The morning call., 1892-11-06
BRITISH NDIA'S ALARM.
The Terrible Tension Kept
Up by Russia.
A GRAND WAR EXPERIMENT.
Graphic Account, Hitherto Suppressed, Of q
Significant Sham Defense of the Cele-
brated Khyber Pass.


military forces, who is at present visiting
this city on a furlough from Australia. was
a particpator in an extensive military ex-
pertinent lately made by the British Gov
ernment in India, which has served to raise
considerable astonishment and dismay in
the breasts of England's military custodians
of her power and supremacy in Hindostan.
Major Officer is an Australian native son
and has been trained all his life for the mill
tary career which he has pursued in Aus
tralia's local forces.
In view OF the enormous Australian inter-
ests involved in the Indian problem, Major
Officer was selected to act as military dele
gate from Victoria to take part in and watch
the experiment from beginning to end.
In brief, the experiment was to test the
effectiveness of British defense against an
Invasion from an enemy VINO was supposed
to have debouched from the celebrated
Khyber Pass from Afghanistau, and WAS
attempting to cross the Indus to take up
position on the smooth, open plains to the
south of that river.
''To understand the matter thoroughly in
all its Importance" said the major to
CALL representative at the Palace, I'VE
must take a rapid survey Of the pol itical
situation in Europe.
'0bedient to the last will and commands
of Peter the Great, Russia has steadily pur-
sued the policy of fomenting quarrels and
chickering's with the lesser countries sur
rounding her. until she has been able 10
make excuse for war ani consequent occu-
patton.
The greater powers Of Europe have hith-
erto successfully defed her by q skillful
combination OF international leagues. Into
all,theSe leagues England has fallen a de-
gliding factor TO thwart Russian sggrsndize-
ment, and Russia hates her accordingly.
las if that were not sufficient at the
close of the Russo-Turkish war. when Russia
only Won after totally unexpected heavy
losses. England stepped in at the last mo-
ment and threw down the gauntlet to Rus
sis with BeacOnsfield's memorable chal-
lenge: The first Russian soldier who
enters Constantinople will be the signal for
war with England
The Russians were not prepared 10 take
up the gauntlet and tile victorious army
Drawn up before COnstantnople retired,
fobbed of its proud privilege TO march in
triumph through the streets Of CONSTANT
nople.
Russia retired only to gather strength
for later struggles with England for the
final supremacy of nations. Since that date
her preparations TO attack India have been
open and notorious.
eff you will look at this map you will
better understand the interesting position
of affairs.
Between Russia and British India lies
Afghanistan. TIE present Ameer, who is
favorably disposed toward the British and
heavily subsidized by them, Is q weak and
sickly old man, suffering from gout in his
stomach. His death may be expected at
any moment.
'The Ameership is supposed to remain in
the royal family. AT his death there will
he NJ fFaar 1lrfr llr.a et.-r1 l.,
Russian nominee. favorable to Russia.
and the British have another favorable to
themselves, OF course.
Y ou Will readily see then that the death
OF the Ameer will be the signal for war be-
tween England and Russia. In military
circles there is nc further question of the
matter.
''Russia's preparations for war are most
open. She has made double line of rail-
way from Balkan Bay to Merv and beyond
massive docks at Balkan Bay and has
twenty large transports there ready to con-
vey her troops across the Caspian Sea.
The various hill tribes around Afghan
lstan are always fighting with one another
and Russia never ceases to keep mp the tur-
MOL by Intrigue and so harass the British
through the Ameer
What has Australia to do In the matter?
Why, everything. We have an enormous
trade with India. Our home trade alone
India with quantity of trade with which
she cannot supply herself.
If Russia took possession she would ab-
sorb the trade for herself. Again, you
must understand Russia is overcTowded
with population. and after occupying India
would look greedly at Australia.
I'VE have very confident feeling that
she would take us in with India, and. sup
porting the bulk OF her armies with India,
pour her emigrants into Australia.
In ffan ~
pledged to assist England with %, coo men
10 take the field at once in India. This
would enable the Indian Government to
raise another 10000 native troops.
The present army in India consists of
10000 British troops of all arms and 175. 900
native troops. That is proportion of one
white soldier TO every two aud half native
men, which Is deemed the safety limit in
case of mutiny or native rising.
Then, again. every regiment of natives
on whom the faintest doubt of loyalty can
rest is supplied with arms one pattern in
ferior TO those Of the British troops. To
experts there is not the slightest fear of
disloyaty from the GOorkhss or Sikhs. but
the southern Sepoy Is not so highly held In
trust.
"To come to our experiment. Twenty
thousand troops of all arms were marched
to Attock on the Indus River, as you see it
marked on this map. Eleven thousand men
under command of Maj0r-General Ellis
bHtu disappeared INTO INC leFriUe r0cky
hills, mountains and ragged goTges to the
north Of the Indus, marching some twenty
miles toward Peshawur. These constituted
an invading army.
''The balance of the troops were then
thrown out to cover twenty miles of frontage
on the north side Of the Indus to expel the
invasion. The enemy was supposed TO have
won over the Afghans and debouehed
through the celebrated Khyber Pass
The khyber Pass is at present guarded
frv f4,r. II a
men, about 400 to 800 strong, under English
command. Ii is opened twice u week only
TO permit merchant caravans 10 pass into
India from the north You must uni eTstand
that 1t Is not an easy matter 10 get so far in
actual warfare.
its emissaries admirably organized and
scattered all Through Afghanistan. so that
every internal movement III that country Is
slgnaled promptly To headquarters. The
pass would be covered by British troops in
twenty-four hours in case of a heavy ad-
vance from Afghanistan of a foe.
However. the point OF the experiment
was the defense oil the Indus banks. Gen
eral Sir William Lockhart commanded the
defending forces. A vast corps of umpires
was apportoned eff to every separate de-
tachment on either side, two to each section.
General Lord Frederick Roberts was
umpire IN chief, and to him all umpires'
reports were forwarded every evening. Bat.
teries and regiments were counted out and
sent to the rear promptly, according 10 the
rules OF war.
''The invading force disappeared for five
days. Then suddenly with awful precipi-
fancy the defenders were attacked in all
directions. The enemy commenced with a
feint TO the left of the defending line and
then threw all its strength into the center.
Pray understand the nature of the coun-
try. A vast area of broken mountains,
twisting Dullahs and gorges and an impossi-
BILE view for any distance.
In many cases a regiment would twist
out OF a ravine, getting within 800 YARDS
without being seen at all. Scouts on hilltops
were often unable To see the enemy winding
under beetling brows beneath their very
feet.