St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-07-16
The Afghan War.

India through some new difficulty,
usually attracts her share of attention
from those interested in all parts of this
little globe of ours. Sometimes it is a
border war, sometimes famine, again
it is the cholera, then the scourge of
fever and now it is the Afghan war.
The British Government in India being
suspicious of Russia feared that the
Ameer (King) of Cabul was becoming
too friendly with that rival power, aud
hence demanded that the Ameer place
himself and his Government under Brit
ish protection. The Ameer knowing
that this meant nothing less than yield
ing his independence, and becoming
like other native states in India,-a
mere dependency-decided not to ac-
cept the prOffered aid and interference.
Perhaps he expected aid from Russia,
or he thought that the English would
not force him to submission, and that
the shortest way to settle the matter
would be to send very decided refu-
sal. The Indian Government, bewever,
always tremblingly jealous of Russia,
thought that their interest demanded
that Afghanistan should be under their
protection, so as to keep Russia as far
from India as possible. Hence an army
was sent to Afghanistan at great ex-
pense of making roads and conveying
and supporting troops in that empty,
rocky land. The Ameer was in no way
prepared for war, and his troops fled,
showing very little fight at any place.
The Ameer also ran away, and Yakub
Khan, his son, a man of no force of
character, was treated with and placed
on the throne. He pledged himself to
do all that should be required of him,
to admit and protect an English Resi-
dent at his capitalIat Cabul, and to ever
stand by the English Government. All
thus far was successful. A bloodless war
had been well fought. Many officers
had been commended and promoted,
though the severe climate, and disease
had destroyed many troops, host of
transport animals and an immense sum
of money.
The new Ameer returned from the
camp of peace to his capitol, and the
resident with his escort soon followed,
and the new government under its new
protection was soon established, and
most of the troops were Withdrawn. AS
soon, however, as all was quiet the
Ameer's soldiers mutinied and murder
ed the resident and all his attendants
who were present at the time. 1t
was one of those cold blooded murders
for which Mohammodans have been
noted ever since the time when their
prophet sent out men to make a show
of friendship with his enemies, and then
when all should be off their guard to
slay them.
After this the army again moved into
Afghanistan, and was soon in Cabul,
the capital. This time they found
fighting to do, yet moved steadily for
ward. Yakub Khan came out to meet
the English army, escorted by only
few hundred loyal men, and professed
great sorrow for what had happened,
saying that he had been loyal to the
English, and done all he could to pre-
vent the outbreak. All the circum
stances, however, were very suspicious.
He could protect himself, but could
send no one to aid the resident, his SOL
diers and country were mutinOus
against him, and he sought protection
with the English army, yet be passed
out of his mutinous capital with small
escort, without being attacked or re-
strained. He evidently expected to be
forgiven and trusted again, but he was
sent to India, where he is cared for at
Government expense.
All the principal places of the prov
iuces are now in the hands of the Eng
lish, and yet the people have not sub
mitted only so far as they are under the
English bayonet. Hence daily almost,
the telegraph brings us news of raids
and murders whenever an outpost is
found weak or an escort is small. The
country is conquered, but the people
are not. The question now is how to
get out of the difficulty, for the army
melts away, and no real end has as yet
been gained. The chiefs who are lead
ers in the opposition, were called to-
oetber and some came, but the confer
ence resulted in nothing. The case is
like that of the Irishman who very
skillfully caught wild bull by the
horns, but after few minutes OF ex-
perience called for advice and help In
letting the creature go again. SO Id
Government and social circles the hrst
question asked in these days is "How
are we to get out of this Afghan affair,
which is using up. our revenue and DO