The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-15
THE ROMANCE OF HIsroRK.
Veteran OF the Indian Army on the Afghan
War-shere AIrs Policy.

Forty years and forty days ngO MajOr A.
q. Constable. now Of tho firm Of Harper Broth
crs. was an officer in the English army drawn
up on tho plains Of Fcrozcporc 10 receive tho
famous RunIoet Singh. tho Maharajah or King
OF Lahore. Tho Object In view was TO
form an alliance with tho septuagona-
rinn and TO arrange for tho invasion
OF Afghanistan. there to dispossess Dost Mo-
BANNED Khan the reigning Amecr ut Cabuland
TO restore to his throne Shah Sooinh. who.
nearly thirty years before. had boon driven from
1t by his own brother. Major Constable's paper.
read before the Historical Society last night.
opened with description Of tho old Sikh Prince
and his gorgoously attrod army. On the
sword arm tho Maharajah wore. in a splen-
did setting. tho wonderful Koh-i-noor. now
among tho crown jewels OF Great Britain.
Thon followed the story OF the great
Dost's rise to power from the position Of
sweeper Mt sacred tomb. Ho obtained the
favor 81 his brother. the Nialer. by computing
n murder IN the open street when only Ia years
old. His brother was soon afterward assas-
sinated, but post's, vengeance was sudden and
whole Of Afghanistan.. with the exception OF
Herat. the gateway OF India Change after
tween Persia, India. England. and Russia,
until. in 1926 Persia was delivered bound hand
and foot, TO- the court OF 81 Petersburg.
the whole Of England. In time Persia laid
siege to Hcrat, movement encouraged by
agent visited Dost Mohammcd to convince him
that 1t would be best for him to sever his con-
nectlon with Russia; While in the deicnces he
bay for n British force 10 avenRo his in
suited dignity. and on. it's appearance tho
The subsequent fall Of Ghuzneo dishoart-
ened tho Afghan chiofs. who deserted
Dost Mohammcd's standard. and forked TO offer
submission to the British. This led TO tho
great rulers surrender as n prisoner OF State.
llo was sent to Calcutta. whore he lived for two
years gaining the respect and good will Of all
who cnme in contact with him. Al tho expira-
ton Of this period tho eNigcnces OF the State
compelled tho British Government to send him
The English invaded Afghanisian In the
spring Of 1892 and made n grand triumphant
entry into CHml ~ August; In juno. two
months before Shah Soolhh entered his capital
under British escort. old liunIoct Singh died.
and nine }oars later tho country over which he
hud fuled became part OF the british domin-
ions. His descendant. MuhHraiah phulcep in
the enjoyment of % pension Ot s2jO.uu a year,
lives the cusy life ol IN English country geutlc-
man. keeps his puck of hounds. wears the
orthodox scarlet and top boots. und D. entitled TO
AL the privileges and iminuuitcS enjoyed 10y
royal prrsOnugns shah SuOlah was murdered
soon uitcr the English wore driven from Cahul.
and De, MohHmmed Khan was restored 10 his
throne in the same year. 1872. lie relgurd
poaceahly until his death IN 1868. Tho virtual
CAttrm nation ut tho British force in tuhul WAS
q stunning blow 10 the English In India. but
tlrvhEh me couluGe, lnttculdity, ANA DECISION
OF the officers OF the Indian army they soon
recovered from it, cIe'ts
Tao first and last OF the invaders ~ Afghan
istHn were Pcrsiun-. aud both these waves Of
conquest PASSED through the Afghan detirs
ami across the river Indus. BY the permanent
occupation uf tho interior OF these passes the
English viii settle the strategical frontier OF
British India. Shero Ali. 10 whom his father,
lost Mohamcd. had left his throne. always had
1t ~ grievance against the English Govern
mcnt that 1t did not support his claims
at tho time 3i his fathers death s that
ccSsivcly held the capital Of Cubul
they were recognized ~ de- iacto rulcrs; and
that in 1870 the rebellion Of lacOOb Khan. his
elder son. was countcnnnccd by tho English
and ut last Shcre All began seriously 10 enter
tain the hope OF making Russia his friend in
place 81 England. He has all along had a dread
oi sinking his Sovereignty and accepting the
government really Tearing that Aghanis-
IAN would be- absorbed INTO the Indian
Enpire; ana go H. c9 GIe t. pass that when
tain English aid only at the expense OF his in
dependence. lie couttrously received the kus-
sian enynj al his capital. while refusing to per-
nit the Eng .ohman 60 enter his domiuions.
2Jl 900 Oud pcpplr and il is her b1undrn duty
Ia sees that they do not suffer hy any wave OF
conquest similar 10 those that afflicted Hlndos-
tan Tor So many hundred years. Persia has
siu. Tho Shnh-in. SAnh is merely the hcuch-
man of the ku-sian Car. 4 large force Of
l,ussiaus T. now within few weeks march OF
iae northern passes into Alghanistan.
During last year. when tnrrc was
every appearance Of an armed collision
lotNecn England aud Russia. there is no posi-
Die doubt that the latter country had taken
measures 90 avail herself OF tho position she
h.I gained on the frontiers ~ the British cm-
rir' iu tn East II L. asserted hy Sir Henry
IuWNuS1n, tho most competent authority ia
luAltud. That Gen. knu1muu. the Russian
Go,rruurG neral i'm Central Asia had m1do
every prrnrrltiun a. muN"upou Atgunnl-tOn.
Inrr" corps were pref AIRED L. move, ou' bent
upon reaching Nerve. The SUI .ess or failure
of tha uiirmpt must greatly, " NOT wholly. de-
pend uipu tnr Persian Government nnd lis re-
equity Au'ncl allies who can readily furnish u
force ot jpulu mon, which. under Russian Of
Il 'rrs. would bee the most formidable light cav
airy in the world. The Russian Journals Of re-
cent data make no secret u kaufman's intcn-
ton a. occupy tho oasis of Mcrve II he can reach
II. once at Nerve. the Russians are within ten
eAsy marches OF Hcrat.
Whether the Russian policy il really antago-
nisttc io the English rulo or not, It is said Major
Constable, impossible for tho Indian Govern
mont to smut us eyes TO the possibilities OF "A
Russian. Persian. Tureoman. aud Usbeg force
mar hing ON llcrat. W. all know the steps that
England has taken to prevent the cousummn-
ton Of any such plan. II plan there be- We
know tho English forces have entered Al
and the Khibcr passes that they arc
settled in winter quarters at Jclelabad
Ghu2Hee and CHndRhur. We hear that Shcre
All has lcit the defence OF his capital 10 his
warrior, but long captive, son, AacOoh. one re-
port locates tho Amcer himself at licrat. with a
strong force under his command; another says
that ho nus He'd to seek AID from the White
Car in st. Petersburg; and another that he
VIII there ask Tor q congress- 10 decide the dis
pute between himself and the British. In con-
cluSton tho MAJOR expressed his opinion that in
spite Of Cars and Congresses the English have