The New York herald., 1878-10-12
THE AFGHAN WAR CLOUD.
How It Is Regarded by Sir J. Camp
bell Brown, Of India.
RUSSIA'S ASIATlC INFLUENCE
The Bear Certain to Engage in What
ever Quarrel Occurs.

Sir J. Campbell Brown, formerly Surgeon General
ef the Army OF Bengal, in India, arrived In this city
few days ago, having come from san Francisco by
way OF Washington and Philadelphia He was found
b the Fifth Avenue Hotel last evening and spoke
Freely on the relations existing between England
and A!ghanistan and between England and Russia.
4 with the Ameer was, IN his opin-
on, almost certain to takc place. 1t would
10 the result OF Russian intrigue The Russians
have for many years striven TO establish diplomatic
intercourse the court at Caboul, while the Brit.
ish have until recently been represented there by
native agent At last the Russians have succeeded
by occult means, and henceiorth their aim will
be the exclusion OF the English from all the
counsels oftne Amser. Sir Campbell repeatedly re-
marked that the Ameer is "a most obstinate
and determined fellow" and that he is very likely to
nghI The governmen has certain knowledge Of
the strength OF his army or OF It's mament II Is
well disciplined and courageous, and doubtless has
good supply OF firearms Of the old pattern Many Of
his troops had served undcr the British flag, and
they had been utilized as leaven for tho rest.
Tho Ameer has been preparing Tor ton or
fifteen years for such event as the threatened war.
The Aighans, as nation, are tar superior In
physique TO the ordinary Hindoos, tho sikhs only
excepted. They magnificent soldiers, but cannot
surpass the Hindoos IN courage or in martial SKILL
Should peace not be broken for some years, and
should Russia send her own officers TO organize and
discipline the Afghan army and ultimately command
II, Great Britain would have In Asia most formida-
bio force to combat But the Russians would
have to encounter famine and pestilence, and II
tho mountain tribes which dwell along The southern
frontier and Independent In spirit, should DO
lnmical them they might acd their retreat almost
as deadly as their ADVANCE. The English In 1912 ex-
perenced their vengeance in the Kurd-Caboul pass.
Sir Campbell was In Gales brigade ono OF the
A~~v frnr thotd IA II
tho defence OF claabad and at the subsequent siege
OF Cabul. After forty years OF service in India he
retired from the army in 1876 and began travel
He would ike to be with tho Bengal army II is
made upon CaDul. and says that be may be tempted
to go TO the scene OF MS former adventures.
RUssIA's ovERREAcHNa POLICY.
In the course OF a long and genial conversation
with the reporter OF the HERALD the Baronet dwelt
with evident delight the romantic ana perilous in
cidsnts OF his military experience, letting drop in the
meantime many plhy hints regarding the Afghans
and the Indians ana the nature Of the country which
ls likely 10 be the field of war
sls 1t your opinion that Russia is making much
progress the realization OF ambition for further
Asiatio conquest ?" was asked.
"Most decidedly yes. Her diplomacy In the East is
persistent and insidious. The English influence At
Cabul barred out tho Russians only until the Rus
effected their FIRST oothoId and then they alone
must command the of the Amesr The turn Of
events simply confirms the statome nts SO often
that Russia a'mcans aggression in Asia soon
gain position whicn Will give her tho prosump-
sion OF an advantage"
..rhen II Inc Ameer is her ally and she can occupy
Nerve, she Will have gained that position7"
Eyes, IN her own opinon."
"How has Russia succeeded In outdoipg the British
~ tue Court oil tho Ameerf"
PROMISES
IL cannot say. Probably by promises which she
never meant to keep. That reminds me-" continued
- Ian hanR tlv tknf
which illustrates the policy OF the Russians. SIR
Alexander Burncs, who was aierward the Brush Res
which he was murdered, once made the strongest
kind OF representations to Dost Mohammed, the then
Amosr, 10 Induce h IN 10 become an ally OF the Viceroy
Toe declared that had had better prom
from another Power. When ne asked, 'From
tiuung, he said. The Cars envoy has been with me
long tine. He has made better promises than you.
He is here now and Will show him to YOU so say.
ing the Amcer brought the two diplomats face 10 face
aud evidenty enjoyed the strange embarrassment
winch must have ensued II was piece Of sardonic
dcnburg. The name Of the Russian was vickovitch."
cit was rather "a oavalor spirit TO display toward
thc representatives OF TWO mighty Powers"
Yes that spirit still exists IN the royal family
Of BeauEzye 1t was one Of the causes OF the Afghan
s,Ahl General, you must have had some thrilling
experiences IN those forty years Of your ssrvicsi
list Of Daties with scarcely pronouncabic name IN
which he had had share
THE MOUNTAIN TRIBEs.
.Can the British control the mountain tribcs2"
.srhey Will try to do so, and II they DC they will
have secured great advantage at tho start. There
is now stationed in the Solyman Mountains inde-
pendent English force consisting OF SIX regiments OF
infantry. nve regiments OF cavalry ana two batteries
Of artillery IL is commanded by General Roberts. q
great lricnd OF mine and a very nae soldier. Our
folks frequently nave rows with tnese mounlaneers.
our service. But they are terrible lighters"
sWhat Is their method OF DattleY'
.Tney excel as skirmishsrs all other troops that /
have ever seen; 80, In fact, do all the AighanA In
ls42 / was IN the roar guard 10 The retreat from
the Khyoer Pass These fellows assaied US at evcry
siep. For twelve miles We fought them from i've
We take a height on whcn they had posted them.
selves than they would appear on another higher
commanding our position"
the BRITISH ADVANCE.
"What would be the route Of advance for the
Brush In a second Invasion Of Aighanistsnfn ~
.Tners two roads-onc through the Khyber
Pass but that Involves ninety miles OF denes; the
other lies through the Bolan Pass Candanar would
then be the rsl Guy struck. BY this route the army
would march through a country that would Afford
provisions for It's support The other is barren It
Have the Afshaus any for,incasions which nigh.
"Nonc, with the exception OF Ghuzui, which lies
south OF CsbuL Before 1889 Il though. 10 be
impregnabie, but we blew open its gate and en-
tered. rne res. OF the towns nave ht'io moro than
caro- you conndcnt OF being able TO .ako Ghuzni
ses,nf"
Agnans arc now possessed OF number Of good
cannon; but by occupying the ncighbonng DoighiE
aud would thus reduce them, II no opportunity
was presented to storm the works"
THE RUSSIAN RoUTE.
'How will the Russians advance?"
aw hichever way they take IRON the nerth thcy
viii pass through a country which IL almost as
barren as Sahara. You remember that tho Khan
OF Khiva lost Ia his expedition In 1882 two thousand
or three thousand men ana camcis la The furcoman
stepped 1bey must carry all their iood IRON long
distances, aud they will nnd IL often dilcut to get
water then as they advance southward tho climate
will kill many of them or mo greater part Of
Afqhanstan, however, Is not subject TO great heat.
In tho mountains they havo nino months oi snow IN
winter"
The AMEER.
"what 10 the character of the Amoorf"
che 10 a clever tellow-energetic and ambitious.
But they always quarreDg among themselves
and tell wheu he may be murdered"
"Have the Aighans many Of the traits OF civiiize
tion 20
VERY lew. They have many barbarous customs.
They tnink notnng cf murder 10 attain desired end