The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-03
The British Defeat on the Indian
Frontier.

The announcement made a few days ago
In the official kilograms from India that
the pacilcation of the Mohmunds north. of
the khyber Pass had been effected, and
that they had submitted to the British
terms, appears to have been premature.
So far from submitting, they refused to
hand over their breech. loading rifles which
they recently acquired, and with the value
of which they have become acquainted, and
have repulsed with vigor the renewed at
tacks of the British forces. IT. is quite EVIL.
den from the latest reports that the situa-
tion on the Indian frontier Is becoming criti-
cal for the Indian Government, for unless
the subsection OF the Mohmun's, Afridis,
and Waziris is speedily effected, the disaf.
lection among the populations behind the
army along the frontier may at any mo-
ment become actively dangerous.
The attack on a British cavalry patrol
close to Peshawur by Afridis that had
penetrated within the Gordon Of outposts
shows that the tribes nave some enterpris-
ing leaders among them, but 1t at the same
time imposes on the British military au-
thorities the necessity of bringing the
rising to a termination as soon US possible
for political as well as military reasons.
The climatic and natural difficulties of the
situation are, however, of such q nature that
they cannot be easily overcome. The assem-
bling of the transport animals with the fod-
der necessary for their subsistence Is being
carried on with the greatest trouble. The
supply OF locomotives on the lines leading
to Peshawur Is insufficient, and the result
Lna Inan that larra nnupharo ~ apt.onJo
loaded on cars have died at the stations for
want of food and water while awaiting en-
gines to move the rains. Long train loads
Of camels and ponies are described as re-
naming for days cooped up In cars suffer
ing the most horrible torture. The impress.
sion conveyed on reading the details Is that
the mobilization arrangements are not as
perfect as they might be, and that the diff.
Guilty Of maintaining an army on the from
tier Of any size has been greatly augmented
by the causes that produced the plague
and the famine
The proof of the inadequacy of the Brit.
ish forces to suppress the rising Of the
tribes is that they have not yet been
able to advance any distance into the
hills; the operations so far have not
gone beyond the immediate frontier, and
have only resulted in the blowing up OF
numerous lookout towers. which though
effective enough against small arms fire
are useless against artillery, and in the
burning of the villages along the line OF
operations. No attempt has yet been made
to penetrate the Khyber Pass of gloomy
memory, where q British army, with its
camp followers, left their bones to bleach
in the SHOWS of winter and the scorching
sun of the Afghan summer, and none can
DO made until the territory OH both
sides of it is cleared of the enemy
and IA strong force is established
somewhere commanding its opening
at the Afghan end, If we may judge
by the present condition of the operations
that appears to be unlikely for some time
The refusal of the Ameer to allow Arid
agents TO come into his territory to in
luce his officers and soldiers to go ovel
and join them in their fight against thu
British is quite natural and easily ex
planned. He cannot under the circum
stances permit of the di~sorganization o
his W army, which he is modifying TO
! ~Sventualities. and he has to avoid ever.