New-York tribune., 1884-03-22
RUSSIA IN CENTRAL ASIA.

Itisinteresting to note the European comments
ON the Russian annexation of Merv. The German
press generally regards the event fresh menace
TO British India but expresses little or no sympa
thy with the threatened Power. French opinion is
well represented by the Rovue des Dear Mondes, In
whichAM. Z. NJ. de Vogtie discusses the question
with intelligence and impartiality. He holds
that the annexation Of Merv is indeed OminOus,
but not because of the reasons which until recently
obtained 1t is no longer to be regarded as the
kew to India. The construction of the Trans-Cas-
pian railway and the results of recent research
have changed the aspect of the question. The
routes which led directly from Merv to
Cabul, through Balkh or any other
point in the Afghan mountains, are
impracticable for an army, and since the ex
plorations Of Major Grodekof are condemned. The
new route passes by Saraks, Herat and Candahar,
and is the road followed by Alexander the Great,
Nadir Shah and all the lnvasiOns. Saraks is con-
siderable town situated in pass of the Kara-Dagh
Mountains and about 250 miles from Askabad,
over q route well supplied with W ater An army
having It's base on the Caspian and wishing to
establish itself at Askabad, would take the Saraks
route and pay no attention to Merry. But the an
nexation of Merv, in the opinion of NJ. Vogu6
none the less renders it iney able that
Russia and England must come to-
gether in Central ASIA In short time
and then will arrive the crisis If they are both
wise their contact may result in advancing Central
Asian progress hundred years. If they cannot
avoid conflict on the other hand the results will be
disastrous whichever WINS. Russian victory
would mean the collapse of the Indian Empires an
English victory would mean the restoration of bar
barsm in Central AsiaD Turkestan once more
oyerrun with pillagng hordes and troops of slaves,
a, alfuli ba n
ruined towns. One of these misfortunes, however,
IL Is concluded, is almost certain to happen.
OF the English press, the Liberal journals evince
rather marked inclination to avoid the discussion
of this very awkward question, while the Conserva-
tive papers are very naturally filed with gloom at
the prospect The Saturday ReUieC is more than
usually depressed. 1t thinks We must be pre-
pared for attack on two different lines, to say no
more-the line of the Khyber aud the line of the
Bolan. That is to say, in dangerous times we must
have armies of observation both at Quota and
at Peshawur.' 1t despairs of the Government
policy and says that England no longer possesses
the power to take the initiative. but must wait
til Russia strikes.
1t is significant that nobody believes Russia will
or can stop ut Merv. or anywhere short of actual
contact with the Indian frontier. England may
push that frontier forward by occupying Candahar
and Herat. but with doubtful advantage Russah hav-
ing her base Of supplies CLOSE at hand. As the ndi
cations are that the Russian advance will not be
checked by any external interference, and as 1t
tends to become rapid the further IL Is pushed
the presumption il that tho crisis will como per-
haps within the next ten years and that then these
scarcely noted forward movements IN the depths OF
Central Asia may culminate In war of the most
formidable dimensions and Implications war