New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-06
that for some time previous to the threatened
attack on Lundi Kotal there had been move
mont OF unrest among the frontier tribes. AS

history testifes the territory has DeVer peeh q
pasture OF smiling peace. But heretofore OUT
break has been made for special reason by d
particular tribe, other tribes in adjacent Zohes
| remaining Quicsccnt Prior to the present OUT
break there were Lord Roberts comedies, signs
OF a combination among the tribes unknown III
his earlier long and close experience. OF course,
there was the occupation OF Chitral in breach OF
the solemn undertaking given to the Swatis on
behalf OF the Indian Government that II Brit
| Ish troops were permitted TO pass through their
| country they would, after doing necessary puni-
tive work at Chtral, peaceaby and finally retire
| But Lord Roberts would have none or that
First OF all 1t is the mullahs. fighting with the
| craft vigor and determination with which In the
Far Eas: as in tho West. prlestly establishments
resent incursions on their power and position
Next it is the Ameer. 1t is true that his High
| ness. appealed to by the insurEent Airld's io'
countenancc and help stcrnly repuised th''n
! telling .hem in modification of the EnShsh
phrase that they had made their bed and must
| lie on it, But Lord Roberts shrewdly points to
| the date of that rebuke. on July - the Mala-
| kand and Chukdara positions were attacked
] Less than fortnight later Shubkudhr was as
sailed. on August Is the Afridis and the Orak-
zais took the field, and on August ~ came 20
| blows with the British forces in the khyDer
4 a
word It was only when he found British
force, thirty thou sand strong. advancing on the
frontier that he deemed it expedient to disavow
| the Afridi delegates. His scholastic method OF
treating them rouses suspicion in the minds OF a
| man who has not spent fOrty-one years in INDIA
! for nothing "'The Amer" says Lord Roberts,
us absolute master of Afghanisan No one
| even of the frontier tribes dare LIT hand or
voice against his known wishes. If he had been
| altogether in earnes; about the Ehyber Pass
| affair he would not have lectuIed the Afrd
emissarcs He would have hanged them to the
| nearest tree
| II vas rumored that through the autumn
while the Ameer spoke fair to the Indian Gov
eminent there was in Cabu safe. sound and
even active, a Jirgah Council. composed or
Afridis PROFESSIONALLY the commander in
| chief OF the Afghan forces. Gholam Hydrr
Khan, is kinsman Of the Afrdi tribe.
! SO much for the past. AS for the future, Lord
| Roberts has no anxiety II only definite policy
be adopted. First OF all. he has said. Great
| Britain must have the right OF marching along
and holding the roads to Cabul. That can be
| done only with the cooperation Of the frontier
tribes above all the Afrds. He believes that
| the permanent obtaining OF such allegiance IS
70; difficult, far less impossible. He is convinced
| that the trlbeSmcn would STatclully dCCtpl al
! state Of things wherein to the Indictment of the
| muahs. fearful of their occupation being gone
or to the wiles of emissaries OF the Amer, they
Sht reply that they were bound by definite
! bargain to serve England-must obey their mas
! ters and none other. Pay them some little
subsidy" says Lord Roberts. 1T will be far
chea per in the end than military expeditions"
While putting his trust in the power OF money
| the veteran soldier is steadfastly inclined to
| keep his powder dry. He would back up the
sweet influence of monthly or quarterly wage
| with the manifest presence of determination on
| the part OF England to hold her own on the
frontier Of India. In the main ne is in favor of
Sir Robert loves contention. that for the series
of small posts over which the British flag has
hitherto waved on the Northwestern frontier
there should be substituted large military posi-
tons with garrisons in sufficient strength to take
the offensive in OF sudden emergency, and
In most imaginable to hold the fort till the
arrival of reinforcements. He is further I'M
favor conviction not now for the first time
expressed. of arrangements whereby the from
ter districts should be Withdrawn from the
charge OF the Lieutenant Governor and placed
under Chief Commissioner. In brief, Lord
Roberts desires to established In the North
west frontier that policy that has made the
once turbulent Beloochistan at least az quescent
as own Borough Road 'Sir Robert Sande-
nan" says he id all that was needed in
Beloochistan. Let us do the same from Dirbund.
on the right bank OF the Indus. to the northern