THE ADVANCE OF RUSSIA TOWARDS INDIA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1366, 9 October 1886, Page 2

THE ADVANCE OF RUSSIA TOWARDS INDIA.

Fnr nearly two centuries the conquest of I< dia has been Russia’s dream. The time now appears to have arrived when the might of Imperial England most inter* vene to stay her onward march towards our Empire in the East. The TransCaspian railway from Michaelovsk, on the bay of that nam* on the Caspian, was opened as fir as Merv on the I4 r h of July last. The leading Sooth Russian organs have jubilant articles on the successful and rapid completion of this railway With this and other railways it is asserted that Russia will always be la a position to seriously coerce England through India. The position, we are told, is altogether changed on the Afghan frontier. Russia has hitherto been dependent on the CisCaspian aupplles, the transport of which occupied many weeks ; the fertile portions of Persian Khoraaau will, later on, support a mighty Russian host ; and that Candabar can at any moment be made the object point of a powerful expedition: It would appear, therefore, scarcely possible that any one whc has studied tie question can view unconcernedly the position which Russia is so rapidly gaining, or that any one interested in India should now object to a reconsideration of our Indian frontier policy Hitherto Afghanistan and the inhospitable districts beyond, have been, as if were, a protecting barrier, behind which we were comparatively secure ; but let this be penetrated or tnrned we must be prepared to meet onr enemy face to face. But how can we do this with such a precarious population as India has round us and in our tear f If not delayed the advance of Russia will continue to be ss rapid as it has been in the past. In 1863 the frontier line of Rnasla was from the northern end of the Sea of • Aral to the Issik Kul Lake, The conquest of T»shKend, Bokhara, and Samarcand followed at shogt Intervals, and in 1873 we see the Russian army marching triumphantly into Khivai Nine or ten years after this Bus sia declared that she had no choice but to march on the oasis of Merv and <he formidable military position of and annex them, which placed the Russian army almost within striking distance of Herat. Not satisfied with these acquisitions we saw recently how ruthlessly she seized upon Penjdeh, when the Sovereign of the country was In India, the guest of the V;ceroy of the Queen-Empress. Seeing then, the onward march that Russia Is making in Central Asia, and with what rapidity she consolidates the additions to her empire, there appears to be little doubt that the people of Afghan-Torkestan and Herat will pass under her away as certainly as have the Turcomans and other Trans-Caspian tribes, unless the power of | England stay her advancing standards. It . is evident that we cannot afford to live , any longer in a fool’s paradise, and believe , in the pacific assurances of Russia, who , never makes a promise bat to break It the j moment It le to bar inoreet to do eo. 1