New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-30
TIE 1EGH1N SLTE4TION.

The first accounts of the British reverse in
Af-hanistan do not appear to have been ex-
acgerated. General Burrows's column of
2.7OO men, including a detachment OF British
Infantry and two batteries has been literally
cut to pieces between Girshk and Candahar.
Shere Ais forces have either joined the
enemy or taken refuge in flight. The British
reserves IN Candabar, numbering barely 1000
men, have left the pOpulace to their own
capr1ces and retired to the Citadel, where
they are awaiting an attack from the victo-
rious Afghans under Ayoob. The capital is
a walled city, with dozen bastiOns
and half as many gates, and although
difficult to storm cannot Withstand a long
siege inasmuch as it is commanded by the
neighboring hills and has scanty supply of
water The only road by which reinforce
ments can be dispatched to the garrison is the
caravan route through the Peshin Valley to
Onettah and Beloochistan. AS the reserves in
that quarter are ordered to concentrate in the
Bolan Pass, sterile defile ninety miles in
length, lying southeast of Quettah, the gaTi-
son cannot be relieved without forced march
of two hundred miles, and this can
not be made until reinforcements are
line of communications. Meanwhile, the
success of Ayoob will enkindle revolt among
the tribes which have supported the invaders
The populace is not likely to prove more loyal
than the fanatical soldiers who deserted the
British when the enemy came in sight
Ghuznee in the north may become another
centre of revolt and disaffection may spread
far and wide, until all Afghanistan south and
west of Cabul is IN arms. The fact cannot be
disguised that the situation of the British is
critical.
The Gladstone Ministry might lose
prestige from this reverse If the OPP
position were not entirely responsible for
dragging the country into this unjusti
fable war. The separation of Candahar from
Afghanistan and the recognition of Shere
Ali's sovereignty wero among the closing
pubic acts of the Beaconsfeld administration.
The succession at Cabul might have been de-
termined long ago if the Government had not
been embarrassed by the pledges made by its
predecessors to Shere Ali. The catastrophe
is to be directly traced 10 this artificial ar
raugement by which chief who could not
stand alone was placed upon lettering
throne. The Gladstone Ministry has been
compelled to follow the lines marked out for
it, and is secure against wanton attacks from
the Opposition benches. Whatever errors Of
Judgment may have been committed in send
ing General BurrOws's column to confront the
enemy with so small force and in leaving
at Candahar so slender garrison. it is not
the Government of the day that is RESPONSE
bic for the criminal folly of war for which
there was absolutely no justification. and
which was prolonged from month to month
without any definite object.
The British invaded Afghanistan Ostensibly
because an embassy was not permitted to
enter the capital, and they are now anxious
to create an Amer with the distinct under
standing that he will never be obliged to have
any embassy of the kind in Cabul. Sixty
thousand men have been employed in ardu-
GUS campaigns. and from $75,o00.0O0 to