British Experiences in Afghanistan



Royal Horse Artillery Fleeing at Battle of Maiwand

 

 

Utica Morning Herald, Thursday, August 19, 1880.

TWO ENGLISH EXPERIENCES IN AFGHANISTAN.

   The story of the British occupation of Afghanistan in 1878-80 has thus far been a most extraordinary repetition of the experiences of the same nation in the same country in 1837-40. Then, as at present, the English were attempted to send their armies into that semi-barbarous country by the thirst for additional Indian territory. Then, as now, they found the hordes of ill-armed natives no match for the small band of well disciplined and thoro'ly armed English soldiery. Then, as now, they easily conquered the capital of Afghanistan, deposed the reigning sovereign, dispensed his followers, and after seeming to have the fate of the nation completely at their mercy set up a sovereign of their own and set about departing from a land which it did not seem to be worthwhile to hold. Then began a disaster as terrible as the previous victory had been complete and crushing. And when the British finally got thro’ with their campaign in 1840 they had nothing to show for it but a shattered army, an enormous bill of expenses and a damaged military prestige.

   When BEACONSFIELD'S revival of the imperial policy led to the repetition of the experiment, the British troops made easy havoc of their opponents. Each column advanced without reverse until the three most important cities in the country were the property of the English soldiery. Then came the massacre of the garrison and the reconquest of Cabul. Again the natives dispersed to their hills and again the British began to prepare for the evacuation of a country they had twice conquered so easily.

   The Afghans know when they are defeated, and they also know when it is easiest to defeat the invader. When AYOOB KHAN surprised and routed the forces of General BURROWS he did more than vindicate the valor of his people; he proved that the whole theory of the British invasion was a fatal misconception of the conditions of the conquest of Afghanistan. And now these barbarian hordes, supplied with captured guns, swarm around the walls of Canduhar, within which a British army watches in dread uncertainty whether it is to be succored or massacred. The city is provisioned for less than a month, and in several respects its defenses are inadequate.

   We do not imagine, however, that Canduhar will fall into the hands of AYOOB KHAN, until it shall have been deserted in good order by the retiring British forces. Reinforcements are approaching: and British valor is still equal to any emergency. But in either event, the conclusion will be the same, so far as it bears upon the inexcusable blunder the British nation has before the second time made in respect to Afghanistan.

 

References:

1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan_Medal_(United_Kingdom)

2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Maiwand

 

3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Beaconsfield