The Portland daily press., 1885-03-31
THE AFGHAN DKFFICULTY.
Some Account of the Situation and Ihe
Points ia Dispute.

gentleman connected with the British
army, who was engaged in the Afghanistan
campaign Of 1880, and who is now in Alba
ny, N. Y, says the policy of the British gov
ernment regarding the disputed territory has
been weak and Vscllating. They have been
warned by experts, and should have stopped
Russian advances on Herat, which have been
made year by year, long ago. 1t is Of vital
Importance to English interests to keep Rus
sia out Of AfghaEistan. With Herat in Rus
sian hands, Cabul, the capital, would be at
Russian mercy, and while thus occupying the
attention of British forces, Constantinople, the
objective point OF Russian diplomacy, would
be taken. Ths present dispute is relative to
the boundary between Atghanistan and Rus.
sia. England sent Sir Peter Lumsdep, who
knows all about the territory OF the disputed
boundary, to draw a line with the Russians
who pnrpQSely neglected TO send their Envoy.
In the meantime Russia has been pushing on
troops ON tho roads converging ct Herat. From
their depots at Merv aud Sarakbs, which piac-
es they took possession of in 1880, they have
sent outposts TO PeDjdeh on tbs Murgbab river
and to the Znlhkir Pass, on the road from
Sarakhs, 202 miles to Herat, which runs along
Harie-Rud valley. British troops are at Quet-
ia, which is fully 500 miles from Herat. IG
would be q severe blow to England's prestige
III IDuia hnOuiu IhuS5ld geb posSeSSlOu OF 6eraT.
If Russia is beaten, the TGrkomans, whom she
conquered by massacring their women and
children in 1881 by the thousands, will turn on
Russia for revenge. Russia is merely holding
the rurkomans down by force of arms Eng
| land should not have allowed Russia to gain
| control of Persia,
In 1880, England had large force at Can
dahar, 369 miles from Herst and a railroad
Constructed from Sibi in the direction OF Cam
dahsr. The government should not have
AIRt1
railroad, as this virtually invited Russia to
| take Herat, Russia is not quito ready to taxa
| decided action, bUG when England and Russia
do meet and the inevitable crisis comes, it will
| be the greatest war that England has known
since the days of Waterloo. One or the other
| must go. 1t will be many years before Russia
| will think OF invading India.
| The means of communication are, as rule,
| very primitive, roads often following the more
| or less dry beds of mountain torreDts, over
hanging Precipioes@c cimbing up rugged passes
| often as much as l3, COO feet above the ssa, or
wading through seas Of sand and dust In the
winter the Climate about Cabul and Ghuznes
isjtolerably severe and the passes arejfrequently
blocked with snow. The people are, az a rule,
| and especially about Cabul and Ghuznee, IA
| natical Sunni MshomedsnE. 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 tor lrrlgating purposes) and women.
| There are great number OF different tribes.
| They are generally greedy and treecberous,
and take life for life without hesitation.
All their villages are really small forts more or
less strong, according to size and Importance.
These are built as rule OF mud, which 10 that
| country hardens like concrete. The walls are
made very thick, impervious often to field ar
tillery, and have commanding hanking towers
at tho angles the form Of the forts being more
| or less rectangular. Fruit trees and cultivs-
| tion surround these vilsges,and immense skill
| ia shown blythe inhabitants in leading water
along great distances for the purpose Of irriga;-
| ing the crops.