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Page 4
* * * * *
A flutter of excitement was caused in this country the other day by the
news that a Spanish officer had been inspecting our Southern coast
defences, and had made sketches of some of them to send to Madrid.
Our Government ordered the matter investigated, and it was found that
the man who had apparently been spying on our forts was a lieutenant in
the Spanish navy named Sobrai. He is known to us as being the author of
certain letters, calling attention to the weakness of our coast
defences.
On his arrival in Charleston, Se�or Sobrai chartered a boat and went
over to Sullivan's Island, where the new forts are being constructed,
and spent the day examining them.
He was not admitted inside the works, and could only make his
observations from the outside. A new regulation has lately been made by
the War Department, forbidding any persons to inspect the new defences,
except American army and navy officers.
When Lieutenant Sobrai heard of the accusation against him, he protested
against it vigorously. He said that he had not made the slightest effort
to inspect any of our Southern forts or coast defences.
He declared that he had been in the South on a confidential mission from
his Government, and that his visit to Sullivan's Island was merely to
escape the intolerable heat of the city.
Whether his statement be true or false, the scare which he caused will
have the good effect of making our Government still more careful about
admitting strangers to our forts.
* * * * *
The reports from India are not as encouraging as they were last week.
There seems to have been small foundation for the statement that the
Mullah had ordered his followers to go back to their homes, and had
disbanded his forces because of the refusal of the Mohmands to join him.
It is true that the Mohmands have not risen, and that the British have
little or no fear that they mean to make trouble; but the Afridis are
just as troublesome as ever.
They have now been joined by a new tribe called the Orakzais. If these
people are as terrible as their name, they must be an unpleasant enemy.
The news comes from the hills that these two tribes now represent a
force of forty-seven thousand men, and that they are advancing on the
Samana Hills, where the British have a number of small forts.
The tribesmen apparently intend to attack and demolish these forts.
Some brave fighting is being done in these hills. One of the forts was
attacked by a body of Orakzais, one thousand strong. Its garrison
consisted of twenty native soldiers, who defended themselves with
wonderful heroism for a period of six hours.
One of these men whose duty it was to signal to the other forts remained
at his post until the fort was captured. In spite of the bullets that
were whistling around him, he continued sending his messages of warning
until he was overcome by the enemy.
Another had been told off to defend the guard-room of the fort. He
remained at his post, killing twenty of the enemy before he was shot
down himself.
Of the whole garrison, but one man remained alive when the assault was
over.
These heroes were not white men, but native subjects of Queen Victoria.
They belonged to a people called the Sikhs, natives of the Punjaub, a
northern province of Hindustan.
With such brave men as these loyal to their standard, the British should
take heart about their future in India.
The expedition which is to be sent out to punish the rebellious tribes
is being hurried forward with all possible speed.
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