood for the ieeintenauce of our Indian Empire.
With these and other examples before us, it is
therefore satisfactory to see that a fund is now
being raised under high patronage for the relief
of Jae widow', and orphans of the soldiers who
have perished, or who may perish, in the Afghan
war. The gaestion has before now been raised
whether we were right in going to war with
Shere All two years ago. This, however, has
nothing whatever to do with the necessity for
making adecriete provision for the relatives of
thoFe who heve 12:ten in it, If the nation is net
unanimous on the firet point, it is on the second.
The terrible fact %%mains, that amid the
mountatins of Alglvinistan7there lie hundreds of
poor fellows who have died in the service of
their cOnntry, hnel whose wives and families
deserve at the hands of Iha country whatever
comnensatioo it is posFiWo 11 offer them. Our
people are provertirO;y Lender-heatted and
generous in ceocs of ttietie as. Itailway accidents,
colliery explosions, tires. sh;pwreeks, farniee,
and floods, each Li tutu) itppe:-:i to the charitable
public, in most cesee ajra reenits gratifying to
those who make tie appeals ee web as to those
restonclieg to hetv. ill would hasten to admL
that t•ik'e uoltanpy s,l;virora of men who have
k3lcre ezeHer their nation's order,
ft-t!,(i for .itt'Ve an altogether
exceptional clevo -3,10,1 the ro:ltipathy and good-
will ot the eW.ii-e That claim is far
more peweifel thee :lot ..olaiel• ()en possibly exist
in core ction wieh o.he.r vlass Of public
c)tooerollie. Mbitee: wen le- .:e!ves, though
t'ot y way have a;i ilie tre've 'efTen not the
pewer toso:lie/Pie tog: ly te ao-k?, of charity ;
and as the names of gcotieinui emoprieing the
committee for dietritinting the food are in them-
selves a sufficieut guarantee for tie work being
!lone discreetly and well, it is to be hoped the
will coole forward as is its wont, so that
the subscripqon list may be vet unworthy of the
g ol object for whieli it has been instituted.
in eminent ion with this snhject, it may not be
out of place to refer to the arra4:emeets which
have been made for subsidising ihaliKeyberees,
with a view to their keeping open the Khyber
Pass. In the Knrian graidual draw-
ieg in .of the 13,i. 411 troops to the end of the
vette).- whirti i. ei...leied 4S 11!•hi4i territory is
ocrpreted au; as do c•eemeueenient of.
evaceetiott. In ..-outbern iSf•Jlaniitan there is
whole of orenerel Roberts's
otigieai force beieg eaber leeo.; in loathe, or on
their way. Clearly, bewevet, nethiog has yet
been decided respecting the uLimate fate of
C.kndahar, for a garrison of 0;000 men fit for
duty is left ic the province. The Hindoo
residents in the city express fears that soon after
ilia departure of the Bengel troops we shall be
attacked again. In support of this view may be
mentioned the fact that at Farrah there is a
hostile gathering of the partisans of Yakoob
Khan, who have announced their intention of
carrying tie 9 aoroggle until the ex-Ameer be re-
stored. In (irj..r to avoid our being drawn into
another cateno4ii. it has been suggested that we
eboold hana over the province formally to Abdur-
rahmen Khan, tied let him fight out the matter
wito his rivaie. hov.'over, as we remain
in occupation, i a iu etear (Tough that we
he prep:, with a ferce of not
less tin t;Afto,eee . 'etee Ttent..y it: is indis-
perienble, t.d. eto- :r-esport arrangements
. should hi. ; aye.): •11,v, that steps be at
once teat..., to hton.; Earength of the
garrison to ef wbhh it is at pl'esert
composed. That- eeo-o•ee woetti g7ve 5,000 mu:
forii field force, a-. ii 5 00 1,•,r the gerrison of
C indeltar. Thet owe' e, oreeet to suffice; for
the &toils of Lie tie• +egii cit 27t0 of July
show 'i• :.iie ..044111115, although
laiFseeeiog !ooieee.,ioo ef dash and energy
•:theiee eireauoteeeem we:ch ereve them hopes of
success, have eoee of that perseverance and
courage w';_:ide ;Final in asesailing a
fertifled poeoioo oke eoeißlier, defended with
the :-kUt of the valour of
liritieh soldiers. •