New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-08

THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE.

Tho Gentleman who Is to-day introduced to
tho readers Of The Tribune by the face pen
of "Ex-Attache" Is better known TO the Ameri-
can public through his reputed deeds than by
name Indeed, the latter will be unfamlliar
TO many to whom the former are apparent IL
has long been evident that some master-mlhd
IS directing Russian policy in the East, ana
different mind from that which directs II else
where For while in Europe triumphs have
been mingled with rebuffs, in Asia there mas
for years been practically unbroken series OF
successes On the Amoor in COrea, IN emma
itself. in Turkastan and BOkhara, before the
gates of Herat, on the lonely heights OF the
Pamirs, indeed all along the line, Russia mas
made steady advance. That fact must be due
either to able men at dozen different points
or to some one overruling genius. The latter
theory is adopted by our contributor, who gives
the credit for the Russian advance to Nj. Zino-
vieff.
II NAV well be- The hand Of that shrewd
Diplomat has been in evidence in more than
one important case, and the same touch is sug-
gested elsewhere That he has now been sent
TO Constantinople as Ambassador is most sig
nificant. There is the greatest of all present
work TO be done On the one hand the Greek,
Cretan and Armenian questions are to be set
tied and the affairs of the Ottoman Empire in
general to be overlooked. On the other hand,
there Is the pan-Islamic propaganda TO be OBJ
served. perhaps fostered. This latter has not
been much talked about. 1t Is subject in
which America has no direct interest and which
Groat Britain prefers to discuss behind closed
doors The fact is however that such prOpa-
ganda Is being. and has for years been, vigor-
ously pushed and seems now to be nearing its
elimination 1t affords Abdul Hamid an I'M
rivalled opportunity to prove his devotion to
the faith and his worthiness to be the Caliph
Of ISLAM even though he be not descendant
of the Prophet. If that propaganda shall cul-
inmate in Jehad. holy war; it may mean such
trouble for the British Empire as has not been
seen since Waterloo.
That NJ Zinoveff Is concerned in this move
ment is held by some to be within the bounds
of credence Russia has been sngularly fortu-
nate in her dealings with Mahometan peoples.
Despite the seventies Of her conquest. she has
so ingratiated the Central Asian tribes that the
Car is regarded as little short of a Caliph of
Islam There Is reason to suspect that many
Mahometans in India would eagerly exchange
British for Russian rule and that many Rus
sian political agents are employed in that cOun-
uy. both MOslem and Hindoo. "ExAttach6"
thinks the present agreement between the Mos
lens and HindoOs Of India, which is wellnigh
unprecedented and their community Of disaf-
lection, if not Of hostility toward British rule,
are largely the work of those agents under the
direction Of NJ. Zinovief. That is a serious i'm
putation. If it he we'll founded it means not
only the worst time in India since the Mutiny,
but trouble compared with which the Mutiny
was a trihe. At present, however, we may well
take more charitable and optimistic view of
the case. STORMY petrels" do not always pro-
duce storms, and there are other and minor
causes which may well explain the Indian out
breaks, from Chitral TO the Deccan, without
ndicting Russia or her diplomat of so grave an
offence