The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1879-12-23
THE WAR.

Although the English governmsp< T6tteays
boosted of its intention to intiict a severe and
summary punishment upon the Afghans con-
cerned in the recent massacre Of Major Cavag-
mari and suite, and though apparently General
Roberts was we'll supplied with nell and
means to carry the threat into execution 1t IS
daily becoming NOR, evident that the COM
bined forces of the various Afghan tribes, and
especially the hardy and warlike Inhabitants of
the foot hills of the Himalaya mountains, are
fully able to defend their country against the
invaders. 1t is plain from the tenor ct the
dispatches received within the last few days
that not only has the English army been I'M
successful in subjugating and Furnishing the
treacherous Asiatic foe, but that its position at
the present time is decidedly a perilous one,
The English army of occupation, instead OF
conducting an offensive war, and having the
country in a state of siege, is itself
besieged, and in imminent danger of a
crushing defeat, if rot humiliation. The
British soldiers are intrenching themselves
to withstand any probable attack from
the forces under Mohamed JAM. The city of
Cabul, which was intended to be used as a
base of supplies for the British forces, is now
in possession Of the Afghan army, and
although General Roberts claims that his
evacuation of the town was voluntary, it is
not improbable that his action was largely
Influenced by the destruction with which he
was threatened if he did not evacuate it. His
lines of communication have been sundeltd
and while claiming that he has on hand a
three months supply of provisions, and is in
perfectly safe and easy circumstances, it is
quite apparent from his persistent calls
for reinforcements, that he inwardly &C
knowledges the extreme peril of his situation.
The present force operating in the Afghan
territory numbers seven thousand effective
men from which it appears either that the
hostile natives of that country are vastly more
numerous than has been reported, and that
British rule is far more unpopular than the
English papers have admitted, or that the mil
itary INT strategic abilities of Gen. Roberts
have been ruinously overestimated, and that
instead of an able and trustworthy soldier, he
is an unreliable and incompetent fool. The
belief is well supported, however, that the
English General is an officer of military abil-
lty and experience, which renders it Interesting
to know on what basis the extent OF the pres
ent uprising may be accounted for, and what
may be the result. 1t is maintained by some,
who support their assertions with reasonable
argument, that the Russian Government is
| L oorot1r foaIirr tha a,n,o IF ipcy,rponttnn
and that the present revolt is but a part of the
plan to o%verturn the authority of the English
Government in Southern Asia. AS evidence
of the truth of this conjecture it was stated in
a telegraphic dispatch a few days ago that the
buried treasure belonging to the Afghan
leaders has lately been unearthed, and
was discovered to be Russian gold.
This is certainly strong circumstantial evil
dence, going to show that the Gar is the
alder and abettor of the Afghan revolutionary
forces, and if his sympathy with their cause
can be established, and if it can be proved
that he has extended moneyed assistance to
keep alive the fires of revolt he will be COM
PEELED to show his hand on the Eastern ques-
ton, and the peaceful relations now existing
between the Russian and English govern
ments may come to a sudden termination.
Thus it is that the unexpected strength lately
developed among the Afghan troops with
whom General Roberts is contending is likely
10 bring about serious results, not alone from
the immediate danger of his situation, but
because the opposition with which he is
meeting will give rise to investigations that
will finally determine to what outside infu-
ences the present outbreak may be reasona-
bly, attributed.