New-York tribune., 1873-04-17
RUSSIAN AMBITION.
THE CzAR's ADVANCE ON INDIA.

PURPOSES or THE RUSSIAN MOVEMENT IN CENTRAL
AsA-DIsPOsuIOS or rHE INDEPESDENT TRIBE,
--ESGLAND's DEFENSIVE rOwER.
To the Edttor or The FrfbuH,
SIR: Among European powers it has lony
known that the cunning of Rissa has pointed "a
British India. Some dp.omatsts, however believe thai
her present threatening attitude simply fent i0drav
the British forces 10 India and h"n pOunce upon Con-
stantnople This may be Russl's aim. The conquest Of
either country. however Is another matter. His a.
by those who believe themselves best qualified IN
Judge that Great Britain hold her In India.
The bravery shown by the TURKS while fighting single
handed the Danube against tn flower OF the Russian
army in 1854 and their gallant defense OF Kars Asa
Minor TO prove that soldiers when aided by mar.
itirne power 10 defend Turkeys Aatc shores In ta
Black Sea, they not to be despse1. There hifa
doubt but that the Car war. The po1siSA.
Zeitug OF the Sd Of January demonstrates that TIA
Russian in Central Ass strong enough def,
any attempt OF the British to check their progress
Russia 1t says, Is only waiting false step on the pan o
England
Allowing that credit is b be attached 10 this er
preston OF feeling in the Russian Capital IL would seem
10 foreshadow the part Of Rlssa than mrs
conquest OF Khva. Indeed the large force which 4,
being concentrated together with the immense army
modified in Russia, IL In itself sufficient guarantee
that some great movement is about 70 be developed
The entire Russian army consists of l,2o3 on and
men, with 1000 guns. The British army In Iuiia 4.
5000 strong, and in England 7O0ol with reserve Of
volunteers and militia OF $4,000 more In the o.
hostiities in India England would depend 70 great
extent upon her frontier in the north western
provinces. Taking for granted that the Afghans VIII
light for their present independence, they would be- aba
to hold an invading force in check for considerable
time long enough at all events or supports 10 no.
The country is naturally fortified. and Mglansias
FORMS il were, the outer wall to the only yunerabs
point that can be assailed.
,.1,or tho fitv Of q ms o..
Kyber BOan. and one other, said 10 be impngnabe.
Each of these passes be defended by small force.
1t was in the Kyber Pass that the British were &
feated by the Afghans, and regiment the ih, Was
annlhated. In lsI7, Major Edwards, the British pol
ical agent in dispatch TO Col Lawrence, the Resi.
dent at Lahore stated that IS were fully able and
did defend one OF these passes against Large force Tho
roads in these passes are 80 and full Of rocks
that the guns have TO be conveyed thrOuh them the
backs Of elephants. Tho Afghans are noble race tall
in stature very robust and dariag Ia war At the bat
tie of Googerat, in the last Sikh cln0lgn IN the Pan
jaub the Afghan cavalry charged J5c3 On the British
guns, but were repulsed.
To the East and between these passes and the Indus
lies Bunnoo. As late 187 the 1noocnees had 40
forts each commanded by chcl, wen garrisoDed and
fortified These defenses seemed ni 9ensaoe Tor hese
chiefs TO guard themselves from the predatory incur
sions Of other tribes An instance occurred IN one OF
these tribal quarrels which will partially illustrate tho
aggrieved by the acts OF neighborng pOtenate came
down suddenly with his whole force and reached biz
opponents fort before all OF the garrison had time to
retire within the gates OF whom the chiefans
SON. boy OF The assaling chief then demanded the
surrender OF the fort, threatening in case Of reRato
kill the boy. The reply has passed into proverbs II
can beget other sons but cannot lose my honor" Tho
boy was killed and the fact has remained monninens
to the Spartan nobility OF the swarthy warrior
l. r1s fndu no ~ a
mise Of fair play In which he constituted himself the az
bratOr 10 raze all their forts and assist the sikhs 10
erecting in their stead very large ono for the Govern
ment OF Lahore. The effect Of this policy was that the
Bunnoochees ceased their feuds and became united
people. The BunnoOchees warlike and noble race,
and can bring at $1,000 into the feld One or
two regiments did excellent service 10 the English army
during the late war in ADyssna. Across the Indus lies
tine Punaub OF FIVE rivers, the home OF another bravo
people, the skhs Previous 10 the conquest OF this terri
tory by the British, Rnieet Singh had standing army
Of 100000 men, Since then this brave anu varlkc people
have been under the control OF the BRUSH
Government, and during the sepoy Rebellion
of 1861 they showed their entire allegiance
by fighting against Mana sahb and his rebel
adherents upon the side OF their Conqler0rs. Another
tribe are the GoOkhers from the Hills, who are shoTt
stout-bult men, averaging a1on i've feet. Their arms
consist OF three pecuar-Haped knives, which they
in their belts Their mode OF warfare j. rush 10
close quarters where tlCy Lso tn'f Knives WIZ
wonderful dexterty and cunning oftentimes dashinS
between the legs OF a clyalrymans horse and by sud
den upper cut disembov ling the enemy. During the
Sutledge campaign, 1867, the Gookhers marched %
miles in three days. and engaged on the afternoon
Of the third day against the sks the BATH OF Fero'
zeshah These men arc brave and determined, de.
votedly attached to the Eugsh, aud irom their
wild and dangerous mode OF fighting would prove
a most formidable Zoe in the mountain passes. The
Indcpendent Princes OF Putcallah Bhawaporc and
Cashmere have always been loyal TO the English Cow
crnnent They have been literally rewarded boy grants
OF territory and allowed to retain their independence.
With all these forces n.he Presdeucies England cam
without doubt hold her Indian possessions provided
her frontermen uenOt otherwise: aud OF ths fact
Russia must be very fully aware The Russian army
seems likely to labor under the disadvantage which, IN
most cases. attacking party mas 10 contend wlth 10
would be long distance from her base OF supplies ana
have barren and dangerous itd ol operations or Nv"
years devastated by famine. Her march would bt IN
numbered with her commssariat, her movements "oui
he SLOW ana htr "rinY ~ 5pe ~ lil ~ 'l.s - ~ an - ~
attacks rom watchful and wei prepared enemy ~
would scom therefore, lmpOsslnc mat hu,'ia ti'uus
the invasion of India until she has made move
menI toward Aguaulsan, ana secured M bnr rear tie
base of operations should 1t be Ru,sias intention 10
follow the tactics Of Motke at the threshold Of the
her forces the Indian border, IN order to make
her longehershed attempt upon the Porte. the1
magnitude. OF ltwo masters, the chances are tt nc
Indian chiefs who have 50 long pro,pered unie' hrt,n
heel OF the Gar. Should the Russian Government, now
ever through agents brbes and other means Cor me
Oriental character Is not mperVIOu, 10 lfte p"ueal
or monetary htttery), disseminate dlsIhectlou "mnE
these conquered tribes, ana lessen the hold W1rh IN
gland has upon their sympdthie then may TIE ch1hes
look favorable for Russia aud cOrrespondingy darA or
England. Tie question Tor Great Britain in any even.
graVcOue. She has every stmuE 70 lose ana uoimls
gam. Far from the probable heid OF action - Afat
the mercy ubfu assistance, and, above a, hoFfI
ing she does ln the face OF the world on u' lnt ~
tween first and second-ratc power u i pos 0h !"
TAX her ingenuity her wealth, Hnd her energy. q hi,,
sia j, determined night, and she Is ampy pared
tnen EnglAnh rLnnnt. and dOAur.s VIII nO uI-A nlyA