New-York tribune., 1897-08-04
THE TROUBLE IN CHITRAL.

The latest of Great Britain's little wars ls
probably devoid of more than local significance
and bids fair to be brought to satisfactory eha'
The most recent news Is that the beleaguered
garrison of Fort Chakdara has been relieved
and reinforced and has put its besiegers to rout.
A few more skrmishes viii put dlsarection at
n homeless discount Another fort or two Will
no established with some increase OF occupy
ing forces thus strengthening the British hold
unon the country. and that will be the end OF
tho incident. Any day may see IL followed by
another outbreak in another part Of the border
land Just as 1t was preceded Few weeks ago
by n bit of trouble in the Waziri region. and
the same process Of pacificatlon will have to DE
repeated: and so on. until all the semi-indepcn-
dent border States are reduced to complete sub
lection and are Convinced that their own inter-
ests will best be served by loyalty to the I'M
perial authority.
Chitral, the scene Of the present outbreak, mas
been in II disturbed condition FOR several years,
and has before this been the objective point OF
n British military expedition. The trouble began
in 1892, with the murder Of the Mehtar AmaT'
ul-Mulk His eldest son, MAN. seized the
throne, but was quickly expelled by younger
one, Afzul, and the latter was year later mui-
dered by his uncle. Sherc Afzul, whose son,
Amir-ul-Mulk. was then made Mehtar to be In
turn succeeded by the present Incumbent
Shuia In these domestic disturbances the
Brtish-Indlan Government did not interfere,
though it watched them with much interest.
But when. after the death Of Afzul the redoubt-
able Umra Khan, Of Jandol, brothcr-in-law OF
Amir-ul-Mulk. invaded Chitral to achieve Its
conquest. a British force was sent thther, III
1895. to drive him out and to preserve the status
quo. Umra was sent back to his own realm
with n sound thrashing, a permanent military
road was opened from Peshawar through Swat
to Chiral. garrison was established at the
latter place. and an annual subsidy was settled
upon the Mehtar. From that time to the pres
ent comparative quiet has reigned throughout
that region.
There Is probably not the slightest connec-
ton between these disturbances and the anti
British agitation which has for some time been
afoOt at Poonah, Bombay, Calcutta and else
where. The latter is the work Of professional
mischief-makcrs, moved either by fanaticlsm or
by hope Of gain and Is promoted by means OF
falsehoods skilfully devised to arouse the caste
prejudices Of the Hindoos and the religious pas
sions Of the Mosl.ms. The former are nothing
but manifestations Of the turbulence OF the wild
trbesmen Of the hills. who, dwelling in the
borderland between two empires are reluctant
to pay allegiance to either, and seek to prove
their independence by periodical pugnacity.
They are important, however. from the very
fact Of their place. Those border States are the
defence-lne of the Indian frontier. Chltral lies
on the southeastern slope Of the Hindoo Koosh,
and in order to keep the passes secure against
possible Russian invasion 1t must be kept under
British influence. 1t Is not suppOsable that
Russia has any hand in the present outbreak.
But the British Government will doubtless i'm
prove the opportunity it affords Of making the
ramparts of India more impregnabe against
any attack.