RUSSIA AND INDIA.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 84, 17 April 1901, Page 4

RUSSIA AND INDIA.

Bather more than a year ago one heard a good deal of Russia's rapid movement of troops from the Caucasus to the Afghan frontier. Mr Henry Norman, M.P., whose knowledge of the East is extensive, thinks wo shall often hear of such movements, whenever, in fact, Russian diplomacy requires England’s attention to be devoted solely to the Afghan frontior. For in the famous Murghab branch of the Central Asian railway Russia wields what Mr Norman asserts is a deliberate military menace to Great Baitaiu. It starts from Mcrv, once outside the Russian boundary, and runs for 190 miles along the Murghab River to the Kuslik Post, a Russian military station, on the very edge of Afghanistan, and only 80 miles from Herat. This line is one of the most secret railways hi the world. No foreigner is ever allowed to travel on it, and no permission to do so has ever been granted, though a foreigner is said to have once travelled to the Suslik Post “ by accident.” “ My own permission for Central Asia,” says Mr Norman, “read ‘ With the exception of the Murghab branch.’ This line is purely strategic and military. Neither trade nor agriculture is served by it.; nor would anybody ever buy a ticket by it, if it were open to all the world. Morever, it runs through such a fever-haunted district that Russian carpenters, who can cam two roubles a day, throw up the job and go back to earn fifty kopecks at homo. The line serves, and can ever serve, only the purpose of facilitating the invasion of India, or of enabling Russia to squeeze England by pretending to prepare the first steps of an invasion of India, whenever such a pretence may facilitate her diplomacy in Europe.” As matters stand, Herat is at Russia’s mercy, and as “ the cat does not look at the cream for ever,” Mr Norman will not be surprised if some of these days Russia collects a mixed force and seizes the city, in the belief that England will, as she has done before, “ accept tamely the accomplished fact.” Whatever happens, this line of railway, so carefully guarded from the prying eyes of foreigners, may become one of the vital railroads of the world. “It is interesting,” meditates Mr Norman, “ as one stands on the edge of Merv platform, and looks down the few hundred yards of this mysterious line, visible in the dark, to reflect that if the future brings war between England and Russia, its roaring tide will flow over these very rails for the invasion of India, and that if it brings pence this will be a station on the through line between Caleis and Kandahar.” The squeezing of England, by means of Afghanistan, may come some day, but in the meantime ■ Russia prefers to seek an outlet to the Indian Ocean by way of Persia, which is in the way of becoming a Russian province, just as Khiva and Bokhara have become.