EASTERN TROUBLES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3593, 4 October 1920, Page 5

EASTERN TROUBLES.

THREAT TO INVADE INDIA. A BOLSHEVIK BOGEY. LONDON, October I. The “Times,” in a leader, says; <‘As regards the Bolshevists’ recurring threats of invasion of India, the bogey is raised with the idea of bringing pressure againsb Great Britain and the development: of a modern war. The huge transport involved made invasion imj>ossiblc without efficient railways, unless the defensive system entirely collapses. Moreover, the Bolshevist armies, although numerically powerful, are rarely willing to engage in hard fighting. As for the announcement repeatedly circulated that General Kuropatkin is commanding forces concentrating in Central Asia, w© regret to see a good soldier in bad company, but assume he accepted the post with the secret comforting thought that he may as well try to seize the moon as march to India with such a rabble. It took the Bolshevists two years to capture and sack Bokhara with the aid of the railway. Now the routes outward are through a desolate and waterless waste, and the railways arc barred by formidable ranges of hills. At this rate the date of arrival in India •is easily calculated. Moreover, they commit: ed folly by overthrowing an independent Mussclraan State and alienating the Afghans, who know what to expect if the Reds cross the Oxus. The Bolshevists probably do not dream of moving towards India, but know the subtile, potent weapon of propaganda allied with secret: bribery.—“ Times.” o AIMS OF THE SOVIET. TROUBLE IN AFGHANISTAN. Received 8.45 a.ra. / LONDON, October 3. Much erdightment on- the real aims of the Soviet ith regard to India and AfghanistanTias been gained through news that has reached London, via the Caucasus, giving the actual psoposals of ithe Soviet representatives which were submitted at Kabul recently. The Bolshevik Envoy there was authorised to propose to the Amir a formal agreement in which the Soviet undertook considerable military and financial assistance to Afghanistan, demanding in return facilities for transporting rifles and ammunition to tribes on 'the North-west frontier of India, also for agents to manufacture propaganda unmolested and pass freely with it into India, The Soviet further desired the right ito establish representatives in such places as might be selected and the written pledge of the Amir not to conclude a treaty or agreement with any State other than Bolshevik Russia without the latter’s prior consent. The latter stipulation, doubtless, was intended to make ■. abortive the Afghan and Indian negotiations, or to entrap the Amir into a betrayal of the Emir of Bokhara, whose overthrow by >the Bolsheviks since they accomplished the capture of Bokhara caused the greatest excitement in Afghanistan.

It is stated that the fugitive Emir of Bokhara is on his way to Kabul in order to enlist the acltive support of Afghanistan against the Bolsheviks. There is ground for believing that the Amir of Afghanistan, learning of further trouble with the Reds, will send a deputation to India to endeavour to bring about, a definite alliance with England.

In Kabul itself, General Nadir Khan, the Afghan commander-in-chief, has formed an anti-British party, which included some unimportant, members of the recent Afghan Mission to India.

Djemal Pasha, Turkish commander-in-chief, has reached Herat, with a large mission of Bolsheviks and Turks.