The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-05-15

line claimed by England for Afghanistan-
They are not only at Sari-Yazi, Pull
Khatun and Penjdeh, b1It also at Zulfii-
kar and Ak Robat. \ glance at the map
will show that the Cars commanders are,
therefore, almost in full possession of the
frontier line which the Russian govern
ment, through its agent in London, NJ.
Iessar, now claims.
But the key to the understanding Of the
whole matter is TO remember constantly
that Herat is the place of supreme I'm
portance on the map. Herat is the real
objective point Of both governments 1t
is only as steps towards the capture Of
Herat that the Russian occupation of
Zulfkar and Ak-Robat, and its later
seizure Of Panjdeh. are important, 1t is
only rs outposfS protecting Herat from
surprise and seizure that the English gov
ernment is so deeply concerned to compel
Russia to retire therefrom. From Zulfkar
and Ak-Robat to Herat the Russians have
tomarch less than 100 miles TO bring them
to the gates of Herat.
Study OF the map shows that the Rus
sian advance upon Herat will be made
along two river lines. On the western
side the cars forces viii follow the Heri-
Rud river On the eastern side they win
follow the Murghab river, and its feeder
the KusLk river. The Kushk river, it
will be noted, rises in the Paropamisus
mountains. Immediately north of Herat,
within 40miles, and, running parallel with
the Heri -Rud river, 1nally Sjoins the
Murghab river, just at the point where
Fort Ak Tepe (recently captured by Kom
aroff) commands and controls the whole
Penjdeh district Penjdeh is about 40
miles from Herat. Ak Robat is less than
so miles from Herat
Fort Ak Tepe on the map, is enclosed by
black lines. 1t was built last year by the
Afghans. under the advice of the British.
II stands u huge mound thence its
name, which means white hill,) on a piece
of Hat alluvial ground, round which the
Murghab river passes in a winding course
before joining the Kuskh 1t not only
controls the junction of the Kushk and
the Murghab, but the entire country in
side those two rivers clear up to the hills
which overlook Herat. Fort Ak Tepe,
with its Il guns, has been thus regarded
as in every sense a gate TO Herat, and that
gate is now in Russian hands
The frontier which Russia claims is al
so marked by a black dotted line upon the
map. Russias claims include the town
of Maruchak, y miles above the Penj-
deh settlements. and IS miles from the
Afghan fort of Ba,G Murghab. This last
named place is, or rather was. a strategic
point Of Importance, too. 1t is situated on
the high road from Afghan Turkestan to
Herat, and thus controls Russian ad-
vance from that direction. The capture of
Penjdeh sewers Balu Murghab from Herat
and If Penjdeh IS retained by KomaroT,
all the ameer's territory north of the Hin
doo-koosh river is at his mercy.
While il seems that Russia has been ex-
acting and ever aggressive she justifles
her action in regard to the debatqb land
by asserting that under the arran cement
with England in 1873, by which only those
places tIfen in the actual possession OF
Sbere Ali were to be considered as Afghan
territory, Penjdeh did not belong to AT
ghanistan. No Afghan garrison had oc-
cupied Penjdeh since 1873 until August,
1884, when the present Aneer sent force
there and, as the Russians claimed, wrong
fuzzy seized it, and thus attempted to fore
close the negotiations. The Saryks of
Penjdeh number 5000 families, and Russia
claims that they should be under her rule
on ethDographical grounds that is, that
they are part of the Turcoman race, which
she has subjected in her onward march,
and that If order is to be maintained
among them she is the power to do 1t.
Between the Hari Rud and Kushk rivers a
number of salt lakes lie, and the use of
these Russia claims to be indispensable TO
the tribesmen under her protection. The
whole OF the debatable land lies between
Sarakhs and Herst on the one side, and
between Penjdeh and Herat on the other
side of the map.
Nd. Lesssr, the famous Russian engineer,
furnished to his government in 1882 de
scription Of the country from Sarakhs to
oh q gr,11 IF
port of NJ. Lessar is significant from the
fact that it shows the Russians to have
thorough survey of the country over which
they must move to Herat and that there
are. no great natural obstacles in the way
of their advance.
The question may now be put,-1hy is
Herat 30 important2 What makes Eng
land alarmed lest Russia should obtain
possession of 1t. and what is there about
Herat anyway that entities it to be called
"the key Of India" General Skoboleff, writ
ing in lSS2, when he was chief OF the Asiatic
branch Of the Russian genersl staff, said /:
" A body of European troops established
at Herat. and standing with its front to the
southeast, would draw upon it the atten-
ton OF the whole population of India.
In that lies the significance OF a military
occupation of Herat: and it is not with
perts, knowing India well, have expressed
their belief that were an enemy to occupy
Herat with a powerful force, the English
army, without having fred a shot, would
consider itself half beaten"
The civilian mind can perhaps. better
understand why Herat is ''the kew of In
dia,' it is said that the vulnerable part of
India cannot be reached by Russia except
through Valleys. which cannot be entered
and held SO long as Herat is held by a
British force, or by a force friendly
to the British. These valleys, running
nearly north and south, are bounded on
the east by inaccessible mountain heights,
and Oh the west by impracticable deserts.
Herat blocks the only entrance to them
that an army could safely make. If Herat
is captured the road is clear, through
these valleys, to Candahar, and thence to
all British India.
1t is believed that the English will ad-
vance from Pishin to Quetta, thence to
Herat The railroad runs no further than
Pishin, and Is not yet built TO that point
though It soon viii be. From Pishin to
Candahar is little less than 100 miles,
and from Pishin to Herat is 469 miles
The British army to be sent from Quettah,
where Lord Dufferin has gathered force
fully large enough to hold Herat, If it can
get there before the Russians, will, there
fore, have a march of about 500 miles to
accomplish. There is a broad wagon
road the whole way. Russia has railway
communication nearly all the way from
the Caspian sea 70 Askabad From Aska-
bad to Sarahks is 1856 miles, and from
Sarahks to Herat is 2O2 miles, making a