The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-04-21
England's Quarrel With Russia.

N. L. Oun.
England. as everybody knows, has an
immense empire in India. Russia has
of late years been pushing her cnnqnests
in the direction OF India, and about two
wears sgo, when the Russians seized the
oasis OF Merv. and got control OF the
great Turcoman desert, they came right
up against what has always heen regard
| ed as one OF the bulwarks OF India.- Al
ehanistan. Then England became a'arm-
| ed.
Look at a map Of Asia and you will
see that all along the norihern edge o.
India like q wall of defence, runs the
gigantic chain OF ihe Bimalayas, the
greatest mountains in the world. At the
north western corner Of India this range
lot mountains slips up, and. turning to-
ward the southeast, spreads out into
number OF iivereiag ranges which cover
EAfchauistau, the backbone OF the sys-
Item being colossal Hindoo Koosh Noun
tains. This rugged country OF Afghan
istan, therefore. forms o sort Of natural
bresstwork tor India toward the north
E west, the direction from which an In
e vasion bv Russia would come, and sc
3 England has for years kept sharp over
Gsight OF things in Afghanistan ln th'
e northwestern corner of Afghanistan lie
9 1.-THE fortified town OF Herat. which oil
e account Of it's commanding position ha
9 long been known ss the KEY to India
Right over against Herat on the north
e and only some 200 miles away, - th
e new post of the Ru.sians at Merv.
FL After the Russians bad got control q
'e the country Thus bordering on Afghan
'e tslan the question immedistely cane u
u az 10 where the exact boundaries OF ID
=, later country were. England was 9
anxious to keep the Russians from &C
vancing turther, and 80 fearful that the
. next step would carry them to Hera
that she lost no time 10 demanding ,h'
these boundaries be definitely settle
I'd and JOINT Comrnission of Russisns an
ar Enslishmen was appointed to deal WI
OF the questions on the spo'.' This Con
mission has been on the ground dur'f
r. the past year, but has not reached
agreement. The Russiens, IL appear
%, claim a piece of territory between q
rivers Murghab and Heri Rud, issui'
'e- from the Afghan mountains, the contr
be of which, it Is alleged, would give The
ID. command of the road to Hera'. I
nd town OF Peniieh, which, it is said t
he Russians have just captured, lies up
,g. this road, and, according to Eng |
on claims, within the edge OF the Atgh
an. territory
ers The recent negotistions between I
ast gland and Russia relate to the snessi
the a. TO where the line should be run, q
're- what should be regarded as debata
ground for the purpose. Two or tn
re weeks seo the two Governments agr'
on not 10 make any further advance
either side pending the Begotfa' 'ion
Our that is, Russia promised not 10 push
IOol troops further into The debatable grot
8 and England undertook 10 restrain
! to friends, the Afghsns. The recent ba
between the Russians and Afghs
eral however, shows that one side OF she Oh
,ich had failed TO keep hack.
As Engl believes that the safety
to her Indian empire depends upon
the keep:ng of the Russians out OF the
phanistan, the world looks on TO see
for aid the Afghans against Russia With
the mower and prestige of her arms.