SUEZ MAIL NEWS.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3181, 30 April 1879, Page 4

SUEZ MAIL NEWS.

(Peb s.s. Heho.)

London, March 14. THE COST OF A LITTLE WAR.

The House of Commons has passed a credit vote of £1,500,000 on account of the Zulu war. The extra expenditure raises the Estimates to, £85,888.571. and shows an estimated deficit of £275,000 upon the entire year, to which there must be added the last deficit of the same amount. It is calculated, however, there nay be next year a surplus of about £3,500,000. ;

A SEAT TO BE FOUND FOR MR GLADSTONE.

Mr Forster has written to Mr Gladstone" asking him if he would consent to. sit for Leeds in the event of being defeated for Midlothian. Mr Gladstone, in reply stated that be would place the matter in the hands of Mr Adams. INDIAN AFFAIRS. The Indian Budget has been presented to the Legislative Council. No fresh taxation has been proposed. Troops : have been despatched from Calcutta and Madras to British Burtnah. The King is reported mad with drink, and is preparing hostilities against the British ; but latest advices say that he is completely sobered by the prompt despatch of some of our troops, and is willing to concede anything. Confidential agents of the Burmese Head Minister are coming to Rangoon, and are believed to be bearer of some proposal from the King. Only five Europeans now remain in Mandalay. No news of importance comes from the Indian frontier. An advance on Cabul is talked of, and seige guns are being sent to Jellalabad. Though wi'h twenty elephants each, they have been detained at ..Ali Musjud, rain having rendered the *roadß impassable. Summary punishment upon all robbers who are caught has been ordered by General Maude. Bain has been pretty, general throughout the Punjaub, doing a vast amount of good, and probably saving many persons from Buffering. No news has been received of Yakoob Shan's latest movements. The Commis-sioner-in Chief passed up Kurram Valley to the Peiwar Pass on the 14th instant. The 92nd and 67th Regiments are under orders to join the Kurum force ; a brigade to hold Peiwar Pass. It is reported that Yakoob Shan is inspecting his troops on the line of road to Jellalabed. Major Cavagnari has arrived at Lahore, and it is believed that all hopes of peaceful negotiation! with Yakoob Khan have failed. An advance in force on Cabul begins when the snow has left the Shuturgarton.

An interview was held on the* 7th instant between the Eastern Telegraph Company and the Government, with reference t© the purchase of the 1400 miles of cable which was shipped a fortnight ago for Australia, and which wai detained in order that the Government might at once hare direct communication with the Cape.. OPINION ON LORD CHELMSFORp;S TACTICS, The London papers generally write in strongly condemnatory terms of Lord Chelmsford in connection with the Isandala disaster, which they consider as nearly, if not entirely, due to his defective strategy, and failed to appreciate the conditions of warfare with such a crafty and resolute enemy as he had to deal with. Sir Daniel Tyson has been mentioned by several papers as likely to be appointed to replace Lord Che'msford, but the report has received no official confirmation. On the contrary, the Standard recently stated that no change in the chief command was contemplated. Lord Chelmsford has been defended by letters from two or three distinguished officers in tbe 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 Durnford and Pulliene who are dead.