THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE ON MERV.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1746, 24 September 1879, Page 3

THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE ON MERV.

[“ Pall Mall Budget.”] The laughter with which the House of Commons on Monday greeted Mr Bourko’s reply to Mr C. B. Denison’s question in reference to the Russian advance on Merv has been echoed outside the walls of Parliament. Mr Bourko stated that the Russian Government had assured our Ambassador at St. Petersburg that no such advance was intended ; and the Russian Ambassador in London had borne witness to the Foreign Office hero to the same effect. Russian assurances of this kind are evidently now rated at their true value. We should, indeed, bo purblind if we supposed that such an expedition as that which is now encamped on the shores of the Caspian has been collected there at the present time merely to check the Tekke Turkomans. The real objects of this powerful force are openly stated by the Russian Press, and not obscurely hinted at by the correspondent of the “ Daily News ” with the Russian army. No one, in fact, doubts that, with or without agreement with England, the Russian army will in the course of the next few months be within striking distance of that important city. It is almost unnecessary to recall the fact that successive Foreign Secretaries have declared that Great Britain could not view such a movement on the part of Russia without concern. Once in possession of Merv, an attack upon Herat would be a comparatively simple matter ; and, notwithstanding our improved frontier, there would be little chance of sending a sufficient force to that point from India in time to arrest the Russian progress. In fact, our means of transport in those regions are utterly exhausted for some time to come. Of course it may be said that what we contemplate are more possibilities. The actual movement towards Afghanistan has not yet begun ; the troops are still crowded in tents and suffering from bad water ; and a difficulty in receiving supplies is certain to arise the moment they attempt to push forward so large a force in a barren and hostile country. But, on the other hand, it is almost inconceivable that Russia should have gone to such enormous expense at a time when the strain upon her resources must be terrible, unless arrangements had already been made with Persia for transport and assistance along the line of march. If this has been done the Tekke Turkomans, brave as they may be, are already as good as beaten. Here, in fact, lies the kernel of the whole question; and the best authorities on the affairs of Central Asia have long pointed ont that with the active assistance or even passive good will of Persia the Russian march from Tchikislar would be no great matter. There is certainly nothing, then, to be faced at all comparable to the obstacles encountered and overcome in Khiva, even should an actual advance by way of Meshed or Shahrood be forbidden. Meanwhile, it seems we shall he content with Russian assurances until the possession of Merv, like the possession of Khiva, becomes an accomplished fact. It is strange, too, considering the interest which was not long since felt in his bold, ably accomplished mission, that no questions are asked as to the proceedings of Major Butler with the Tekke Turkomans. That officer, who will perhaps hereafter be regarded as the EnglishVitkievitoh, has been described by Anglo-Indian journals as languishing in ill health and poverty at Peshawur owing to the neglect of the Government, Surely such matters as these are worthy of consideration. A powerful Russian force in or near Merv will assuredly produce quite as strong an effect upon the minds of the Afghans as our rectification of frontier or the presence of a Resident at Cabul. If there really exists an agreement between and Russia for the partition of territory and influence in Central Asia, may we not be permitted to know it ? At present, neither in regard to Constantinople nor Asia Minor nor Persia, does the Government give the slightest evidence of that trust in the people of which Sir Stafford Northoote lately spoke. All that can be discerned is a continuous rise of Russian influence at these important points and a continuous advance of Russian aggression nearer India. Surely the Government can afford to be more plainspoken in regard to matters which all previous Ministries have considered of the very highest importance.