Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-12-05
From the Boston Journal. I
The Russian Menace.

According TO dispatches from Berlin and
Vienna, Russia proposes TO Interfere in
the Afghan matter, If England adopts such
measures or occupies such positions as
would render the Russian frontier Insecure
The English have been proceeding as II
the only thing To be looked out for was the
strengthening of their hold on India. But
Russia also has possessions In Central
Asia, which have cost her much and are
highly valued, and the steps which Eng
land in proposing TO take 10 guard the al
proaches TO India may be, with good rea-
son. interpreted by Russia az involving a
mensce to he- own positions and unsettling
her hold on Turhesian. The English have
occupied Quettah, and have military expe-
ditiOns In motion directed against Cabul.
Camdahar and Ierat. Should they occupy
these points, Ii would constitute, In the
Russian view. a standing menace against
Russian Turkestan. BY the Lord Claren-
don agreement, England and Russia Wit
tuslly bound themselves TO the preserva-
ton Of Afghanistan as an independent bar
rier between their possessions. Neither
OF them was 10 make any advances upon
Afghan territory, or exercise any influence
over Afghan affairs which would be pre-
judicial TO the other. Russia can claim
that she has done nothing that could be
construed as a violation OF this agreement.
inrther than the attempt to open up better
commercial relations with Cabul. She
will claim also, that England-prior even
to this-had, by the occupation of Quettah.
violated the Clarendon agreement, and
that the present war is a more open and
fragrant violation of II. She will. there
fore, have the materials for what the dis.
patches characterize as "a diplomatic
campaign" snd a pretext, il she chooses
to use il, for direct Intervention. Ii is in
teresting, in this connection. 10 notice that
the English. in their dealings with the
Ameer. have ostensibly had in view only a
Strengthening of friendly relations. and
the establishment Of English represents.
tives at Cabul. Ii has como out. however,
in some recent remarks Of Lord Beacons-
| field, that they are really aiming at "a
rectification Of frontier" as he calls it-a
I diplomatic phrase by which he means the
| annexation of some part OF the Ameer's
| territory, in order TO render the English
! frontier stronger. This justfies the i'm
preston We have already avowed that the
| Afghan war is actually a war OF conquest
by which great State, for selfish ends
seeks to crush a small one.
II may have no connection with the po-
sition of affairs In Asia. nor with the un.
settled relations between Russia and Tur.
key in Europe, but II is significant that in
the face OF heavy deficits in the budget.
Russia lie verv largely increasing her army.
| The IS bsttalions of the first four reserve
| divisions. formed In 1877. have not been
disbanded, but have had As more battal-
ions added TO them. Measures have been
taken TO quintuple these SO new bsttalions
in time OF war by reserves called in. the
increase for field purposes amounting to
$50 battalions. At the same time the old
infantry regiments are raised from 10 to l6
companies each, the increase from thi:
measure amounting to 1872 bsttalions. Thus
632 new battalions are added to the GAS
battalions which Russia had when she
crossed the Prnth in 1876. This certainly
is a literal fulfllment of the old adaye
I'm time Of peace prepare for war"