Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-27
The Afghan Situation.

England and Russia appear t5be NOV
ing towards war with each other. 1t may
be that each is assuming a bold front
with the hope of intimidating the other,
and that neither wishes to engage in hos
tilities. II this be the true statement OF
the situation war may be threatened for
sometime yet before a settlement of exist
ing difficulties is reached.
If, however, Russia means to advance
her boundary line towards Herat, and
even to capture that city, it is not improb-
able that war may be declared in a very
short time. England will not permit He
rat to fall into the hands Of the Russians,
because the capture Of that city would
open the way to Cabul, the capital of At
ghanistan. With Herat and Cabul it
would not be long before a movement to-
wards India would be made. 1t is clear,
therefore, that it is England's policy to
keep the Russians out of Afghanistan.
The Ameer of Afghanistln is the ally
OfEngland, and it is expected will join her
il trying tC resist the advance Of Russia.
1t Is not certain, however, what he will
do. The Afghans are represented to be a
treacherous people. 1t seems that the
Ameer has already been approached with
brides by the Russians, and that he has
| their proposition under consideration.
He has made a demand on the English
| Government for a war grant, and he may
/ remain firm in his allegiance If his de-
| mand is responded to generously. The
| inducement which Russia would hold out
| to the Afghans to join her doubtle SIS
would be the privilege of plundering In
dia. The Afghans are brave and warlike,
and would like nothing better than to
make raids into India, provided they
could do so with reasonable safety and
success.
England does not appear to have pur'
! sued a very wise course with respect to
! Afghanistan. She allowed Russia to gain
] control of Persia, and in the event of wal
| the Persians VIII assist the Russians
! with supplies. Good diplomacy would
have suggested to England the advisa-
bility of retaining the friendship Of Persis
/ in order to be certain of her assistance in
the event of trouble with Russia. There is
another thing that England did that does
not, in the light of subsequent events, ap
pear to have been wise. She withdrew
her troops in 1880 from Candahar, which
| is ONLY 1863 miles from Herat, to Quetta
| which is more than 800 miles from that
town. The Russians appear to have I'M
| derstOOd that this withdrawal was an in
vltatiOn for them to advance.
England also took up the railroads thai
| connected important points in Afghanis
tan with India. The reason for this act
does not appear TO be clear. In some
| quarters it was interpreted as a deter
minaron on the part of England to aban
don Herat to Russia. Russia seems t.
| have put that Interpretation upon it. be
cause she soon began to show her pur
| pose to advance her frontier.
When England saw how Russia was
| Interpreting her acts she realized that il
was time fer her to have the line which
| should mark the limit of Russia's advance
| drawn, and to say to Russia that the
crossing of the line would not be per.
mitted. Russia agreed to have the line
fixed, but failed to send commissioner
to meet the English commissioner. In
| the meantime she steadily advanced mel
| forces towards Herat.
She has fixed her depots of supplies
at Merry and Sarakhs, and has pushed heI
forces into the province of Penjdeh. The
distance of the Russian forces from Herat
| is less than $50 miles. while the English
forces at Quetta are over 500 miles from
that point. In the event of a declaration
of war. however. it is believed that the
English Commissioner with the forces
that he has at command, would be able to
hold Herat until assistance could reach
him.
The progress of events on the Afghan
frontier fOI the next few days will be
watched with deep interest. If England
and Russia engage in a war it will be,
doubtless, a great war.