Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings about Afghanistan [‎34r] (68/312)

action of the Ameer. One of the St. Petersburg papers tells
us that "an alliance between Afghanistan and Russia is indis
pensable to S here A li , who desires to feel secure as regards;
Russia in his war with England. Such an alliance by-
no means compromises the relations between Russia and
England.^ Great Britain found it possible morally to support
Turkey in her recent war against Russia;" and the suggestion
is that Russia will find it morally possible to support Afghanistan
in her impending war with England: as nobody can doubt.
Indeed, it is avowed that " it would be an unnatural and thoroughly
senseless piece of disinterestedness not to take advantage
of such an occasion for the purpose of giving Eastern affairs^
turn, and paralyzing the anti-Russian clauses introduced into the
Berlin Treaty by Count A ndrassy and Lord B eaconsfield."
Another Russian paper says that " the situation in India
removes every probability of Great Britain's interference with
the results of the Berlin Conference "—meaning, whatever results
may yet follow; and, considering the constitution of the British
Cabinet, and the position it has maundered into, we are afraid
there is much truth in the remark. And it is to be observed
that precisely at this moment England is fast losing whatever
influence she had at the Porte, while Russia is rapidly regain
ing a powerful position there. This may be regarded as certain ;|
and it is precisely what might have been anticipated. If our
Afghan troubles are to be passed over as too unimportant to
demand consideration in^Cabinet Council, the state of affairs in
Constantinople will soon bring Ministers together, unless they
have formed a resol ution to let everything " slide " in a dignified
way.
2riu£?
THE OVERLAND MAIL.
r T he Bo mhay mail has brought news to the 6th of September, but it is of
Jittle interest compared with that recently received by telegraph. The follow-
mg items are from the Bombay Gazette :—
a th f . Slttl "g of the Legislative Council at Simla on Septembers, Sir Alexander
Arbuthnot introduced the Vernacular Press Amendment Bill, the object of which is to
repeai that portion of the Act which enables publishers of vernacular newspapers to
withdraw themselves from its restrictive provisions by submitting their proofs to a
Government official. The bill will be taken into consideration on the 26th of September,
when Sir A. Arbuthnot will review the discussions which have taken place in India and
England on the Act.
A portion of the Indian troops have already returned to Bombay from Cyprus It
is proposed that when the 9th Bombay Native Infantry arrive, a public welcome shall
be given to them.
Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Mahomed Sherif Khan, the brother of the Ameer of Cabul, who has for some
years been a sort of State prisoner at Mussoorie, is about to start on a pilgrimage to
Mecca. It is thought that the prospect of disturbances in Cabul may have something to
do with his desire to get out of British India.
The murderer of Mr. Cooper, late political agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bhamo, was taken down to
Kangoon last week, and stood his trial in the court of the recorder, when he was
sentenced and hanged.
A considerable portion of the Indus Valley State Railway will probably have to be
reconstructed, on account of the great damage caused by recent floods.
The Madras Mail gives circulation to a rumour that the Duke of Buckingham is to
succeed Sir George Bowen as Governor of Victoria.
Post cards are to be introduced into India on the 1st of April next.
OCCASIONAL NOTES.
The Kuram valley, by which it is proposed to throw troops into
Afghanistan, is probably the best of all the routes from the Punjaub,
both on account of the easiness of the road and the abundance of water,,
fuel grazing, and supplies procurable in it. The inhabitants, being all
bhiah Mohammedans, bear no good will to their Afghan masters. In
fact, Sir Herbert Edwardes was distinctly assured by them that whenever
the British wished to take their country they were ready to help them. The
occupation by the Indian Government of the Kuram and Khost Valleys
has been suggested more than once, on account of the admirable posi
tion which it would afford. From the first Cabul is distant but nine
marches; and the two passes to the north, Pewar and Shutargardan,
leading across the Safed Koh range into the Cabul basin, are per
fectly commanded by any one occupying the valley in force. The
route by which the main body of the troops will advance on Candahar
will apparently be the Bolan. But there is another route by which a
large force could be more easily and rapidly despatched against Can-
dahar-namely, the Shangar. In 1653 Dara-Shukoh, son of the Emperor
bhah-i-Jahan, left Multan with an army of 104,000 men and a large
equipment of stores and cannon, and advanced to Candahar by this
route, which goes by Chotiali, Dogh, and Tal. Major Raverty describes
the pass as broad and large, practicable for man and beast and also for
hght artillery; and he is of opinion that very little engineering would make
it practicable for moderately heavy guns. The distance from Multan to
Candahar by this route is 300 miles, whereas by the Bolan it is 350
miles from Candahar to Jacobabad only, which is much nearer the
frontier than Multan.