OUTBREAK OF WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 78, 10 April 1885, Page 2

OUTBREAK OF WAR.

Tins afternoon's dospatchoa announcing tho outbreak of war in Afghanistan ond tho uncertainty that has clouded affairs in tho East for tho past fow months. Without tho Agent-General's telegram informing the Government that the Russian attack is accepted as a declaration of war, wo know that war botweon the two Powers is now inevitable Russia has deliboratoly provoked it, and at tho vory momont whon M. Giors's professedly pacific despatch was boing convoyed to England another order was Hashing across tho stoppes anddo-orts of Contral Asia ordoring Gonoral KomaroiY to make an attack on tho Afghans. Russian diplomacy has boon true to its traditional reputation for dishonesty, by attempting to cover a proconcoivod determination to invade Afghanistan undor false professions of anxiety for pence- English stntcsmon, howovor, aro not prono to placo much rolianco upon Russian promises, and tho preparations which havo been pushod on, tho wholcsalo ordor for cartridges in Amoricn, aont more than a month ago, tho cloaring of tho Chicago markot of preserved moats, tho calling out of militia and rosorvos, and tho military demonstration in India, assure us that England will bo found well prepared, and not alarmed at tho prospect of tho oncountor. The soono of tho engagement is stated in ono tologram to have boon tho Khush river, and in another tho Murghnb. The apparent contradiction is reconciled by tho Fact that the two rivers join a littlo north of Panjdeh, and tho fighting occurred in the vicinity of that town. Tho Russian pretext for the attack, wo aro told, was a chnngo in tho position of the Afghan outpost.. This, of coureo, is a mere excuse; tho Russian commander admits that ho assumed tho offensive, and ho did so, boyond all question, under instructions from St. Petersburg, tho intrigues of Russian agonts among tho Afghans having failed in their endeavour to create native disturbance. The Khush rivor Howe from tho .direction of Herat, and a forward movement may bo mado against that fortress at onco. Tho Russian tactics will undoubtedly bo to mizo as many strong strategic position as possible before tho Indian army can roach tho front. Tho presence of Sir Peter Lumsdon and a number of ablo British ollicovs on tho spot i_, howovor, exceedingly fortunate, and under their direction tho Afghans, we may bo assured, will make a stout resistance and dispute every inch of tho way until rcinforcomonts can arrivo from lndia|| Of tho final issue of tho strugglo it is not in the nature of Englishmen to harbour any misgivings, but, oven if wo take tho stock markot as tho verdict of tho financial world, our prospects of succoss aro rockonod as moro than six to one by tho mon who furnish that chiof sinow of war-monoy. Russian stocks havo fallon 10 por cont. ; English, l.i. Tho magnitude of the contest must not bo undor-ratod—Russia is a military nation, and ia capablo of a prolongod nnd powerful strugglo; othor great Powers may also bo drawn into tho light; novortholcss wo have a profound faith in tho rosourcos of tho British Empire, and tho ability of British arms to assert and protect the integrity of British honour nnd dominion against any nntion of tho world.