New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-15
,sne completion OF the I1ns-DaKu railway. by the

,yne completton OF the T1his.baKu railway, py the
placing of a number of large steamers on the
Caspian, and by the progress of the railway from
KILL Arvat toward Askabad English oincers
estimated-eveE before the annexation OF MerV-
that Russia could in ~ days mass 23,ooo troops
at Herat and in six weeks afterward at least as
many more, while in from 20 to 100 days she couid
put $4,000 more into Cabul. and In 9o days push
IL 1000 more into the northern passes of India"
Since that calculation was made, however, lne
Russian facilities have been enormously extended,
and if three yeas ago she could in less than 1our
months mass sc, COO men in front Of Herat she
could now assemble twice that number in 80 days
at the same point. From Moscow to Krasnovodsk
on the Caspian is no further than from Moscow to
Constantinople and the means of transportation on
the former route are amplest. The Volga and It's
tributaries afford unexcelled transportation, and
the great artery is covered with steamers and huge
barges fitted for the conveyance Of troops. On the
Caspian there are fifty large steamers available
and the food supply be kept up via the 'oga 10
any extent though since Russia in the event OF war
would have the Plain of Herat on one side, and the
rich valley of Khorassan practically defenceless-oh
the other she could subsst army in the surround
ing untry without difficulty. The march 10
Herat from Askabad via Sarakhs presents no
difficulties the ground being nearly level up to the
Parapomisus Downs, which can be marched over
or traversed by any of some twenty easy passes
So far then,' Mr.. Marvin concludes. as the
collection of troops and stores IN the Caspian is
concerned, Russia could surpass any efforts we
could make on the Quetta side Of India And
he sums up the situation thus terselyi
The Russians are posted at the gates of Herat;
the English are posted on the hills dominating the
avenues to Candahar. Between them lies the
Afghan barrier That barrier, physically Is OF such
q character that the Russians could drive 1our-l1-
hand from their Cossack outposts to ours, ana,
during the $40 miles ride. they wonld pass only
two towns on the road-Herat with 10000 ana
Candahar with 10000 people. There are bad ROADS
in Afghanistan, but they do not lie between the
Russians and the English There are fierce tribes,
but they lie the thinnest between the Gar soldiers
and the Queens. There are patriotic AfShans; but
the least sentimental and the most amenahle 10
European influence lie between the Cossaek ana
not lie along the road mention. Horrible deserts
exist but in this case the most fertile parts OF
Afghanstan mark the route. In one word, there
is no barrier at all between the Russians ana the
English except such as we ourselves may try and
create, aud interpose TO check the advance Oh the
Cossack.
Mrs Marvin is of opinion that the present contro-
versy cannot be adjusted easily nasmuch as " the
conviction has been deepening in Russia for years
that the economical depression TO which it is prey
can only lie dssipated by q solution of the Eastern
question, and that that solution is only attanable
by taxing up aucn position OIL inc 1nuiah ConHhos
as shall compel England to acquiesce in the Russian
occupation of Armenia and Constantinople." He
thinks England cannot consent to this because
Russia has never yet attempted to define the Occu-
patton of Constantnople aud because it would
almost certainly inv olive not only the annexation of
Roumeia but that of Asia Minor, while with Russia
there can be no guaranteethat conquest will stop at
any point, since her most solemn pledges are
utterly untrustworthy.
The interest and value of the book are great. and
not the less so because some of the things predicted
by the author have already come to pass. He con-
firms the general impression that Russia has thus
far out-manGuvred her antagonist. and the facts he
furnishes render it extremely doubtful whether any
British movement now possible can save Herat. To
all who wish to be well informed OH the menacing
quarrel between the two great Powers. Mr.. Maryin's
little volume may be heartily recommended.