The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-08-15
HERAT.
.-,.,. Of an Acknowledged English Au-
thority on Russia. = -

ofan Acknowledged English Au-
ap' thority on Russia. =
#, Charles Marvin, the acknowl-
.,,sd English authority on Russia, has
s.0,Iv published work upon the
.;tion Of the two in reference to Cen
= Asia and especially Herat. 1t will,
!. a special interest just now. !.
u;s youth was passed in Russia, and
.;.thoroughly familiar with its people,
.mace and literature. He has for
20 made a study of the Central
y. ouestion. HIS Russian intimacies
=. enabled him to see and under
md their view of it. His acquain-
.,ce with Russian officers, engineers
4 diplomats has made him familiar
N the movements and the country on
y Russian side of Afghanistan.
n. acquaintance with Anglo-Indian
s.ers has done the same for him on
1. Indian side of the disputed territory.
ssv;uo access to both Russian and En-
In official records. he is believed to
.or more of both sides of the question
s.n any other writer of the day.
The object of the Russian advance
uan India is not the conquest of India,
the Gripping of England. Russia is
-, and under a constant commercial
s.ssure. 1t believes that its only relief
q IN the occupation of Armenia and
rmstantinople, thus largely increasing
: Internal resources and widening
Z possiblities for foreign commerce.
1 taking position on the In dian
+autier that will be a constant menace
ENGLAND, it believes that England
m be at last forced to acquiesce in the
su,,jan occupation of Constantinople,
mich in reality means the conquest of
lisa Minor.
With this object in view Russia has
IAN steadily moving forward to Herat.
I'M that it has thus far accomplished
ID been done by fraud and the viola
,ou Of express engagements. The pre-
uis that the tribes of Central Asia are
uuly and must be subdued have no
nudation. AS a rule they are feeble,
psrty-stricken and peaceful. At all
rents Russia has pushed on until heI
ruies stand in striking distance OF
snt.
he holds with many Anglo-Indiar
,scers that the surrender of Penjdeh
ich is clearly in Afghan territory, is
surrender Herat; and to give uE
Bsat is to open the way to the invasion
India. Between Penjdeh and Hera
he mountains are by no means impas
able, nor on the other side is there an!
rrier between Herat and Quetta, nov
be outpost of British military opera
Ions.
Herat is therefore highly valued b,
btu governments, not solely on accouu
the city itself, but because of tn
sources of the district around it. 1t
pm and beef would feed an army o
n0OO men, and sustain them durin,
advance on India. There is no sucl
her camping ground between tn
Epian Sea and India. a
I The supposed impenetrable range
ing between Afghanistan and Indi
discovered to be not such obstacle
IAN advance as they have been sur
Il ned. In the Suleiman range %
Ees for camels have been found an
ty more in the Behuchistan Mour
Herat in Russian hands would nc
~ mtimidate the Afghans, but, in tn
hion of many English experts, max
English hold upon India Yer
scure. General Skofeloffin 1882 pre-
ted that were an enemy to occup
nat 1.-THE English army without ha'
kired shot would find itself beaten.
NJ Marvin thinks the Russia
uns for an advance to Herat or Ind
q nch greater than the English means I
Il snse. In addition to the railway
volga and its tributaries are covere
II steamers and huge barges for I'll
nSeyance of troops; while fifty lars
amers are available on the Caspia
He estimates that in ninety day
Russians could mass 100, 900 trooE
hont of Herat. Russia" he say
+ suld surpass any efforts of ours on tn
Vita side of India" He declare
bad roads, fierce tribes, fearfl
nntains and horrible deserts exist
shauistan, but they are all of Il
net route which the Russians 81
ing to the Indian frontier.
Aese positive and startling stat
ats from an authority which is r
med as second to none, will thro
resting light upon the attitudes of Il
y governments. Philadelphia Press
THE VOiCE ElINGTION-