The Portland daily press., 1897-09-20
--1l.4 . "-A-..
The English Confident 1t Will Soon Be
Over.

OtC1s
News From simia Doesn't Warrant the
Hope-The Talk About Foreign Aid for
Tribsemen.
London, September 13.-British opinion
regarding the Indian rebellion is to the
effect that eventually British arms must
triumph. How long task this will be,
no one pretends to say definitely, and it
is also admitted that much bloodshed
must be endured, but in the end the
Afridis, even though they may be backed
by the Ameer of Afghan istan, must re-
tire and again live under the supremacy
of the lion and the unicorn.
The British people are very slow in
forming an opinion. In fact, they are
as slow to decide on a question like this
as they are quick to rise in defence of ma
tional honor. Many people think Lord
Salisbury's colonial policy puerile, but
investigation proves that this has been
simply another instance of that care and
thoughtfulness which have characterized
that statesman's actions. 1t was believed
send to the Liberals, in that it would en-
able them to put forth rallying cry,
which would draw many followers from
the circle about the Conservative stand
ard, but now the situation is entirely
different.
The general trend of thought seems to
be in the direction of the position OF the
Amer of Afghanistan. That he has been
ruff1ed by the turn which matters have
taken on the frontier is admitted, and
: this more than all other facts is what
. makes the outlook for England lack bril-
liancy. One thing too, we must admit,
and that is that the policy most recently
adopted has been pursued in direct deli.
apce to the counsels and warnings of
high and experienced officials in Eng
land as we'll as in India.
This departure from old school meth
DDS, even though in that cautious fashion
Of the Conservatives, is not inclined to be
received with favor, and is not in line
with the prudent, sane and practical
feeling of the Briton, which is as far re-
moved from aggressive Jingoism as is
light from darkness.
In regard to the purely military aspect
of the question, it is thought that II the
Ameer of Afghanistan enters actively on
the scene, England will have very for
midable task before her.
What is not whispered by our French
friends, but what is more than inslnua-
ted by some experienced and competent
authorities, Is that il the Amer is wax
ing aggressive, he must have received as
surance that he can, at least, reckon on
the sympathy of a great European power,
which he must have sounded. rms,
however, opens up vista of possibilities
: on which, in the absence OF precise de-
tails, there is no need to enlarge.
Looking at the matter calmly, and
from distance" said an eminent Ger
man to me the other day. Il cannot see
why the Ameer should be false to Eng
land at this moment. What could be his
subsidy from the Indian government?
At the same time I must tell you that
it has been known in Berlin for at least
two years that people were agitating to
bring about a rising OF the Mohamme-
dams in Afghanistan and India against
England. The immediate instigator of
this agitation was no less person than
The Sultan of Turkey.
'There is positive evidence to this effect
which was received in Berlin long since,
and | am quite sure that the British
government WAS also in possession OF sim
liar information. Abdul Hamid, angry
with the English for the support given
TO the Armenians, was determined to
show that he possessed power, as Caliph,
to do you harm. He worked at this
through Persia. We do not understand
your policy in Turkey, and we are quite
sure that your diplomatic influence at
Constantinople. is. quite lost. However,
that is your affair, not ours.
perhaps, | suggested, Russian in
fuence has been at work too with the
Ameer, and the financial support he has
had from Calcutta will have been
promised, with a good bonus, from st.
Petersburg"
No. was the reply; 81 do not think
that Kussia's position just now in Cen
trail Asia would enable her to do SO. If
she ever attacks you in India, or on the
Indian frontier, it will be to take the
country from you, but not to waste her
strength in useless effort. The danger,
hweyer, of the present situation, we, here
in Berlin, take to be the TACT that the
Mohamm edans are joining the others
against you, which was not the case in
previous troubles.
A very distinguished officer. who has
held high military commands in India
and Afghanistan, and who still occupies
an eminent official position, expressed the
opinion in conversation recently that, while
it is advisable to be prepared for emer-
gencies, there is nothing very alarming
in the recent news from India. During
the years he spent on the Indian FROM
tier he acquired an extensive knowledge
that the disturbances which have broken
out almost simultaneously at three dis
tinct points are really condolences, and
are not the result of concerted action.
The chief factors in these outbreaks are
undoubtedly the pestilent fanatic priests.
The attack on Toch1 column, which was
the starting point of the whole difficulty,
was comparatively trivial resistance on
the part of ignorant and turbulent hill
men to small and somewhat carelessly
handled force sent out to collect fine
News of the occurrence, travelling with
that rapidity which is characteristic of
the East became known at points were
ill feeling existed against the British and
melted by the Mullas or priests the
tribesmen thought it favorable oppor-
tunity for settling some of their own
scores when the enemy was engaged else
where.
The whole, trouble, however, has arisen
as he believes out of the forward" poll
cy recently adopted along the frontier.
To that policy the brilliant officer referred
to above, and some of the men best ac-
quainted with the country and the people
between India and Afghanistan, are
stongly opposed. Military posts, unacom-
naI,ied l,y civil administration have baen