SOVIET THREAT.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1926, Page 4

SOVIET THREAT.

BEDS’ PENETRATION INTO A FGI4 AN I STAN. 1..1.-Gon. Sir George MncM.uiin, formerly Quartermaster-General in India, writing in tile “ London Daily Mail” in January last, said ; The news that Soviet forces have captured the Afghan post of Darkhad and occupied territory between the branches of the river Oxtis will deepen the anxiety caused to ihe 'Government of India and the Goinimimler-in-Gliiel’ during the last few years by the determined attempts of .Moscow to penetrate and BoKhevi.se Afghanistan and India, and in any ease to stir up the greatest possible enmity towards Great Britain in the East. It is now oulv that old enemy the Be ar in another form which lor over a hundred years lias caused anxiety and vast expenditure in India. Our misgiving began when Napoleon and Alexander of Russia planned an invasion of Lidia at the beginning of the. last century; it continued all through that century. In 1838 Russian intrigue at Kabul brought us the costly failure of the first Afghan war. In 1878 more or less similar conditions involved us in the second Afghan war. The fortunate result of tliai war, unforeseen at its commencement, was the inauguration of the long and strong reign of Abdurrahman at Kabul. But ever across the Khanates of Central Asia came the absorbing rule of Russia, and with the Russians came railways to the fords of Oxtis. Our satisfactory relations with the Amir, which lasted so many years, developed our policy of preserving the integrity ol Afghanistan against Russian aggression, and it will be remembered how In 1885 Russian aggression at Penjiloh involved us in the most marked military preparations and concentrations that alone made Russia draw hack. KITCHENER’S REORGANISATION. After the South African War, Lord Kitchener was sent to Lidia with the joint mandate from the Imperial and Indian Governments to bring the Army in India up to the modern standard in Arms, equipment, ami organisation, in view of the serious potentialities of the Russian position on the Oxits. The reorganisation involved India in great exnemliilire, in spile of the large economies that Lord Kitchener was able to effect in certain directions. But so important was the situation that it will he remembered that the special constitutional procedure was adopted of making the ('oininander-iu-t'liief in India also Secretary of Stale for Wtir, or what corresponded thereto, a. position which still holds. When liftrtl Ifanlinge succeeded to flic Vice-royalty the situation with regard to Russia had eased off. The Anglo-Porsiau convent ion had taken place, and, however much misunderstood and disliked it was in Persia, it . did for the moment permit of the retarding, of military preparation. When. Sir Douglas Haig went- to India as the first Chief of the General .Staff, at ihe time when Sir O’Moore ('rough was Fomina ll dor-in-Chief. nreparat ions were largely suspended. OUR FAR-FLUNG OUTPOSTS. !

The Empire, however, had now begun In prepare itself for tile European struggle which seemed inevitable. Sir Douglas Haig brought a knowledge of principles to India which had not yet been assimilated and pointed out limv weak was the rearguard organisation in technical services and departments for a war any where. But the situation with Russia bail so, improved that, tho Hovernniciit of India and Lord Morlev could think only of relieving the Indian revenues of sonic portion ol the military burden. When India was called on to take her share in the Great War Sir Douglas Haig’s advice had not been taken, and tin’s was the cause of Hie disappointments in Mesopotamia and elsewhere. However, India made wonderful efforts at last, and when the war was over had a. fair right to hope that, some measure of relief from military expenditure might he looked for. But. tile best laid plans go wrong. The Amir I lahihullaii. who had .so ill i tli 1 11 11 y preserved it is friendly neutrality during the war, anil kept the fanatical Islamic party in hand, passed away in sensational circimistancos. Nothing would please his successor— , it has been said that nothing could ■ save his successor—bul to launch his army against India in wluil is known as the third Afghan war. With the Afghan attempt to invade India all the years of careful improvement ol the situation with our own tribes were tripod out. and can only slowly be restored. Ever since the war the. situation in Kabul, the state of j the frontier, and the Soviet activities ! in Central Asia and their intrigues ' against Afghanistan and India, have

1 compelled a high military expenditure, r They have driven us to the experiment, . long louglit against, of planting a large ( cantonment in ihe heart of tribal territory as the only means of protecting the Indians within the border from outrageous raiding. 1 RED INTRIGUES AGAINST US. 1 The Bolshevist propaganda keeps this sore open, and the Bolshevist penetration ol Afghanistan is considerable. Il has 11,1 duiiht had the advantage of making the new King of Kabul anxious to get hack to the old state of friendship with British India. But it keeps tile north-west frontier and the countries behind in an unsettled stale, and il forbids India from seeking substantial relief from military expenditure. Then, again, another movement has to be watched. That is the PanTuranian movement of Turkey. in which the eight million Turks of the Ottoman Empire, or, rather, Republic, ! seek to restore to the fold tile thirteen j million Turks of the Turkestan Khan- j ates and territories and the Turkestan j Soviet republics. Subsidiary to this is j the allied question of the Tartars or j Turks of Kapnn (in Rusia), Baku (in J tiie Caucasus), and Azerbaijan (in • Persia). i Tt is a movement that was very 1 strong during the war and it lies at I the back of the minds of the younger i Turk. Incidentally it aims at trails- i ferring the Turkish subjects of Kabul. , who are numerous, to the control of i the Turcoman republics. Here again ' it lias the advantage of making the j King of Kabul look on British India i as his friend and supporter, but it all j keeps going the atmosphere of distur- 1 banco caused by the Russian influence ■ which in one form or another has made such heavy demands on the resources of ( India. The old railway progress of ■ Russia continues, consolidating Hie Reds’ position on the Afghan frontiers, j Penetration towards the Helinund also continues, and the Government of India fears that the integrity of the? Af- j glum kingdom may he threatened, for , it is no groat time since the province ; of Herat formed a separate principal- ! itv. Until modern Russia can he in- : duced or compelled to abandon any plans for an extension in Asia beyond the Gzarist frontiers India cannot bring about the reduction in expenditure she would wisTi. j