The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-30 00:00:00

The Army Journals on the Raid.

The troops of the line at present in Canada are the
78th Highlanders and the 84th Regiment at Nova
Scotia, the 60th Foot at Toronto, the Rifle Brigade
and the field artillery at Halifax. The Broad Arraw
thinks this is a small supply of regular soldiers for
a large country so threatened as Canada, and says it
is questioned whether; his force is sufficient for such
emergencies, even as the present one. It considers
that at all events Mr. Cardwell has now an oppor-
tunity of reflecting on the wisdom of the
policy which would have denuded the Dominion even
of these troops, and which may also remind him that
there is a time for all things, a time to sin and a time
to repent. The military journals all extol the conduct
of. President Grant in taking the step
he has done to prevent the Fenian raiders
from an infringement of the neutrality laws. One
contemporary says that soldiers, at least, will not
fail to admire the soldierly promptness with which
he ordered the arrest of O'Neill, and argues that the
General's whole proceedings in the affair prove to the
full that the kritation he has been charged with
exhibiting against England has passed away, if,
indeed, it ever really existed.
The Policy which Does not Alter.

Earl Granville has told the House of Lords that
the policy of the Government towards the colonies
was in no wise changed; but that the departure of the
troops which were ordered to leave Canada, has been
retarded on account of the Fenian raid. Probably
a " strong government " with a hundred majority
never does change its policy ; it only kindly, con-
siderately, and indulgently makes slight variations
now and then. Earl Granville refused on general
principles to allow the 18th Regiment to remain in
New Zealand, whilst the Maories yet retained
a menacing aspect ; but he allows the troops
recalled from Canada to remain whilst the Fenians
are dangerous. Where is the difference ? The
Fenians might do much mischief, it is true ; but so
might the New Zealand savages. Indeed, the former
have not inflicted nearly so much injury as the latter.
Lord Granville refused to counteract the order for
the departure of the 18th regiment on the
grounds that each colony ought to provide
for its own defence, and that it was impossible to
entrust British soldiers to the control of colonial
authorities, whilst, on the other hand, a divided
command would be ruinous. Just the same principle
applies to Canada. There can be no doubt that the
retention of the troops in Canada was a change of
policy; but it is one which the House of Commons
cheered, and which the public generally will ap-
plaud. The Government would have incurred a
very serious responsibility, if the soldiers had sailed
for England, and any serious injury had befallen the
colony. These hard and fast lines of policy cannot
be insisted on in time of trouble.
The English Captives at Gibraltar.

A. correspondent of the Standard gives some
additional information respecting the captured
Englishmen near Gibraltar. If this account
be authentic, the brigands were even
more daring than their Marathon prototypes,
since they actually invaded their victim's dwelling
house. Mr. Bonnel and his nephew, merchants of
Gibraltar, and natives of that place, are in the habit,
it seems, of spending a few weeks every year in a
small cottage they have at Sabart, during the
hot season. Sabart is four miles from Gibraltar,
half way between San Roque and the eastern
beach. On the evening of the 21st the cottage was
entered by a strong party of brigands, who seized
the two gentlemen, one of whom being a confirmed
invalid was incapable of any resistance, and, mounting
them on horseback, carried them off to the moun-
tains, sending in a demand for a ransom of 20,000
dole. to Gibraltar early the next morning. Of the
two servants, who were said in a former account to
have been captured along with their masters, no
mention is made in this version of the story. It
appears that one of the gentlemen seized is known
to -be wealthy, and it is believed that the object of
the affair is exclusively mercenary, having nothing
whatever to do with politics or nationalities.