The news from Tibet is scarcely reassuring. As the lines
of communication are threatened, the daily post has been discontinued ; and on Friday London had been for three days without any news from Gyangtse. The total casualties in action of the Mission since crossing the Tang-la, are estimated at fifty-seven, which would certainly imply, as the Times correspondent argues, that the military capacity and self-con- fidence of the Tibetans have greatly increased. It should not be forgotten, however, that the Mission has accomplished the task which was entrusted to it, and reached Gyangtse ; the con- tinued obstinacy of the Dalai Lama is an unforeseen factor, which compels a revision of plans and a more extended campaign. As the Times correspondent points out in an interesting letter in Tuesday's issue, we are not fighting against the common people of Tibet, who so far have shown themselves friendly, but against the priestly caste, who are under the influence of the Buriat Dorjieff and his like, and are undoubtedly relying on Russian assistance. There can be no security for peace on our frontiers till the minds of the Lhasa authorities are dis- abused of this idea.
