The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-05-08
The CaDtuve of Kovs

Kars, which has just surrendered to the
Russians, is the key to Asiatic Turkey, and
its capture opens the road to Erzerum and
Trebzond,a and the final conquest of the Asiat-
ic dominion of the followers of the Prophet.
The town in time past has been famous for
its heroic defenses against the Muscovite. In
1873 it was taken after a memorable siege,
and in 1856 it resisted when only garrisoned
by 1900 Turks, an attacking force Of $4,000
Russians. But then the defense was conduct
ed by an English officer, the famous Colonel
Williams. The town is town of twelve
thousand inhabitants, having no great natur-
al facilities for defense, but possessing the
strongest Notifications of any Turkish place
beyond the Bosphorus, and ranking because
OF that with the greatest fortresses of the
world. A glance at good map will show its
strategic importance. The capture of the
place will cause no inconsiderable alarm in
England and will intensity the growing ap-
prehension there entertained of danger to the
British communications with India. What
England has to fear from Muscovite success
in Asia is well set forth By the New York
Times, which says: 1t may be that the
dreaded success of the Muscovites in the re.
glon between the Black and the Caspian seas
is what is now turning British sympathy
against Russia. The British and Russian
lines OF frontier on the side of the Hin loo
kush, near the sources of the Oxus, are prac-
tically only 250 miles apait." But it is not
here th qf fbo oe
The advance of the Muscovites in this region
must be through a country of deserts, fright
full ravines and barren mountains. 1t could
only be made effectively when a railroad had
been constructed over the steppes and through
the winding valleys in their rear. Such an
attack must be far distant. But an alliance
of Russia with Persia, and an approach from
that side through Afghanistan would be
far different in its dangers to India. The
movements now of the Cars forces on the
Persian border and the opening campaign in
Asia, which seems made in understanding
with the Shah, are full of perils to England's
future. This explains the new temper of the
British press and the House of Commons.
Should England be drawn into the war, it is
here that Russia would doubtless endeavor to
deliver her heaviest blow, and seek to arouse
all the tribes and nations bordering on India
and force back the British fro alter, and to
awaken again the rebellious spirit which
slumbers, but is not dead, in that vast EN-
pire. The expressions of English opinion are
strong on in this point. The Morning Post
thinks that 'the lordship of the Khanate of
Turkistan is poor and Insignificant posses
sion compared to the Anatolan dominion
the seat of so many ancient Empires; the
highway and the gate of the Indian Empire
of Great Britain. Settled in Asia Minor the
power of Russia might well deem itself be-
yond the reach of attack and the arbiter of
three continents" In much the same vein
the Daily Telegraph says: "The long pre-.
pared policy now displaying itself in war
affects the whole surface of the Oriental terri
tory over which we rule, or on which we
have substantial interests. Persia is to be
drawn into the net; every blow struck in
Asia Minor will have It's echoes beyond the
Indies; and unless we act with firmness and
promptitude, each Russian victory will
weaken our position in the East.''