Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-19
run .wrun.s pEsERTIoN.

To the latest news from Centrai AS'"
"a true. Afghanistan. the "Buner o'",''
80 - nocone n cause Of friction
,hat will soon preciphate the iong-eA-
pected clash OF arms between orea' p'
tain and Russia in that quar'ei'
news comes via st. Petersburg, ana see,''
% he credited in London. 1T u 10 u"'
effect that the Ameer has conciuueu
,reatv with Russia. under which ne mas
,ractically gone over. bag and bassas''
.ho northern colossus. He VIII, IL IL
-, decline further British aid anu
.,.,a,es and has granted the car inc
richt TO extend to Herat tne
,xushk railway. 1t is also Staten 'h'' -.
a,neer's health IL precarious' anu '','''
,bere Is internal dissension IN Als"""
40, regarding the succession. Inv
anporent is Nasrulah Khan, the @in'e'
,a con hut IL IS asserted that iarse
,,,,ors the succession OF MS
,.ourgcst son. Tmar Jan. whose fno''e' %
of much higher rank than the mo'"e' "
his half-brother. -, ,,,,
7, ,s expected that Russia VIII explain
-. ,bo securing of the Herat cohceS
t., 10 s,mnlv I'm line with her system VI
commercial development III 80
| Asia. and the far East. But all the "a
ord conditions initiate against the iU
that such an explanation shou'u oo
,,od uerat has for many years pee"
Lrown as the "key or gate u 49,.
a.. c,o,n, 10 the title may not
4 y
| do,,olonment in Britain's eastern emp
was i'm its infancy, it Is sun
noint of vast Importance. FROM II
sia's further natural railway
,,.o,,,d no 70 Candahar. on the one si'N
and into Eastern Persia on the
,b,s ~ . sense making lap arouiiu w
domain of British influence. Nheh '''.
;s considered, and 1t is remeihpe''" an
pussia,s great transcaspian route W.
rive her all the facilities that tr"u0
ronds the Herat extension must
49,, distinct menace to BrlusI
India u,,ssio,.
7, hoe been suggested that 1t IS hussia
80, 60 ovtend the Kushk line across
Afebonistan and Persia to the
cuIf on which she has long des''eu 81
,,,ot Emf il is noted that there ar
much shorter routes to that goal-iroi'
for instance. the Caspian straight a'i'a
Persia or from Transcaucasia to the val
lev Of the Tigris. This point is well mace
The Kushk route to the Persian "u'
would he as roundabout as the line Rus
STA tried some years ago TO get coh'o'
sions for from the Shah. 1t was give
3 out then that she purposed TO pafail'
ber transcaspian road from the Caspia
TO Meshed, and thence go SOUTH But
: q was clear tnat in the latter event III
I would have TO reckon with Great Brlla'
4 NJ the mouth of the Persian Gull II va
eouallv clear that her design was solel
g. worl, her way towards Herat. An'
as Great Britain continues TO comma"
i the Straits of Ormuz and the Gun
e Oman. we have additional reason i
Il eliminating the present Persian Gun u"
J. let theory from the question.
II While the Ameer was at one time
a protege Of Russa's, he was put upon u
e throne by British influence ana po"e
and I'm consideration Of a heavy annu
eunsidv from the Treasury of lndia
l. Guaranteed that Afghanistan should
it barrier against Russian aggression up'
Is tho Indian border. His desertoh' the'
so fore. holds in itself the danger OF Il -
r usion between Great Britain ana RUSS
So but If his days are numbered. ana L
rs feeling over the question of successi
n IS as acute as it is represented TO
W such q collision is almost a certainty
or the near future Civil war over the 81
i'll cession could hardly fail to result III
a. throwing of both British and RUSS
Id armies into the country. me occ'Si
lie would 3e ripe for the final trial oil &C
Y, illusions. And if the struggle comes
ial will he no child's play II Will De
lie clash of small expeditions, followed
NEGOTIATIONS. 1t will be death strus
In truth. At least, such Is the OPINION
no those best posted on the Central AS
n situation. Both sides are well prepar
RI Great Britain has been no less act
IN in anticipating the possibility ol II
e. sia's lates. move than Russia mas u
mt in manning il, and whether the CO
go strixes before Russia reaches Herat
nv, nor me BRUSH VIII be on time TO III
,e- the shock. and will meet 1t in force
II with transportation facilities superior
81 those OF their enemy.
ger -