The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-06-05
RUSSIA N ENGLAND.
a Brief Sketch of the Present Trouble Be
tween Those Nations.

a Brief Sketch of the Present Trouble Be-
twesn Those nations.
from thu Youths Companion.
In addition to other perplexities,
England has lately been threatened
with serious trouble with the Russians.
For a long time the English have sus-
pected that Russia covets possession Of
India; and Russia has given ample rea-
son for this suspicion by her steady,
unhalting advance toward India
through the vast region known as Gen
trail Asia"
A glance at the map will make the
present situation more clear. It will
be seer that along the western frontier
of British india lies ~Afghanistan; that
west of ~Afghanistan is Persia; while
along the northern borders of all three
of these countries lies the great region
vaguely designated as Central Asia,-
the eastern part under the government
of China, the west being the Turkestan
provinces of Asiatic Russia.
For q great many years, more par
%ticularly and more rapidly within the
last twenty years, Russia has been
pushing her troops and her control
southwark from her frontier, through
the steppes, deserts and rugged noun
tain ranges Of Central Asia. In 1864
General Tchernietf advanced up the,
valley of the Jaxartes. which flows into
the sea of Aral, and seized aTashkent,
the most northerly Of the large Central
Asian towns.
Four years later Russian troops en-
tered Bokhara, to the southwest, and
dethroned its Emir, or prince. In 1873
Russia besieged and took Khiva; and
three years after seized Khokand, the
,, third of the great Khanates, or principal
ltics Of Central Asia.
J At each Of these steps England made
a protest, and each time Russia prompt
ly assured England that she did not in
tend to advance any further. Yet, in
due time, forward went the Russian col
umns and in the wake of the army always
followed civil officers, who. as fast as a
town or a principally was occupied, set
up therein q government III the name
OF the Gar.
Next England. still vigorously pro-
testing, heard that the Russians lad
passed the River Oxus. England had
threatened that if this was done, she
would declare war. But when it was
done, she did not carry out her threat.
Finally, a few months ago, the Rus
SLAMS entered Merv, a great and formid-
& al,1a fnrt,.acc NOON tIn f,,,}-rc 80 Dow
STA and Afghanistan and passed on ven
further, to Sarakhs, which lies at the
very junction of the frontiers of the
three countries.
Still. further south, fully within the
limits of Afghanistan, stands q we'll
nigh impregnable fortress called Herat.
Owing to its situation, Herat commands
all the great roads leading southwark
from Central Asia. To hold it is to
have military control of ~Afghanistan.
Herat, on account OF it's commanding
position, has been called the "Gate to
India" 1t has earth and stone walls all
around it one hundred and twenty feet
high. Asmall army could hold it against
a mighty host for an indefinite period.
England has lately been alarmed by
llGiCtttloES Via Vie 1euSSluuS were pre-
pairing to advance again, and this time
to occupy Herat. 1t was, therefore,
proposed that the English should adj
vance first, and seize the great fortress.
An arrangement has consequently been
made hat neither country shall push
its frontier any further. But Russian
promises of that sort are more often
broken than kept.
The English have held a sort of pro.
tectorate over Afghanistan. They have
subsidized its ruler, Abdurrhaham,
whom, indeed, they placed on the
throne. Buff the Russians take Herat
the danger will be that Afghanistan
will come under Russian domination.
The army of the car is, as it were. a
wedge entering an opening already
made between Persia aud India, which
the vast power Of the empire seems de.
tcrmined to drive through to the Arabian
sea.
Sooner or later. it seems inevitable
that wal Will break out between Rnssif
and England. Russia will hardly fail te
pursue her object in A~fshanistan. She
will continue to threaten India. Wher
the crisis comes England will certainly
defend India and the approaches to il
with all the might Of her wealth anG
her armies.