THE INVASION OF INDIA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3942, 8 March 1884, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE INVASION OF INDIA.

Tho December number of a Russian magazine publishes what professes to be a 'planfor theinvasion of India,' found among tho papers of the late General skobelcff. From this plan, which was drawn up in the troublous year of 1879, the Berlin correspondent of the Times gives the following extract: —' We have to consider, in the event of our enterprise wholly succeeding, that we could destroy the British empire in India, which for England would involve incalculable consequences. .Thecollapse of English rule (here would, to be brief, be tho beginning of EngUnd's downfall itself. But, even in the event of our enterprise not wholly succeeding—that is to say, if India itself docs not rise, and wo do not manage to get into tho country —we shall, nevertheless, tie the whole Indian army to Hindostan, and prevent tho Knglish from transporting part of this army to Europe —my, we should even compel England to send somo portion of her 'Ui'opcan troops to India. In a word, we can, to a considerable extent, lame England's land forces fora war in Europe, or for a conflict on new ground—say, from the Persian Gulf to Tiflis— and we know that a war to be waged with the help.of Indian and Persian troops has long been a pet- idea of English soldiers. . . . Without going into details, the campaign, in my opinion, ought to fall into twoperiods—first, that of swift action and diplomatic negotiations with Afghanistan, tlielattcr to be supported by pushing forward our active corps towards Cabul. The second period, after the occupation of Oabnl, would be one of waiting, when we should have to enter into relations with all the disaffected elements in India and convert them to our purposes. The main cause of the failure of the rebellion of 1857 was the fact that the insurgents were not properly organised and led. And, finally, it would be our chief duty to" organise masses of Asiatic cavalry, and, hurling them on India as our vanguard, under tho banner ' Blood and Rapine,' thus bring back the times of Tamariane. The Hindoo Koosh once ci-ossed, I believe the conviction would bo kindled in the breast of each combatant that he had come to Afghanistan to conquer or to die. This the Emperor demands of him, and there would be no reproaches made if our banners remained in the hands of the foe beyond the Hindoo Kooch after every Russian soldier had fallen. It is well known, the conespondent adds, that Skobeleff afterwards expressed grave doubts ns to the feasibility of a Russian invasion of India ; but these doubts were basod on the assumption that the invading force might first havo to pass through hostile tracts. The conditions of success, however, ho well knew, would be much more favorable if. Russia Grst conciliated or conquerod the Conti-.il Asia t.rihns, and organised them into masses of what, for her. purpose,'would be the very finest cavalry in the world. .