MISCELLANEOUS.

Kumara Times, Issue 818, 15 May 1879, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

No news of importance comes from the Indian frontier. An advance on cabul| is talked of, and siege guns are being sent to Jellalabad. A, heavy storm, which clouded the camp, occurred a Kandahar. No such rain has ever been experienced within the memory of man. The prospects of ihe grain crop are superb. Siege gunshave been ordered to Jellalabad. Though with twenty elephants each, they have been detained at Ali Musjid, rain having rendered the road impassable. Summary punishment upon all robbers who are caught has been ordered by General Maude. Bain has been general throughout the Cashmere Vglley. There has already been a large downpour. Numbers who emigrated on account of the threatened famine are now returning to their homes. Rain has been pretty general throughout the Punjaub, doing a vast amount of good, and probably saviDg many persons from suffering. The London papers generally write in strongly condemnatory terms of Lord Chelmsford in connection with the Isandala disaster, which they consider was nearly, if not entirely, due to his defective strategy and failure to appreciate the conditions of warfare with such a crafty and resolute emeny as he had to deal with. Sir Daniel Tyson has been mentioned by several papers as likely to be appointed to replace Lord Chelmsford, but the report has received no official confirmation. On the contrary the Standard recently 3tated that no change in the chief command was contemplated. Lord Chelmsford has been defended against the attack on him by letters from two or three distinguished officers in the Times, as well as from his brother, Lord Justice Chelmsford., These apologies for his conduct mainly consist in throwing the responsibility for the Isandala disaster on Colonels Dumford and Pultian, who are dead.: Lord Chelmsford says that Colonel William Fielding did what any general situated as he was must do. He relied upon the reports of his staff. These were wrong, but he himself was light.

According to the London correspondent of the Argus, a flying squadron is to be formed this year, probably under the rtommand of Rear Admiral Algernon Eyons. The vessels indicated are the " Shah (as flag-ship), the Inconstant, Bacchante, "Village, and Newcastle. A voyage round the world will be made, and the3AustraKaD ports probably visited.