The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-28

| Earl DuHerlD responded to hdWulP1ndeeS S
| address very happily, and ended by saying:
'.The offers Of loyalty and service made upon
this occasion are most eloquent proofs of Eng
lands steadfast good faith and noble confidence
| in our friends"
What q British Oficer Says.
Albany IN. r. Special.
| Lieut. Col. G. T. Pretyman, of the British
Royal Artillery, who took part in several en-
gagements during the Afghanistan campaign
of 1880. went with Gen. Roberts to
Cabul after the murder Of Sir Louis Cavagnari
and was military secretary to the General from
| 1881 until November, 1884, is visiting friends
here, being absent from the army on sick leave
In an interview in the Evening Journal he gives
an interesting view of the situation in Afghanis-
tan and the chances of an outbreak of hostilities
between England and Russia. "Our government
he says. ''has been warned frequently by ex-
perts of the condition of things in Afghanistan
For years our policy has rather been to induce
Russia on toward the disputed territory. We
have pursued weak and vaciiating course
We should have said to her: so far
and no further, and established firm but
| courteous policy. Russia has been creeping on
and on, year by year, towards its objective point,
| Herat. We must not let Russia put her foot into
| Afghanistan. It is of the most vital Importance
to us to keep her out. Should she get possession
of Herat she has the key to Afghanistan The
road from Herat to Cabul, the capital, is the
best passage for wheeled artillery in Afghanis
tan. If she gets Herat she will ultimately at
tempt to press on to the capital, and while they
are thus occupying the attention of our forces
| a desperate attempt will be made by Russia to
take Constantinople, which, in my opinion, is
their real objective point
IF Russia could hold Afghanistan as a depot
she would incite the greedy Afghan tribes to in
wade India and plunder. The power that holds
Herat has great political influence over both
Afghanis.an and India. You are aware that the
present dispute is relative to the boundary be-
tween Afghanstan and Russia Now, our gov
ernment sent Sir Peter Ltmsden who knows all
about the territory of the disputed boundary, to
draw line with the Russians, who purposely
neglected TO send their envoy to meet him. In
the meanwhile Russia has been pushing on
troops on the roads converging at Herat From
their depots at Merv and Sarakhs, which places
they took possession of in $780, they have sent
out posts to Penjdeh, on the Murghab river, and
to the Zulfikar pass, on the road from Sarakhs
to Herat, which runs along the Herr Rud valley
Our troops are at Quetta, which is fully 500
miles from Herat. Herat is only 202 miles from
the Russian depot at Sarakhs. I've no doubt
that Sir Peter can make Herat impregnable un-
til assistance arrives from Quetta even if the
worst comes to the worst 1t would be severe
blow to our prestige in India should Russia get
possession of Herat
'On the other hand" he continued, 'if Russia
is beaten l think the Turcomans, whom She con-
quered by MHssacrlrg their women and children,
in 1881 by the thousands, will turn on Russia
for revenge. Russia is merely holding the Turco-
mans down by force of arms. We have allowed
Russia to gain control of Persia, and they will
undoubtedly assist her with supplies and trans
portation. We should have kept the Persians
firm allies to help us in an emergency. In 1880
we had large force at Candahar, which is 800
miles from Herat The railroad was being
constructed ftom Sibi in the direction of Canda-
har. We ought to have remained and made our
selves strong there completing the railroad to
that point. But the policy OF the Liberal home
government decided to withdraw the troops to
Quetta, and even went SO far as to tear up the
railroad which had been built. The Indian gov
ernment commenced to relay this road in double
quick time about eighteen months ago. When
the railroad was taken Up great many virtually
gave up Herat to Russia. Our policy almost in
vited her to come on. do not think Russia is
quite ready to take decided action, but when
England and Russia do meet and the inevitable
crisis does come it will be the greatest war Eng
land has known since the days of Waterloo.
One or the other must go; England or Russia
must fall Ii Russia should get possession of
Afghanistan she will promise the Afghans the
loot of India. and they will fight for her. Never
theless l think it will be many years before
Russia will be ready to invade India
Col. Pretyman talked entertainingly of the to-
biography Of the country, and the characteristics
of the inhabitants The means of communica-
tion are, as rule very primitive roads often
following the more or less dry beds of mountain
torrents, overhanging MISUNDERSTANDING up
rugged passes often as much as 13, 900 feet above
the sea, or wading through of sand and
dust In the winter the climate about Cabul
and Shuznee is toerably severe and the passes
are frequently blocked with snow.
'The people," he said, are, as rule, and
especially about Cabul and Shuznee. fanatical
Sunni Mohammedans. They are high spirited
warlike race. Every man is armed to the teeth
They are constantly fighting among themselves,
the usual causes of quarrel being water (for irr-
eating purposes and women. There are
peaceful of which is that known as
the Shilzai tribe, and this is again
divided into sections. Afghans generally are
greedy Of money, and treacherous by nature
At the same time they have certain generous
traits especially as regards hospitality. In
stances have been known where an Afghan has
entertained right royalty his bitterest foe if the
latter has sued for his protection and hospitality.
So long as he remained as guest he was safe,
but after proceeding some distance on his journey
his host would follow after him and try to kill
him. They cherish blood feuds, and take life
for a life without hesitation. All their villages
are really small forts, more or less strong, ac
cording to size and Importance. These are built,
as rule of mud, which, in that country hard
ems like concrete. The walls are made very
thick, impervous often to field artillery, and
have commanding fanking towers at the angles,
the form of the forts being more or less rectan-
gular. Fruit trees and cultivation surround
these villages, and immense skill is shown by
the inhabitants in leading water along great dis
tances for the purpose of irrigating the crops"
Nor nrdn fnr