Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-03-28
BRITON AND MUSOOVITE
THE LION AND THE BEAR PREPARING
FOR A DEATH GRAPPLE.
What Royal Artil1eryman Has to Say Of
the situation-The Czar Looking To-
ward ConstantinopIe-En
glands Tardy Demands.

ALBANY, N. Y, March 26-Lieut Col. @.
T. Pretyman, of the British royal artillery,
| who took part in several engagements during
the Afghanistan campaign Of 1870, went
with Gen. Roberts to Cabul after the murder
OF Sir Louis Cavignari, and was military
secretary to the general from 1881 until No
vember, 1894 is visiting friends here, being
absent from the army on sick leave. He
gives an interesting review of the present
situation in Afghanistan and the chances of
an outbreak of hostilities between England
and Russia "Our government he says.
''has been warned frequently by experts of
the condition of things in Afghanistan
for years. Our policy has rather
been to induce Russia on toward
the disputed territory. We have pursued
a weak and vacillating course We should
have said to her, so far, and no fartherp
and established firm but courteous policy
Russia has been creeping ON and on, year by
year, toward its objective point, Herat. We
must not let Russia put her foot into Afghan.
istan. It is Of the most vital Importance to
us to keep her out. Should she get possession
of Herat, she has the key of Afghanistan.
The road from Herat to Cabul, the capital
is the best passage for wheeled artillery in
Afghanistan II she gets Herat, she viii III
timately attempt to press on TO the capital,
and while they are thus occupying the at
tention of our forces, desperate attempt
will be made by Russia to take CONSTANT
nople which, in my opinion, is their real OBJ
iective point
'If Russia could hold Afghanistan as
depot, she would incite the greedy Afghan
tribes to invade India and plumber. The
power that holds Herat has great political
influence over both Afghanistan and India.
The present dispute is relative to the bound
| airy between Afghanistan and Russia. Now
our government sent Sir Peter Lumsden,
who knows all about the territory of the dis
puted boundary, to draw a line with the Rus
| slams, who purposely neglected to send their
| ENJOYS to meet him In the meanwhile
Russia has been pushing ON troops upon
troops converging at Herat, at their
depots at Merat and Sarakhs, which places
they took possession of in 1880. They have
sent outposts to Panjdeh, on the Murghan
river, and to the Zulfikar pass on the road
| from Sarakhs to Herat, which runs along
the Heri-Rud valley. Our troops are at
Quetta, which is fully five hundred miles
| from Herat Herat is only two hundred and
two miles from the Russian depot at Sarakhs.
have no doubt that Sir Peter can make
Herat impregnable until assistance arrives
from Quetta, even if the worst comes to the
worst. 1t would be a severe blow to our
prestige ia India should Russia get posses
sion Of Herat.
"On the other handn he continued, eff
Russia is beaten. | think the Turcomans
whom she conquered by massacreing their
women and children in 1881 by the thousands,
will turn ON Russia for revenge Russia is
merely holding the Turcomans down by force
| of arms We have allowed Russia to gain
| control of Persia, and 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 he had
| large force at Candahar which is 1863 miles
| frolr rat. The railroad was being con
STR rom Sibi in the direction of Can
! dahaI We ought to have remained
| and made ourselves strong there
completing the railroad to that point, but
the policy of the liberal home government
decided to withdraw the troops to Quetta,
| and even went so far as to tear up the rail-
road which had been built. The Indian gov
| eminent commenced to relay this road in
| double quick time about eighteen months
| ago. When the railroad was taken up
| great many virtually gave up Herat to Rus
STA. 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 Eng
land has known since the days of Waterloo.
| One or the other must 60 England or Rus
STA must fall If Russia should get pos
session of Afghanista4 wl promise
the Afghans the loot OF AiI... and they Will
fight for her Nevertheless, think it will ba
many years before Russia will be ready TO
| IL, T,It