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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3052, 7 April 1881, Page 3

Patriotism apart there are many illnatured critics disposed rather to laugh in their sleeve at the small measure of success ■which has as yet attended the operations of Bir George Colley—many old Indians, for instance, who resented what they considered his undue predominance with the late Viceroy, and who visit upon Colley much of the responsibility for the last Afghan war. In the army are others who have always looked on him with some jealousy as a young man too rapidly and prematurely advanced. These say that, although Colley was " Sir Garnet's pet," his chosen adviser and most trusted right hand, now, when acting on his own account, his skill in war is by no means clearly made out. The first answer to all backbiters and detractors is the well-worn trnism that the greatest general is he who makes the fewest mistakes. "War is a terrible game of chance, in which the great stakes, life and reputation, can be lost only too easily. Without fuller information it is impossible to decide whether Colley has done well or ill. It is at least certain that he acted for the best, and that if he has been bold even to rashness his hardihood v?as premeditated, and that he has fought alwayb with clearlymarked objects in view. Had ho remained altogether inactive, the same critics would no doubt have taunted him with hia want of enterprise, and would have asked how long he intended to hesitate before advancing. The fact is that in war, as in other public affairs, nothing succeeds like succees.