The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-07 00:00:00

CENTRAL INDIA.

We have at last to congratulate the Government
on the capture of Tantia Topee. This fortunate blow
was struck cn the 7th of April, and was preceded by
two important events—a complete defeat of the
rebels under the Rao and Feroze Shah in the Seronge
jungles on the sth of April, and the surrender on the
2d of the same month of the rebels under the

Gwalior chief Maim Singh. It is difficult at present
to determine the localities in -which these successes
were gained. We, therefore, merely repeat the
news as we received it in the following Govern.
ment telegrams :
"From Indore, 6th April, 8 a.m., to Lord Elphinstone.
" Colonel Dallas, on the sth, surprised the rebels under
Rao and Feroze Shah at Baroda, 12 miles north of Mibool-
jingTah ; not less than 300 of the enemy killed."
" From Seronge, 9th April, via Goonah, 7th April, to Lord
Elphinstone.
"Rajah Maun Singh surrendered to Major Mead e's
column at Mahoodra on the 2d April. The column under
Colonel De Sells and Colonel Rich in combined movement
in the Seronge Jungles have overtaken the rebels of the
Rao Sahib, Feroze Shah, and Tantia Topee, and have killed
500. Neither of the leaders of the rebels known to be killed,
but some native officers, many Vailaitees, one of the first
B ombay Lancers, and some of the Gwalior Body Guard.
"These men have had the Proclamation amonkst them
and have well known the clemency displayed towards those
who have surrendered, but they have rejected mercy and
have murdered all of our people who fell into their hands.
"Loss on our side not fully returned, but three of the
71st killed, band master of the 10th Bombay Native Infan-
try killed. Three sepoys and one sowar wounded, one
sepoy killed."
"From Mahoodra, via Seepree, Bth April, 6.30 p.m., from
Colonel Meade, to Lord Elphinstone.
" Tantia Topee captured by this detachment with Mann
Singh's assistance last night. He is now a prisoner in camp,
awaiting orders for his disposal."
Orders have been issued for his trial by drum-
head court-martial, and if he is found guilty he
will be hanged.
Previous to this final catastrophe in Central India,
Adil Mahomed, of Bhopal, had surrendered; finding,
no doubt, the cause he had espoused desperate. There
Was reason to suppose that similar despair would
speedily lead to the surrender of the rest of the
insurgent chiefs, but during the latter end of
March these still baffled the untiring energy of our
generals. When last we dwelt upon this subject
we narrated some of the disappointments which
attended both General Michel and Sir Robert
Napier in their efforts to circumvent our enemies,
who are always too cunning and too swift to be
caught. We described Sir Robert Napier watching
the Seronge jungles to prevent the enemy's escape.
At that very moment the Itao and Feroze Shah
were already away at Mum,rowlee, on the road to
Chundaree. Whilst Sir &belt Napier was thus
unsuccessful, General Wheeler had on the side of
Saugor been marching and counter-marching with
quite as little success. He had marched from Saugor
on the 4th of March, with a force consisting of three
guns, a squadron of the 12th Lancers, a troop of the
3d Irregular Cavalry, a wing of her ajesty's 43d,
and a company of the 31st Bengal Native Infantry.
With this force he proceeded due south to Rhatgur,
thence to Bagrode, where it was said that the enemy
lay, back again to Korrai, where he finally gave
up the chase. On the 13th, when General Wheeler
was at Korrai, the enemy were considerably to
the westward, at Chunclaree. The nearest force
to them at that time was Liddell's column, which
lay at. Lullutpore. On the 13th that column was
ordered from Lullutpore to Pahlee. It met no enemy,
however, the rebels having again entered the jungles
in the direction of Seronge. No information could
be obtained by General Napier as to whether the
rebels were united in force, or separated into small
divisions, and dispersed. On the 21st of March it
was determined by General Napier to make an effort
to ascertain where the rebels lay. A large force
leaving the general and Major Chetwood at Seronge
had reached Letaria, about 22 miles off. This force
was divided, one part under Colonel Rich, another
under Major Meade, taking opposite directions to
beat the jungle to the northward, in co-operation
with a wing of the 92d Highlanders and Colonel
De Salis' Brigade.
BORDERS OF NEPAUL.
It does not appear to us, either from the position
of the insurgents on the Nepaul border, or of the
European columns watching them, that fears of the
kind alluded to above need be seriously entertained.
Our troops are at present distributed on a line
which may be said to extend, for five degrees of
longitude, which may be turned any day on its right
flank, and be attacked on any point by any enemy
who can attack and be not attacked, who are aware
of every movement of their opponents, whose own
movements are shrouded
,;n obscurity. This line
again during part of the year can no more be held

by troops than the Campagna di Roma ; it is always
unhealthy, always liable to affronts and surprises.
Fiuropeans are placed in the plain, in the most un-
healthy part of India, to watch and countermarch
an enemy occupying a three-fold range of moun-
tains, Which gives those who hold it every oppor-
tunity for both attack and defence, -with valleys
of fording every kind of supply, and with a climate
almost European. And 'this state of affairs is peace.
TI le mutiny is over. Troops are to be sent home.
In a military point of view, then, our position is
ba d. We can only escape from its evils when they
become unbearable, which will be in less than a
nonth's time, by a forward movement. This will
entail mountain warfare, a science of itself, which
all troops have to learn by experience, and that at
a cheap price if only by temporary checks and
m ortifications, and not utter repulse. The prelimi-
nary movements will take place on the plains under
a hot sun, in pathless jungles. Here the reserves
MU st be camped at a vast expense of life, the
ma gazines established, and here, too, every move-
ment will be impossible the moment the rainy sea-
son commences. The consideration of these facts
would doubtless lead to a postponing of active
meatiures until the commencement of the cold
season. Meanwhile the blockade at present main-
tain ed would perforce be given up, and the black-
guards now reduced to prey upon one another,
practically turned loose over India.
All these considerations were equally patent
twelve months ago.