Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-30
THE BRITISH DISASTER IN AFGHAN
ISFAN.

The destruction of the force OF General
Burrows near Candahar is a very serious
disaster to England. The crushing defeat
inflicted on a body of troops 300 strong,
by a mass of irregular horse, is OF itself
calculated to encourage all the many tur-
bulent and disaffected elements in the
province, and must almost necessarily
compel the complete and permanent con-
quest of the country. The Indian Gov
eminent cannot afford not to avenge this
reverse signally, and this time such steps
must be taken as will render any further
rising impossible. 1t is too late now to
regret the uLwarrantable and impolitic
interference with Afghan politics in the
beginning. Events have taken the bit in
their teeth, and have carried the invaders
far beyond the possibility of retreat, for it
is not alone the British prestige in Afghan
istan that is concerned, but it is the sta.
bility of the Indian Empire. However
strongly the Gladstone Government may
have opposed Lord Beaconsfeld's initial
movements in this matter, it has no choice
now but to follow up his policy with the
utmost vigor, and this must be done
ne matter what additional burdens
are thus fastened upon the Indian
treasury, if indeed it does not
become necessary for the home Govern
ment to assume the financial responsibility
of the new campaign. 1t is curious fact
that no experience seems to teach British
commanders the danger of leaving any
thing to chance in countries like Afghan
istan. The history of that province since
it was known to Europeans has been one
long record of intestine feuds and acts of
treachery and cruelty. The English ex-
perience of it has been punctuated with
disasters. And yet to-day We find Brit
ish General trusting to luck as usual, and
everybody profoundly astonished that he
has come to grief, as every one ought to
have expected he would 1t is perhaps
fortunate for the British that Russia has
lately sustained severe reverses in Central
Asia herself, for this fact removes any
serious danger from that source, at least for
the time. The Asiatic view of the invinci-
bility of the conquerors of India, however,
must have undergone revision recently,
and the new opinion is assuredly not con-
ducive to the maintenance of peaceful re-
lations with ambitious Oriental rulers in
the neighborhood. 1t would seem that a
little precaution would have avoided
this serious catastrophe, but since it
has been suffered there remains nothing
but energetic rehabilitation, and the adop-
ton meantime of such measures of pru-
dence as may prevent an extension of the
calamity. 1t is quite possible that the
success of Ayoob Khan may be the signal
for a general rising throughout the coun-
| try, in which case Cabul is sure to be at
tackled, and whatever garrisons are access
ible. The English occupation has always
labored under one serious drawback. 1t
has to be made with so small an army that
when this is divided for garrison purposes
the several detachments become too weak
FOR the safety of the whole. 1t is probable
that there have never been more than 5000
to 10000 thoroughly trustworthy troops
in Afghanstan, and these have generally
been divided into two or three columns,
with the result of weakening the columns
SO as to invite disaster.