The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1878-08-27 00:00:00

THZ PROBABILITY OP A RUSSIAN ATTACK
ON INDIA_

Nj0,,,,,41.0,4 Omen, in a lryer to the Timm on our
'Afghan Policy," remark.; —" With reference to the
resent Russian movements In Central Asia, I do not
coder that they are of immediate and dangerous
Importame. Russia is only feeling her way and preparing
to place her pieces for her next errand more; but I do not
madder that any serious attack upon India is to be
apprehended, under the most favourable circumstances,
from the direction of the countries situated north of toe
Oros. In my humble opinion Runts could never
assemble in those parts an army sufficiently powerful to
Massed an attack upon India. The country through which
an army would hare to psis is most difficult of excess,
barren of supplies, and mustily populated. That he
might make • feint in this direction is, however, more
than probable. Should Russia at any future time
meditate • real attack upon our Indian Empire, I believe
that such an attack will be made from the side of Persia,
and only with the connivance and maistrusee of that
Power : but to accomplish this would require very deeply
considered plane and preparations as well as the acquisi-
tion of • bees of operation., more suitable for such an
enterprias than any which Russia at premed possesses. The
only position &dented for carrying into effect suck a
scheme would be the fortress and fertile valley of Herat;
ones in possession here, Russia could, in routes of time,
and with the resources of Persia at her disposal, form •
base of attack upon India, and in such a cam an seance
with Afghanistan would be of essential nerviest to her.
But even supposing Russia In possession of this favourable
position, she could not attack India with a lees force than
11:0,000 men, and this would imply at least an equal
flambee of camp followers, aa also bouts of burden, sa well
as a very full treseurecheat ; while to collect and feed
such a force would require enormous commimariat
arrangements, cotudderable time, and could not be arum-
°fished with any hope of secrecy. By the time that
Resale we. prepared for such an nedertaking--msuredly
Dot for fire or idx years to come—England ought to be in
such strength as to render the attempt, if made, not only '
abortive, but the army attempting It liable to deuruction.
In the period of time which I have mentioned, the posi-
tion ought to be within VI hours' railway communication '
with the seaport of Kurrachee, so ae to allow of an army "
of any strength required, coninlete in material, to mu I
sembk there at short notice, which force could art in the
front or thank of any Wooden attack, At Peshawur •
force of any strencth could be mused to meet an army
dedouching from the terrible defiles of the Khyber Pa";
while it is to Ire hoped that on the other side the Anglo.
Turkish Cmrention would have borne such fruits as
would enable an Anglo-Turkish and Indian army of
400,000 men to aseentble in Asia Minor, Me Seuttri,
&seclusion, and Bagdad. Such • force ought not only to
he able to hold in check the Russian Army of the eau.
cams, but ought in addition to be able ti push forward
strong columns through the western mountains of Persia,
which could harem the communications and rear of any
army marching toward. India. At the same times force
front &Kehl', landed on the shores of the Persian Jul(
could enter Persia from the south and co-operate with the
western columns. In fact, with the Anglo-Turkish Con-
vention carried out ea we must hope that it will he all
action prejudicial to British intermits on the part of Persia
could be paralysed from the east, from the west, mil from
the math ; land without the ami.tutre of this Power I do
net believe in the possibility of a Rumian attack upon
our Indian Etupire."