Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1880-12-11 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

TIIE GREAT MARCH OF GENERAL ROBERTS.  The Gasette contains various deepatches respecting the Afghan campaign. Among them is one from General Roberts, giving an account of his march from Cabot to Candahar, and of the operations at the latter place on the 31st August and Ist September, which resulted in the defeat of Ayoob Khan, General Roberta says: "The rapidity with which the march was acoemplished—taking into consideration the strength of the force, the variations of climate, and the difficult nature of the eountry •raversed—is the best testimony lean produce to the efficiency, discipline, and apirit ef the troops. Their conduct under ciroumstanms often of the most testing nature, cannot be expressed in terms too strong or too full. They all Deemed to be animated with but one desire, that, cost what it might in personal risk, fatigue, or discomfort, they would effect the speedy release of their beleaguered fellow roldiers in the city of Candahar. The unflagging energy and perseverance of the troops seemed to reach the full height when they knew they were about to put forth their irresistible strength against a hitherto successful enemy. Notwithstanding the provocation caused by the cruel murder of any stragglers (soldiers as well as followers) who fell into the hands of the Afghans following in the wake of our column, set one act infringing the rules of civilised warfare was corn. mitted by our troops. The persons and property of the natives were respected, and full compeneation for supplies was everywhere given. In short, the inhabitants of the districts we passed through could not have been treated with greater consideration, nor with a lighter hand; and the conduct of the troops will ever remain as memorablemthe results which they achieved; Major-General Greaves, adjutant-general, in forwardng the despatch of General Roberts to the GovernorGeneral, says : 'The inmch from Cabul to Casulahar has been criticised as a west rash military operation, with no base in case of ill-fortune, want supplies, and , a hostile population along the whole route. It would beset of place to point to success in justification of undue rashness, but it is right to state here that after a full coneideration of all these circumotancia, Mom who knew best felt eatisfied that such troops, with such • commander, could cope sumetiefully with any ob. stacks which might present themselves, and the remilts have fully borne out this tooling. In alluding to the troops, Sir Frederick Haines would invite the attention of Government to Sir Frederick Roberts' report regarding their dissipike and behaviour on the line of 'march ; neither fatigee, privations, nor the murder of their straggling conlimdes shook their discipline or moree, nor induced reprisals. The report tointhes lightly on this superb march frova Cebu! to Candahar,• feat which will tale its-piece amongst the most brilliant records of military history. It wands out as a proof of the wonderful power of endurance possessed by our troops, both Bmbish and native, and of the admirable spirit which animates the men of all ranks and races of which our ! army is composed; whilst the mutual confidence whisk haw been engendered by sharing together so many ! dangers intim field and so manyhord eh ps on the march, must prom bond of union between the British and native soldiers which cannot fail to be a source of strength to the Government."