WAR IN INDIA.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 383, 7 July 1849, Page 74

WAR IN INDIA.

The colonial papers are filled with the details of one of the most bloody engagements ever fought in Indian warfare. On the 13th of January, the Sikh army was attacked in a strong position on the rirer Jelutn, and, as it could only be reached by penetrating a dense jungle, our troops suffered most severely from the enemy's sharpshooters. Seventy o»* eighty of our officers were killed or wounded, and 2,400 of our men. The victory was ours, but at what a price! Lord (rough, the Commander-in-Chief, is strongly condemned by all parties for want of tact, and his recal was anxiously looked for. A military man, writing in one of the colonial papers, speaks thus of the event — "We appropriate as much space as possible this week to British and Foreign intelligence. The extracts having reference to the war in India is especially distressing. We are told to believe that Lord Gough, the Commander-in-chief, has gained a victory over what are called the rebellious Sikhi, when the fact is, and it cannot be doubted, that the British have sustained one of the most disastrous defeats ever known in India. "What other result could have been expected with Lord Gough in the chief command ? A man well known to possess unquestionable courage, but unequal to any charge in the field beyond that of a brigade. Look at the last great battle on the Sutledge for an example of his ability as a general commanding an army, and it will be seen, that had it not. been for the prompt aid of the Governor- General, Lord Hardinge, who volunteered to command under him, and led the left wing, the British forces under General Gough would have been totally annihilated. Every soldier who has seen service will be able from past events to estimate the value of Lord Gough, and whilst they mourn for the killed, and sympathize with the wounded, will anxiously hope for his removal from the command of the British army in India. *' Should he- continue in it, the next accounts will bring more disastrous poofs of his inability, and of his rackless sacrifice of life. "In the first battle he fought, unaided by Lord Hardinge, he attacked the entrenched artillery of the Sikhs with cavalry ! Never did we hear of such unparralleled madness. What was the result ? Destruction to all, the gallent Colonel Havelock amongst the rest. '• Indian affairs look gloomy, we have lost in this victory (?) obtained by Lord Gough over the Sikhs, 80 officers and 2,500 rank and file killed and wounded. Five royal and regu mental colours have betn taken by the enemy I Call ye this a victory ? "By the next mail we hope to hear that Lord Gough, whose incapacity to command an army in the field has been fully understood by military men for years, bat been (recalled. He is now very nearly eighty years of age; his nerve and courage are represented as unquestionable, but unfortunately, unlike Lord Harddinge, Sir Charles Napier, and Sir Harry Smith, he is no tactician." On the 21st of January, the citadel cf Mooltan, -the strongest fortress in India, surrendered to our troops, and the whole of the garrison laid down its arms. This is some compensation for the dear-bought victory of the 13th. The Sikhs had atill a considerable army on foot, and another obstinate engagement was looked for,