The advocates of the Government policy say that Lord Lytton
is quite ready. In that case, he must have intended war from the first, and has been playing a comedy, but we believe this is only an after-thought. If he had intended war, he would have had more Europeans near the frontier, would not have selected such a man as Sir Neville Chamberlain for Envoy, and would have collected provision on a very different scale. It is much more probable that he is carried away by the regular Anglo-Indian feeling, that a rebuff from an Asiatic must be in- stantly avenged, and that his advisers have got what we may call "Pollock on the brain." Because that skilful officer, after a second campaign, with the country in utte r anarchy, conquered Afghanistan easily, and then left it, therefore it is assumed that the Afghans, knowing they are to be finally annexed, will be defeated with little pains. We fear this may prove an error, and that the moment the Passes are closed with snow all Afghanistan may hurl itself on the invaders. Shere All's method of action betokens either despair or self-confidence, and he may have allies in India of whom we know nothing. The Russians cannot help him without declaring war, but insurgents in India can ; and if the invading corps are checked, even for a few days, we may have to reconquer whole provinces. The die, however, is cast, and the best, indeed the only watchwords now, are " Audacity " and "Reinforcements." The Anglo-Indians will supply the first ; let Lord Cranbrook, unless he is utterly bemused by the idea that this war will be a parade, insist upon the second.
