THE INDO-EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH AT FAULT.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2501, 26 July 1865, Page 6

THE INDO-EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH AT FAULT.

(FROM THE " CEYLON TIMES.") This rapid extension of telegraphic couimuuication between Europe and the East, accompanied as it is by the blunders of foroigu or oareles* signallers, and the seasational inventions of news purveyors, will necesutate a fresh department in every newspaper office, where anything approaching accuiacy is desired. So varying aud oftentimes conflicting aie the brief messages flashed from Constantinople to Bombay, and thence to other parts of India, that wo need tho services of a telegraphic editor, whose duty it may be to weed out, to correct or to explain what would be otherwise ambiguous or deceptive. We will say nothiug of the vagaries of Dhollera, or the coquetting of fair Egyptians or Surats, but in the graver or at any rate tho more generally interesting matter of political news, wo feel how desiiablo and yet how difficult it is to deal satisfactory with the many items that ate now pouring in fiom day to day. One message recently leceived said, " Lincoln's assassin was shot while resisting his captuie," evidently referring to tho time of tho deed in the Washington theatie; had it meant that he had siuce been shot, tho word " was" would not or should not havo been used. But we have another telegram to this effect: — "Liucoln'a assassiu captuied at Queenstown." How can wo reconcile these unless we suppose either that he was shot at Qucenstowu while resisting his capture, or that a second assassin was taken in Ireland, or that there is a blunder in tho telegram ? Again one message says on May 3rd, at 4.30, "Johtutone has not jet surrendered," whilst a second telegram of the same day, at 5.30, says, " Genual Johnstone surrendered, " showing how much may happen in one short hour ! But there is another message which carries on its face tho mark of pure fabrication from the physical impossibility which distinguishes it. This telegram is dated London, May 3rd, and says, " The new President hns expressed his gratification at the friendly sentiments shown by England." This evidently refers to the indignation meetings held at tho receipt of the news of Lincoln* assassination which are mentioned in a previous pait of the telegram. We will say nothing about the composition of this message in which the seutiments are said to have been shown, but will be content to show that it was purely an impossibility, for on the 3rd of May, seven days after the receipt of the startling news in England, President Johnston could not havo heard of the indignation meetings, much less could his gratification at the tame have been again known in England. Further, we find the new President Johnson reported to have delivered a speech without explaining his policy, whereas further on it is said that he has indicated punishment to the leaders of the rebellion, and leniency towards the masses. It is quite certain, therefore, that we shall have to teat every message which reaches India, not only as to ils probability, but with reference to its possibility.