General Roberts is still anxious about his communications, and it
is not quite easy to see why. His natural line is via the Khyber, and as General Gough has occupied Jellalabad, which is barely a hundred miles from Cabal, it ought to be possible to clear the remaining break at once. This has not been done, however, nor is there any clear statement of the reason for the delay. Indeed, the Viceroy rather im- plies that it cannot be done just yet, for he says no uneasiness need be felt as to General Roberts on that
account ; and the General himself has made an earnest endeavour to clear the route by the Peiwar, despatching two and a half regiments to Kushi, to aid from that side in clearing the pass. All this looks as if there were a hitch somewhere, but it must be remembered that we have no complete accounts of the position, only some snippety official telegrams, and that both Lord Lytton and Sir F. Roberts have dramatic instincts, and like to telegraph a success as a surprise. A force may even now be making its way from Jellalabad through the Khoord Cabal to the capital.
