THE DEFENCE OF INDIA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 27 August 1907, Page 3

THE DEFENCE OF INDIA.

EVES ON AFGHANISTAN. Mr. David Fraser, the Times of India correspondent in Central Asia, recently lectured iu Calcutta oil the defence of India.

"What we have to contemplate in regard to the defence of India," said Mr. Fraser, ''is that the initial advantages must lie with tiie enemy. It is perfectly apparent that Russia can occupy Herat whenever she chooses, and my humble opinion is that once Russia is established there we can never turn her out. If India were solid behind us wo could look upon the occupation of Herat with equanimity, and wait contentedly at Kandahar for the Russian forces to exhaust themselves marching 400 miles across deserts (u attack us. Hut we are pledged to light for the integrity of Afghanistan, and all Asia would be watching to see if we were to fulfil our pledge. While we remained quiescent at Kandahar—for it would be absolutely futile to attempt to recover Tlerat—the power of the Ameer would crumble away before Russia's intrigue; the. hornet's nest of brigands upon the north-west frontier would bo buzzing about our communicaI tions. The problem before our military I authorities is not so much how to defend India from Russian armies, but how to deal with the situation that would urine were Russia to seize Herat and commence mobilising in Central Asia .We are the legatees of a policy that pledges us to non-interfil'enee with, and yet to the defence of, the same State. This same State will not allow the nose of an engineer or an intelligence officer to crosn the border. Yet tiie moment Afghanistan feels tlie pinch we must up and protect her. Even to get to her we must pass through a region over which we have almost 110 control, and which is [ inhabited by hordes of warlike, treaeher- . ous, and bloodthirsty ruffians who would require to be watched by a largo army. If what we have recently seen of the temper of some of our subjects in India may be considered as an earnest of what

to expect in the future, then many places will require military protection. There will indeed be 110 end to the opportunities for the employment of troops 111 duties for other than fighting the enemy. We have, however, two reasons for thankfulness. When the Russians have gained their initial successes, so soon begin tlieir difficulties, for in front of them lies desert regions devoid practically of everything required by a marching army. A long time must

elapse liefore our defensive line could bo attacked. Then there is the .agreement between ourselves and Russia, which has been so long in the hatching. This document will probably lie signed within the next few weeks, and we may be confident that its terms will include provision for the amelioration of a situation that in itself is of the utmost gravity, ,both for Russia and ourselves."