Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-04-06
THE BRITISH m INDIA

The tone of The English journals generally,
in reference 10 their Indian affairs, is unusual.
ly responding They see that in the Sikbs
Great Britain has to contend with very dif-
ferent enemy from the weak and eowardly
Bengalees, over whom she has triumphed so
long. The possessors of the Puniaub are
race of mountaineers who have been hold in
war ever since the time OF Alexander the Great,
and who now, finding themselves called on
to fight for their homes, for liberty, for all
they hold dear, are determined to die in the
last Jungle rather than submit England sees
before her, therefore, long and cruel war, in
which the blood of thousands of her children
will have TO be expended: warm which victo-
ry would bring little honor, and defeat assur-
eddy produce disgrace Some of the British
journals, as we'll as some of the British states
men, are canvassing the propriety OF aban-
donlng the Sikh territory, and assuming de.
fensive line on the acknowledged frontier of
the East India Company's possessions. But
Sir Charles Napier, the new general, opposes
this. He says:
off we abandon the punjaub and return TO the
LETT bank of the Sutle must there make our
stand to defend frontier of some 600 miles, from
Sclnde 10 Simla, divided from the hostile and pow
eriui Sikh nation by river everywhere fordable
to these enemies though not to our regular armies.
Let military men say what army could defend so
exposed and extended a frontier against such adj
Versares-all plunderers, all ripe for inroads, and
not only ready for border war. but border war
against the British alone; our border population
Consisting of Sinks also) being quite as hostile
to us as are the Sinks on the PunjaHb side of The
Sutle with whom they are as one people. To
| suppose that our army could do this is nonsense.
1t would become a perpetual guerilla war. An
army of 10000 men could not do it, Even II
such an army could do il, that army would be-
come an unsupporable drain upon the finances
of the East India Company, and would 10 few
years be obliged to retire from the Sullej to the
Nerbudda and the Ganges. Gould we halt there9
This question will not pretend to answer: but
will say that to occupy Delhi with advancing
standards was thing to bold Delhi with re-
firing standards would he another.
! "A retreat upon Delhi would be the first march
towards Calcutta, and the power ofNepaul would
come down like a mountain torrent upon the
| flank of our retiring columns, while the Bombay
and Madras troops, which occupied the line ofthe
Nerbudda would have the Nizam of Hyderahad
in the Ocean, with his l2,O0OOOO of subjects. be-
tween that river and the capitals of the two presi-
denotes. without counting the numerous other en-
emies all round them. To abandon the line of the
Sutlej would be disgraceful defeat in the eyes
of all Asia, and defeat, as all the world knows, is
fraught with more danger in India than in Europe
The Anglo Indian army has not notion to fall
back upon (as European armies have) for support
in case of defeat We have on the sea, and the
groans Of the Rrifons' would again be heard?"
Ii Is evident, therefore, that the war will be
an offensive one on the part of Great Britain
We believe that The British will be success
ful-at least after the arrival of Sir Charles
in India; and that, by the force OF overpower-
ing numbers, they will drive the Sikhs back
rom all the lower country, and hem them up
in the mountain Businesses that enclose the
head-waters of the Indus But here the re-
treat of these brave tribes will stop In these
impenetrable holds they will remain, in spite
of every attempt of the English to dIsodge
them. What Circassia is to Russia, the Pun
aub will be 10 Britain.
Philadelphia Bulletin.