India's Peril.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 41, 18 February 1904, Page 4

India's Peril.

RUSSIA AND AFGHANISTAN. Recent private letters from Afghanistan describe active .'nilitary preparations looking 'to an emergency- ...Fortified posts have been established at intervals on the main roads loading from Cabul to the Indiun and Russian frontiers for tho protection of depots of supplies intended for troops on the march, ond the Amir is said to l>e personally taking much interest i* military matters. On the Russian side all the lienor furries on the Oxus have been closed, only the railway bridge at Charjiri, on tho TransMJaspian railway, and the ferry at Kherki being open for tnwilic., At all the other Jerries and crossings guards havq been placed to prevent travel. At the same time, the Russian authorities were takjng steps to stim* ulate their trade with Afghanistan. On # all goods purchased by Afghan t/.ulers in Ltyissian territory a rebate will be granted equal to the tax levied on the merchandise in Afghanistan 'by the Amir's ollicials. Further, the Customs dues on goods imported tfrom Afghanistan have been reduced 20 per cent. The effect of these changes has been a considerable increase in trade this year. Another matter of interest reported is that pilgrims to Mecca from Russian territory arg no lonjger permitted to travel through Afghanistan and India, but go by way of the Trans-Caspian Railway, Constantinople, and th*? Suez Canal. A few who attempted to pass through Afghanistan by unfrecpieuted routes were intercepted by the Afghan (Jovernor at Tashkurgan and turned back, the Amir co-operating with the Russian authorities to prevent tha use of the Indian route during the continuance of the plague.