The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-12-28

The Afghan War.

from the fact that our fellOw-c0untrymen
(amongst whom we may have relatives and con-
n%ectiOns) may soon be engaged in actual war
fare, BUT as il is the first war in which our In
dian Empire has been concerned since Her
Majesty assumed the title Of Empress OF India.
In all previous wars the old East India Company
was the paramount power. The natives OF Hin
dOstan, indeed, knew that behind il stood the
Queen OF England and the British nation 20 take
up the fight should the Company be worstcd,
but now that the soldiers OF England in India
are leading their Empress armies 10 battle, any
uutOward check or disaster at the commence
ment of the war would seriously affect our pres
tige in India under its new auspices. IL will.
therefore, not be out Of place it we briefly take
into consideration the means VIC have at our dis
pOsal TO inhict a severe cbastIsemcnt on Shere
Ali. the ruler Of Cabul, for the unwonted insult
offered to our embassy, headed by one OF lndia's
greatest generals, especially after the cordial
reception given to one from Russia, together
with the resistance our armies may expect 70
meet IN the invasion OF that country.
Afghanistan is separated from British India
by the Suiieman range Of mountains. This
range is pierced by two well-known passes-the
Khyber in the north and Bolan in the south.
There are several other passes and tracks which
cross the ranges, the principal OF which is from
kohat, south Of the Khyber, and from two large
towns on the river Indus, namely, Dera Ismail
Khan and Dera Gazee Khan. Lately several
oAueE passes nav becu discovered bY Olucerr en-
ployed in the typographical survey In the Bun
noos. Mewut, and Sungurh districts, all of which
could most unqucstiOnably be made use Of for
military purposes, at little cost, in case Of neces-
sity, but it is by the two principal passes already
named that the armies will advance.
In the war of 1889 the British army, under
Sir John Keane, encountered its greatest loss
whilst crossing the Desert of ScInde in it's ad.
vance to the Bolan. Men, horses, and cattle
died in numbers, from heat and want of water.
The distress Occasioned was .heart-rending.
Water had to be carried from Shikapoor to
Dadur, a distance of over 40 miles, for that at
Bagh was 20 bgackish that camels refused to
drink it, and three miles an hour was the ut
most that could be marched, through the SHIFT
ing sand but now, through the foresight of the
late General John Jacob, a military road from
Sukkur, on the indus, TO Dadur, at the mouth
of the Bolan, has been formed the important
town OF Jacobbad has sprung into existence,
with its bazaar capable of provisioning an army
corps OF 20 600 at a moments notice, and water,
which formerly was only found at a depth Of 100
feet, is now within II feet of the surface, by the
opening of the Scinde hollow, thus admitting the
waters Of the Indus into n desert district, and
causing it to become a perfect oasis. Recently
the town of Quettah, at the head Of the Bolan,
has been occupied and garrisoned by the British,
SO that all previous causes of delay and danger
preparatory to actual conflict with the Afgbans
no longer exist, for the Bolan and Quettah are
IN the territory OF the hudD OF hDeldL, a tflDu-
tory of the British.
The position of the British at the Khyber Pass
has also changed since the war in 1889, when we
first entered that Pass in the advance to Cabul.
The Sikhs were then masters Of their own
country, and the Lion of Lahore ruled the land.
Now the Punjaub is annexed, and Peshawur is a
strong cantonment, well sSpplied with munitions
of war for an immediate assumption of HOSTILE
ties. 1t is from this cantonment that We have
advanced, and, as is reported, have taken posses
sion of the Fort of Ali-Musiid, which Is about
eight miles within the Pass. The Fort itself is
built of stone, and has been the scene Of many a
bloody encounter but like most mountain
stroDgholds IL has no water within its walls, al
though a stream runs at its foot. From Ali
Musjid to Sal GhurTee, a distance OF twelve miles,
is the most difficult portion of the Pass, with,
perhaps, the exception of Sundi Khanab, where
the heights are terrific. When once these diff
cultIes are overcome, the Pass may be said TO be
in our possession, for the Chota Kbyber, be-
tween Lalpoora and Jellalabad, the scene Of
Sales heroic defence, is but of little account.
1t is stated that the tribes Of Afgbanistan
number between four and five million souls, but
so great is the Jealousy between the different
tribes. that the Amir who rules at Cabul has the
greatest difficulty Ia maintaining peace between
them. However, the present ruler, Shere Ali, is
computed to have az least 40 900 men under
arms or in his pay. OF late years the Afghans
have received very valuable presents OF arms and
guns from the British, in the hope, no doubt,
that these weapons would be used against the
Russians should they advance on Nerve, a dis
puted town on the frontiers but now, as the
var has commenced, and the tribes are summon
cd to fight, the very Enhelds lately given to
them will be used against our soldiers. There
is no more warlikc nation in Asia than these
wild Aighans. Their hatred TO the English is
i'll 'nse. The disasters they suffered at our
hands IN 1889, 1910, and l84l have never been
f,ryoffoz, 4, n f1rrivpu and phauld a. ia HkpIy 10
be the case, Russian volunteer officers direct their
operations, we shall have a most serious war on
our hands, and nothing but their want Of unity
and military discipline can prevent n long and
sanguinary conflict.
At no former period Of our military history
does cur army seem 10 be better prepared for
actual war. IL is true that the Old British sol
der has passed away, and the men enlisted Tor
the short period OF scrvIce-YIz., seven years
has taken his place. But, from all accounts,
the same national yalor prevails discipline is
as strict as ever, and the soldier has been taught
all the lessons Of useful warfare. The arms OF
precision are Of the very best description, and
VIC stall now look forward with pride and conf
depce to the operations Of the army.
The operations to be undertaken are 10 adj
vance by the Kbyber Pass 10 JelIaiabad. Gnd
from Quettah to Kandahar. II seems that when
once these two positions are reached, tie Amir
will be Offered terms Of peace. There can be no
desire on the part VI tbs G0vernor-Gcnera 10 ir-
fame the entire nation % a war of cct'. mined
resistance. thereby throwi Jug them into ihe arms
Of the Russians. Far from a.: but should
European complication enter the arena. ", may
have o. advance 10 Hcrlt, and maY lave even g.
place auIth ruler 90 the tAr0ne at tabul. We
know from our tllcgums that t1c complications
with tle Amir are due O. K4--m macbinatous
Or what business hF- Ens-ls iu Aighanistap.
ard what aIe tre ohIrcts al bee rm'ssuslcs there
a. could ha buf o. throw the srrI- oi discard Dr.
tween tW3 lIcntiy nauouf, hoping hereby ~
-1mr future period 3D. pave 3D. way e. tL9 banks
u trr tfLus Dr cIurae. tte ttlihtt a. N.
Pcts-rAuIg denies the impuAtin, boz ne Ir,14s
of Der iIuhlercahEG are Boz e. hap' e. 20.
uys4nor-f.enefa az india. kSr kp-sin9 w0fd
ui a.u.If -c.~ s~s,.isl b. sc1r1 10 Europe,
and England Uus. 20 prepared :" r"-! her
enemy - any moment consequently We shall
-. IL L.LL IL .-nL Tho lNA nuAs BY Tie grcnL