That strange force which has so often driven the English
forward against their will appears to be in operation once more. It is certain that neither the British Government nor the British people wished to go to Lhasa, but Mr. Brodrick's state- ment in the House of Commons on Thursday makes it clear that we shall have to go there all the same. "The heart of Pharaoh "—this time a Dalai Lama whose position, as we explain elsewhere, differs from that of all recent predecessors— has been " hardened." He has evidently determined to destroy the Mission, of which, from its small numbers and the colour of its escorting soldiery, he has probably no fear. On May 5th his agents attempted a surprise at Gyangtse shortly before dawn, and it is evident that they very nearly succeeded. The situation was so bad that even the men in hospital and the per- sonal servants of the Mission joined in the defence, which after two hours' fighting was successful, though the Tibetans fought stubbornly, and instead of retiring towards Lhasa, occupied a ruined fortress close to Gyangtse. They have some rifles, but trust chiefly to the old weapon of the Himalayas, the jingall, or big musket, which throws a heavy ball for a thousand yards, but is bad to load and to carry about. They have some distrust of the Chinese Residents, and have murdered the servants of Captain Parr, the joint Chinese Commissioner, who, despairing of being useful, has retired from Gyangtse. Colonel Younghusband reports the Mission quite safe ; though, of course, if it is to go on to Lhasa, it must have reinforcements. The road into India is open.
