Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-27
Russia and British India.

In a very long article in the North
American Review, a lieutenant-colonel
Rogalia Won Bieberstfn, puts the ques-
ton. Gould Russia Take British India"
but he utterly fails to answer 1t. He
shows an intimate knowledge OF the
geography of the country, including the
various routes, passes, and depots, as well
as a thorough appreciation Of the
difficulties which would be encountered
both by the invading Russians and de-
Tending British, but having stated all
that he leaves 1t to the reader TO draw
his own conclusions 1t is impossible In
our limited space to give even an out
line of his argument, and must REFER those
interested in the subject to the article
itself. scattered through which there is
a good deal of valuable Information
The author says:
OF the routes which lead from the Rus
sian trans-Caspian provinces 10 lhdld,
the following are the only ones at present
available for a Russian attack on lndla'
First. that from Bushak via Old Sarakn-
son. the Herr Rud, and that from Merry
nv the Kushk Valley and Herat to kaDui;
and. second that via Notwithstanding
to Quetta, or via Ghazni 10 Dera lslildlI
Khan on the Middle Indus. Ihese routes
are decidedly preferable 10 all others LOT
such an undertaking as Russian at
tack against India. owing 10 thelr COM
narrative nearness to the Trans caspian
roiIwav they have far better connection
with the rich provinces of South and
Middle Russia, and with the military re-
sources of the garrisons OF the caucasus
Government. other routes LEAD through
On difficult a mountainous country, in
habited partly by the most warllke Al
CHAN tribes, that their practicablllty ior
the passage of troops and the transport
4 L., ora n
able. Besides, the road TO Herat is
comparatiyely easy one, and for part OF
IT'S course traverses fertile country.
Then. regarding the number OF troops
which would be available TO Russia Tor
such an attack upon India, ana the time
which would be required for the Russian
advance, he says:
Bo<hara and Turkestan number about
Al 900 men on a peace footing. In view Oh
the great importance of Herat as q pa3e
of operations for a Russian attack on III
dia, II is not mpossible-though II can
scarcely be said TO be probable-that Eng
land might undertake defence, II not Oh
Herat itself of other parts or Afghahls-
tan against a Russian attack; ana III
such am event the Russians would be in
cited TO an effort TO secure Herat win US
little DELAY as possible. For this attack
the kuSSldH lIobpo IN C"'f'eN'
whose most advanced posts at the Zulu
car pass aud at Sahri Yari are only about
90 miles (say twenty marches) from
Herat might be Immediately employed
against that place, while the troops 10
Gated in the northeast Of Trans-Caspla
might be brought up by rail. In such
situation the attitude Of the Afghans
would. of course, be OF special impor-
lance. 1t is true that their Amir is sub
sjdized by England, but his control over
the wild Afghan tribes Is slight. and 1t
Il not impossible that the latter
In their desire for booty, would rather
follow a Russian summons TO join
IN an expedition against wealthy
India than a British invitation to defend
Herat, without immediate chance OF pro-
1T. In any case Russia, by reason of her
greater nearness to Herat. is at consider
able advantage. The next important body