Lord Lytton, anticipating, perhaps, some excitement in India, has issued
a "statement," with a very rose-coloured account of the position of affairs. He says General Roberts has 7,500 effeetives in Shirpore, with 2,500 of whom he can defend the
cantonment, while with 5,000 he can resume the offonsive,—a statement contradicted by General Roberts's urgent order to General Gough to move forward, without supplies if need. be. He further states that General Bright has between Jamrood and. Jagdalak 12,015-men, of whom 3,361 are British. General Stewart also has, between Dadur and Candahar, 9,075 effective troops, of whom 2,376 are Europeans. All these forces have ample supplies, sufficient ammunition, and plenty of artillery, General Roberts in particular having parked in Shirpore the Afghan guns found. in the Bala Hissar. A reserve of three cavalry regiments and ten in- fantry regiments is being formed at Peshawur, so that the Government have, or will immediately have, some 40,000 good troops in readiness across the Indus. This is a great army to support for the winter, motionless ; but it must be remem- bered that transport is wanting, and that the three columns actually engaged cannot assist each other. If Stewart, for instance, is attacked, neither Roberts nor Bright can give him the least assistance.
