Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-26
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raj engagements during the Afghauis-
ten campaign of 1880, went with
General Roberts to Cabui after the
murder Of Sir Louis Casignari, 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
greu;ng Journal he gives an interesting;
view Of the present situation in Afghan
istan and the chances OF an outbreak
of hostilities between England and Rus
STA. Our Government. he says.
:. has been warned frequently by ex-
merits Of the condition Of things in Az
ehanistan for years. Our policy has
rather been to induce Russia on toward
the disputed territory. We have pur-
sued weak aud vacillating course. We
should have said to her So far and no
farther, and established a firm but cour-
teous policy. Russia has been creeping on
and on. year by year, toward its obJec-
tive point, Herat. We must not let
Russia put her foot into AfghanlStan'
II is of the most vital importance to us
to keep her out. Should she get pos
session of Herat she has the key oil
Afehanistan. The,road from Herat to
Cabul. the capital, is the best passage
for wheeled artillery in Afghanistan.
If she gets Herat she will ultimately
attempt to press on to the capital, aud
while they are thus occupying the at
tention Of our forces desperate at
tempt will be made by Russia to take
Constantinople, which, in my opinion
is their real objective point.
aIf Russia could hold Aighanistan
as depot she would incite the greedy
Afghan tribes to invade India and
plunder. The power that holds Hcrat
has great political influence over both
fghanistan and India. You are aware
that the present dispute is relative to
the boundary between Afghanistau and
Russia. Now, our Government send
Sir Peter Lumsden, who knows all
about the territory Of the disputed
boundary. to draw a line with the Rus
slams, who purposeiy neglected to
send their envoy to meet hum
In the mean while Russia has
been pushing on troops on the
roads conyerging at Herat. From
their depotS at Mery and Sarakhs, which
places they took possession Of in 1880,
they have sent out posts to Panjdeh. on
the Murghab river, and to the Zulfikar
pass, on the road from Sarskhs to Herat.
which runs along the Hari-Rud valley.
Our troops are at Quota, which is fully
500 miles from Herat. Herat is only
202 miles from the Russian depot at
Sarskhs. I've no doubt that Sir Peter
can make Herat impregnable until as
sistance arrives from Quota. even If the
worst comes to the worst. 1t would be
a severe blow to our prestige III India
should Russia get possession of Herat.
son the other hand" he continued,
"if Russia is beaten ! think the Tur-
cOmans, whom she conquered by mas
sacreing their women and children in
1881 by the thousands, will turn Oh
Russia for revenge, Russia is merely
holding the Turcomans down by force
of arms. We have allowed Russia TO
gain control OF Persia, aud they will
undoubtedly assist her with supplies
and TRANSPORTATION. 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 con-
structed from Sibi in the direction OF
Candahar. We ought to have remained
and made ourselves strong there, com
pleting the railroad to that point. But
the policy Of the Liberal Home Govern
ment decided to withdraw the troops to
Quetta. and even went so far as to tear
up the railroad which had been built.
The Indian Government commenced to
relay this road in double-qulck time
about eighteen months ago. When the
railroad was taken up a great many viz
tually gave up Herat to Russia. Our
policy almost invited 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
that England has known since the days
OF Waterloo. One or the other must
90. England or Russia must fall. II
Russia should get possession oil
Afghanistan.. she will promise the
Afghans the loot Of India. aud they
will fight for her. Nevertheless, think
it will be many years before Russia
will be ready to invade India"
Colonel Prctyman talked entertain
ingly Of the topography Of the country
and the characteristics Of the inhabi-
tantS. The means of communication
are. as rule, very primitive. roads
often following the more or less dry
beds of mountain torrents. oycrhangIue
Notwithstanding up rugged passes
often as much as $4,000 feet above the
sea, or wading through seas of sand and
dust. In the winter the climate about
Cabul and Shuznee is tolerably severe
and the passes are frequently blocked
with snow.
1.-THE people" he said, ''are. as a
rule, and especially about Cabul and
Shuznee. fanatical Sunni Mohamnedans
They are high-spirited, warlike race
Every man is armed to the teeth
They are constantly fighting among
themselves, the usual causes of quar-.
rel being water ttor irrigatinS purposes
and women. There are a great mum
Der of different tribes. the most peace
ful Of which is that known as the
Shilzai tribe, and this is again di-
vided into sections. AfshanS gen
orally are greedy Of money and
treacherouS by nature. At the
same time they have certain geu-
erous traits, especially as regards hos.
pitality. Instances have been known
where all Afghan has entertained RICH,
royalty his bittereSt foe if the latter
has sued for his protection and hospi-
,ality. So long as he remained as 4
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.