The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-04-13
The Cause of It.
What England and Russia are going TO
Fight About.
N. z. SUM-

IN. z. Sum-
England az everybody knows, has an i'm
mense empire in India. Russia has of late
years been pushing her coDquests in the di-
rection of India, and about two years ago,
when the Russians seized the oasis of Merv,
and got control of the great Turcoman desert
they came right up against what has always
been regarded as one of the bHlwarks of In
dia-Afghanistan. Then England became
alarmed
Look at map of Asia and you will see
that all along the northern edge of India,
like wall of defence, runs the gigantic
chain of the Himalayas, the greatest noun
tains in the world. At the northwestern
corner of India this range of mountains,
splits up, and turning towards the southeast.
spreads out into number of diverging ranges
which cover Afghanistan, the backbone of
the system being the colossal Hindoo Koosh
Mountains. This rugged country of Afghan.
istan, therefore, forms a sort of natural
breastwork for India towards the northwest,
the direction from which an invasion by
Russia would come, and so England has for
years kept sharp oversight of things in
AfghanistaD. In the northwestern corner
of Afghanistan lies the fortified town of
Herat, which on account of its commanding
position has long been known as the key to
India. Right over against Herat on the
north, and only some 200 miles away, is the
new post of the Russians at Merry.
After the Russians had got control of the
country thus bordering on Afghanistan the
question Immediately came up as to where
the exact boundaries of the latter country
were. England was SO anxious to keep the
Russians from advancing further, and so
fearful that their next step would carry them
to Herat, that she lost no time in demand
| ing that these boundaries be definitely set
billed, and joint Commission of Russians
and Englishmen was appointed to deal with
| the question on the spot. This Commission
| has been on the ground during the past year,
| but has not reached an agreement. The
Russians, it appears, claim piece of terri
| tory between the rivers Murghab and Herr
Rud, issuing from the Afghan mountains,
the control of which, it is alleged, would
| give them command of the road to Herat.
| The town of Penjdeh, which, it is said, the
Russians have just captured, lies upon this
road, and according to English claims, with
| in the edge of the Afghan territory.
The recent negotiations between England
and India relate to the question as TO where
the line should be run, and what should be
regarded as debatable ground for the pur-
pose. Two or three weeks ago the two gov
ernments agreed not to make any further
advance on either side pending the negotia-
| tions-that is, Russia promised not to push
| her troops further into lhe debatable ground,
| and England undertook to restrain her
| friends, the Afghans. The recent battle be-
tween the Russians and Afghans, however,
shows that one side or the other has failed
| to keep back.
| As England believes that the safety of her
Indian empire depends upon the keeping of
the Russians out of Afghanistan, the world
looks on to see her aid the Afghans against
Russia with all the power and prestige of
har