The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-17

under any circumstances, even supposing that
Turkey were to side with England, which Is yet
a question In the first place. the Crimea is now
connected by rail with the rest of Russia, so that
an army far superior to that of England could
be concentrated there in short time In the
second place, our army is now as we'll armed as
the English army, which was not the fact dur
ing the Crimean war In the third place, our
feet in the Black sea and the coast fortresses,
such as..Sebastopol and Kertch, are strong enough
to defend our coast efficiently. AS to going
to Batoum and Tifis the capital of the
Caucasus, the English would find it an exceed
ingy hard job, for they would surely meet q
superior army, and before they could move on to
Tifis they would have to take the fortress of
Kars, which even while in the Turkish hands,
almost impregnable / nave also heard
some say that England might send some of her
mems war to the Pacific, where the Kamschatka
and the other Pacific provinces OF Russia could
be easily taken This is very true; but do not
believe that England would exchange India for
Kamschatka and that is probably what such
man9uvre would amount to-"
what would be the probable results of an
Anglo Russian war2"
What particularly must be had in view is
that Russia would put at stake almost nothing
and England everything. Let us suppose
though don't admit it-that Russia would be
defeated. What would she lose2 She might be
shorn of part of Turkestan at the most Her
trade, being principally conducted through Ger
many, would be very little affected by the war.
But see what the results would be if-as firmly
believe would be the case-England were beaten.
IE the first place, Afghanistan would be at his
Maiestys mercy. In the second place. the
English grasp on India would be loosened to
such dangerous degree that the title and power
of the Empress of India might pass out OF his
would be paralyzed. 1t is not secret that
Russia has number of cruisers which, In case
of need, would greatly harass the English mer-
chant marine"
"Any way this would be titanic struggle,
would it nots"
Certainly it would be one of the hardest of
fights Russia is powerful and -solid nation,
which expands naturally because of its growth.
She will be the master in the East, all English
impedinents to the contrary Notwithstanding
You know of course, how jealOusly England
watched each of our steps eastward, and how
readily she kept even the company of the Sick
Man provided that served her purpose of keeping
Russia away from India and Constantinople.
But the inevitable must come sooner or later 1t
seems to me that the hour of English decline is
near at hand. Her great historical role is played
out Her future fate we may see in that of Hol-
land If England should be beaten in Afghanis
tan her prestige would be ruined, not only in In
dia but also in all her colonies all over the
world AS | said before, in this war Russia
puts at stake nothing and England everything.
rs the Russian army provided with as good
arms as the English army2'
Certainly it is. We have as good arms,
small ana large, as any army In the WOrlu OO
you think it is for naught that our country an
nually spends fully a third of her state income
on the army and the navyi We have sixteen
battalions of military telegraph engineers, each
of which can put up telegraph line forty three
miles long,. We have eight battalions of bridge
engineers, each of which is able to put up a
bridge 700 feet long. Our railroad battalions
can build railway as fast as big army can
move. Our ordnance department. can send
beyond the Caspian sea A. 600 tons of shells"
s'Who is to be blamed for the Afghan troubesq'
England, certainly, though the Americans,
being cousins Of the Engish--excuse me for the
frankness with which speak-wil never admit
it, or take trouble to understand the case clearly
This matter is very plain to every unprejudiced
person. When the Turkomans became the Cars
subjects, their lands were also annexed to Rus
sia. Now the question arose, what lands be-
longed rreuerly to our Turkomans2 England
and r. kGagreed to settle that matter AMIGA
bly,, &sSeSeh country selected special commits
sioners for the purpose. The Afghans. however,
acting on England's secret advice, have occupied
by force the very lands in dispute Naturally
enough, General Komaroff drove them back. In
this matter not England but Russia, was offend
ed. England is used to command, and she
grumbles when disobeyed. Certainly Russia can
not be commanded by any power, and that is
what works mp the English blood Well, if they
need blood-letting, they will have it to their full
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