The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-10-25
Now that Another Route TO British India Hsf
Been Blocked the Car Wants to Com
promise as in the Afghan Affair.
Social Problems Coming to the Front in
English Political Discussions.
Sir William Hsrcourt Thinks They Should Not
Be lgnored-China Makes Repsration for
0utrages BY Mobs on Foreigners.


Russian ARgressIons I'm the Pamir Meet
with Same Result as I'm Afghanistan.
Special TO the indianapolis Journal.
LONDON, Oct. 24-St. Petersburg ad-
vices leave no doubt that Russia is prepar.
pairing to follow in the Pamir difficulty the
course which she pursued in 1856 when her
eneroachments on the Afghan boundary
were detected and obstructed by England.
England gave notice of war by marshaling
her Indian forces where they could prompt
ly dash to the assistance of the Afghans,
and the Ameer. thus reinforced. boldly
faced the Russian aggressors on his bounda-
~. Seeing that England really meant war
the Czar directed his officers TO withdraw
from Afghan territory and went through
the form of reprimanding one or two
of them. Then q commission was appointed
to deliminate the disputed frontier and all
was quiet in that direction. It has since
been revealed that what the Czar secretly
reprimanded his officers for was that they
had not taken Herat before the English
found them out. The Russians are now
going through the same farce in the Pamir.
They have been quietly stealing Chinese
territory In menacing contlguity 70 British
India and have been found out before they
got far. First they talked war and
clustered in the Novoe Vremya about
what England might expect if she inter-
fered. Now they find that China il
ready to fight in defense of her rights. and
that England is prepared TO act with China.
So Russia again proposes an international
commission TO settle the frontier as ths
best way out of the scrape. 1t is at least
doubtful that England and China will
agree to the proposition. The indications
are that unless Russia removes, bag and
baggage, from the Chinese territory she
Will be attacked and probably driven out
by the Chinese. with England ut hand to
help.
The secret of all this is that the Gar was
not ready for war in 1885, and he Is not
ready to-day. He is perfectiDg his prepara-
tions, both as TO fleet and army, and &C
least another year may roll around before
he Is ready. Modern armament has more
than kept pace with Russias military and
naval development. and she has TO catch
up with those who are at once her neigh
b0rs and her enemies. Meantime, what
ever can be gained by stealing from China.
Turkey or Afghanistan is SO much to Rus
sla's advantage.
The recent request of the British War
Office to the Canadian government regard
ing the Canadian Pacific railway. it Is now
stated, was made with view of strongly
reinforcing the idea that tho road wEs
colonial contribution to imperial defense.
The Office has desired the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company to submit proposals for
moving troops across the line from the At
lantic TO the Pacific coast, and to lndicats
the probable cost OF transportation of heavy
material of war; If the utility of the route
as highway for imperial troops is satiss
factorily demonstrated Canada will have
proved her point that in constructing il
she has contributed directly to the defense
of the empire.