The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-30
Turks and Russians Urge
on AfridiS.
Started on a Religious War
by the MOhammedanS.
Will BE Desperate Fighting Before
the Rebellion is Crushed.

Washington. ID. c., Aug 80 Col.
Frank #. Hilder, formerly British officer
An India, now Washingtonian, who
commanded detachment Of cavalry In
Havelooks Lucknow relief expedition
ana afterward served four years on the
Afghan frontier against the tribes now in
revolt. thinks that the influence behind
tho present rising is tie Porte.
The Afridis have been melted to re-
ligious war by Mohammedan pr sts
and these priests have received their IN
structions in turn from the Turkish gov
ernment Turkey has denied tins, but Col.
Hilder has little faith in denial, or any
other statement the Turkish government
makes. In fact Mohammedan Literature
ha, been captured, and this he considers
first class evidence that somebody other
than Afridis has been melting them To re-
volt. The Afridis are densely ignorant, anu
even of that book of books of the Moham-
medan, the Koran. they Fnow only lew
verses by heart. Consequently, some one
with education is responsible Tor the
printed literature. on the lace OF H. 10
would seem that the blame for the distur-
bance rests on the shoulders of the Ameer
of AfQhanistan, and, through him, on
the Sultan of Turkey.
RUSSIA RESPONSIBLE.
Going deeper, however, Col. Hilder saws
that Russia is really the power that mas
the most interest at stake. Russia mas
advanced her outposts 10 such an extent
that only the little independent state oil
Merv is between her and Afghanlsteh on
the north, while the northeast corner OF
the Ameers territories separates tho
British and the Russians by only mar
row strip. The policy of the British is TO
eep Afghanistan independent as bu1er
ktate. WHILE on the other hand, Russia ls
steadily trying to encroach on Afghan ter
ritory.
Now. IL the advance of the Russian out
posts becomes so extended as TO threaten
Me British in India, then the British, In
sheir turn, will endeavor To take the
Ameers territories away from him. In
che mean time. diplomacy is working TO
keep the peace, but these inroads OF tho
-lmeers kinsmen make the SITUATION so
delicate that IL the present rate OF progress
kept up these inroads of the Afridis on
-sha south of Afghanistan and the advance
af the .sussians on the north will DO the
torch that will set Europe In a blaze.
WANTS AFGHANISTAN.
AS straw showing how tho wind
blows IL may be pointed out that the
army of the Ameer is nCw being drilled
by both English army officers and Rus
ians. whereas in former years the Eng
,lsh had it all their own way, there were
DO Russians about. and the Ameer was
hooked upon as AN ally of England. Tue
..meer can put in the fielu about
Ca 900 men, fairly well drilled, and
armed for the most part with En-
field and Martini Henry rifles They
Glso have some field guns regular uni
forms, and about 80, 600 of them compose
)he standing army, the rest being paid
kregulars England has no use for
hfghanistan, it being an inhosritablo
)ountry. Russia wants the territory,
though only as a means to an end.
The newspaper reports state that the ris-
'ug of the Afridis was "a revolt against
british rule but strictly speaking this
Is not the case. as tho British have never
tried to exercise much control over the
Afridis ana other tribesmeD, preferring
to let them remain independent since they
occupy mountainous region OF 10 use,
but which serves as q butler.
FIGHTING AHEAD.
While Col. Hilder thinks of course, tho
>ising will be put down by the British
troops within a few months yet he says
that il Is his experience that the British
will have some desperate lighting bo-
.ore they do it. The Afridis, the OrakZais
and the other tribes living. as they do, in
che mountains. have any amount of
endurance, and are tall, stalwart soldiers
They are armed with the "tulwar" and
long rifle The "tulwar" is a sword, q
trine shorter than our present cavalry
sabre, shaped somewhat in the sem blance
OF scimitar. though heavier mt the back,
and terrible weapon in any kind Of an
encounter. When they have used their
long rifles until IL is OF no advantage TO
fire them any longer, and they are taught
TO shoot them from boyhood they take to