RUSSIA AND ENGLAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 96, 26 March 1885, Page 3

RUSSIA AND ENGLAND.

' ■' In an article on the Afghan boundary , dispu'tb the liytteltoift Times says : — "There are well-appointed Native Indian troops amounting m the aggregate to 800,000 men. If our troops now on ■ ; the fipntier.can arrive m tim,o they will, be able to hold Herat and the formidable Northern passes easily till strong reinforcements come lip at their leisure. When these arrive they, will gain time enough for raising and. equipping any number of fighting men from the martial population ot Hindostan. ■ . The great question is, will the Afghans hold their own m case of hostilities till, the 20,000 British on the frontier can come to their help, a period of about a month or six weeks. They will be able to make quicker time than on the occasion of the last Afghan march, for they will be entering a friendly country. To judge by the Russian delay at the last moment, it looks as if their commanders want time to perfect their arrangements. It is .a fair inference that they think our troops are within practical striking distance. On the whole, then, it appears that Lord Grariville's protest is formidable enough to mean a tremendous campaign. An enemy so strong m India, so powerful at sea, and able to command the strength of the Turkish Empire, is not tp be lightly faced. These considerations may point to a strong probability of peace. But we haye 1 to remember that the Russian movement has peen deJ libierateljr planned,' strongly prepared for and craftily timed. Russia has not lightly faced, the hazard of a campaign in| Afghanistan. If that means certainty pfjwar, there is not much ground for believing that War will be disastrous, to colonial interests. ' If we protect our harbours, the strength of the Empire will do the rest, as far as we are con* cerned." . •.-, • : v | SPECIAL TO UNITED PEES 3 ASSOCIATION.] (aY ELECTRIC TEEKOBAPH; — COPYRIGHT.) I London. March $4. 1 50,000 Indian . troops ore ready- to march to the Afghan frontier. (BLEOTBIO TELEGKAPH.— COPYRIGHT) (BKUTER'S TftLEGRAMB;) ' Calcutta, March 25* '-• A. division of. the Indian army has been ordered to proceed forthwith to Pessin, m southern Afghanistan; a reserve i'prce of 40,000 men is also being mobilised. I Vis expected, that major-general the Duke of commanding' at Meerut, will take command of the reserve division. , London, March 25. The greatest activity has been e.hqwn at all the Admiralty dock yards iv preparation for possible bostihti^y with Busflia, .