The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-12

question, let the denials be as strenuous
as they may. And the Sikh soldier is
murmuring
The second tower of strength. as the
British viewed it, had become like unto
the leaning tower of Pisa. 1t sways
and Vibrates constantly. The Raiapoot
likes British dominion Just so long as
his caste prejudices are not offended
and just SO long as he is permitted to
pursue existence according to his own
methods. Within the last ten wears.
the British officials in India, ALWAYS
autocratic, have seemed to more and
more regard the natives as being abso-
lutte slaves. Even the chiefs have been
treated with far less consideration than
formerly, and as natural result, the
long suffering Rajapoot has been STIR
red to wrath.
Every one knows that the person H s.
long suffering is the most to be dread
ed when he finally revolts. So it is
with the Rajapoot. He has revolted.
AS yet no offensive action has been
taken by him, but the disaffection is
here. it is all through Rajapoot, it is
active in the Punjab. From the indie
pendent province of Cashmere. from
Nepal, from Bhotan, which are also in
dependent states, there comes q. cry of
sympathy with the natives of the prov
1nces included in the queens domin-
ions. With revolt within and sympathy
without, with, as every one here be-
lieves, the Amer of Afghanistan Civ
ing whispered and even more substan-
tlal encouragement to the rebels is
1t wonder that the Briton in India
draws his family closer to him, that
the women turn pale, and that the lit
tie children, even, SILVER in sympathy
with their parents alarm?
q OIL of no 80
with which few people are familiar,
VIII show beyond peradventure how
helpless even the trained British forces
would be against a general srising in
India. The average of population in
India is 22S persons to the square mile
The total number of inhabitants of the
native states under the government
of the Viceroy of India, is So, 1912. and
of these less than one-quarter of 1
per cent are British or even white peo-
pie. TliS mass of humanity is located
on 500, 730 square miles over which the
British forces are scattered in the most
desultory fashion
The greatest source of danger which
the British have to fear lies in the ND
rising of the Afridis. There are no,
tl1besmen in all India who fight better,
and few who fight so well. Not only
that, but they are shrewd. intelligent.
cunning. The British have done one
thing for the Indian native. They have
taught him how to fight with system,
and the result is that today, should
this rebellion, as it is feared. become
general, the English soldiers would
have to fight an enemy educated ac-
cording to their own tactics. The very
rifles that the Afridis are using today
bear the British trademark
Three Beloochistan chiefs are very
active, though secretly, toward pro-
noting this disaffection. They are the
Sirdars Mehratdawhan, Ghomesbakhis
and Yarmahomed. For a long time
they have been disaffected, and the
movement which, under the Mad Null
lah, has gained such startling force.
bids fair to receive great strength
from their assistance. / mention these
chiefs because, coming from Belooch-
istan, where there was little danger of
revolt to be feared, their attitude is
tremendous confirmation of the asser-
ton that we hear quietly made on all
sides, that in believing any province
of India diSaffected. Britain is reckon.
ing without it's host.
AS | stated, there are in the field to-
Gay at least 10000 Afridis, well armed,
well provisioned, and capable of exc
cutting very rapid movements in por-
tons of the country where the British
are almost helpless. Opposed to these
men are $4,000 British soldiers, not one
of whom is to be more feared than an
Afridi. This statement may seem trea-
sonable to English eyes, but we are
dealing with facts now. Should these
same Afridis capture the Khyber pass,
as it is firmly believed they intend to
d. they will hold in their hands the
key to the northwestern frontier OF
India
The Khyber pass is an opening between
huge cliffs that run upwards hundreds Of
10 mt CIR n
by large force, the pass could only be cap
tured with immense loss OF life 1t is pro-
affair overlooking the road, four miles up the
pass from Jamrud, and Fort Ali-Muskid. This
latter is five and a half miles further up
the pass than Fort Maude and the opening at
this point is but forty feet wide, a very small
base of operations. The garrisons of both
are composed of native leyies, many OF whom
desert to an attacking force only experience
will show.
The pass commands the entrance from
Afghanistan into India, and it, as seems to
be very probable the Ameer is really aiding
the rebels, what a tremendous assistance 1t
would be to them should they capture Khyber
pass to have all Afghanistan at their beck
and call ready to give aid of any sort at any
time. Is it wonder that British power
seems trembling in the balance? For many
years past, and especially after the arrange
ments entered into, with the ameer of Afghan
istan by Sir Mortimer Durand, the ameer has
been looked upon as a staunch friend of Great
tenance to the tribal risings on the frontier
will come as great surprise to those who
believed that the ameer proof against
any inducements to embark upon an anti
British policy. ~;
In justice to the anieer, however, it must
be recollected that powerful though he may
be, he has little command over the wild
tribes, such as the fierce and fanatical Affidls.
who nhabiI tracts of country far remote FROM
his capital. Should, however, the news that
the ameer has suddenly altered his friendly
policy into one of hostility prove correct, and
indeed the withdrawal of his agents from tine
chief Indian cities is an ominous sign. very
strenuous efforts will become Immediately
necessary on the part of the authorities. 10
be sure they concentrated at Rawal Plndl I've
brigades Of troops numbering perhaps 'Uo
men, but what do these amount to IN the
face Of two score thousand or more OF na-
tves? -
The very air is rife with the spirit o: re-
bellion. The natives openly sheer at ne
red coat tho badge of British supremacT
Well do the British officers realize what
is coming for every day many families ar
rive in the great cities Of India from the IT,
terror. who have made the journey in order 20
be safe from the danger which threatens
the husband and father. / have no desire
to be sensational and have simply Written
what every wel-posted Englshman in India
knows Thousands OF lives must be sacri-
a r-ain reign III india