The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-03
RUSSIA AND ENGLAND ~ ASIA.
Russian Advance on H~rat Not Likely
ms Yet. but Preparations Going On.


The rumor circulated a few days ago that
Russia had occupied Herat proves. as stint
ones have proved before. to be I'M Foun led: but
all Information from the East goes to show that
these rumors are but the projected shadows
OF coming events. Russia will not 90 to Herat
until she IA rea iy and the occasion calls for
Il: but she is not idle in the meantime The
railway from Mcrv to Kuahk. on the Afghan
frontier. IL now in complete working order. and
kushk Itself has been turned into a fortified
base OF opcrat. ons. pending the advance to
Hernt. which Is now only matter o! time.
Karki. on the Anu DARN. about forty m les
from the Afghan frontier. has become fortress.
and already more than ono hundred and nfty
guns Of position have been mounted on tho
works there and at Kushk. Largo reinforce
ments NJ troops have arrived In the latter
district in the last three months. and a regular
siege train has been parked at Kushk ready
for eventualitios. In addition. a large amount
OF military railway material. including hun
bred and sixty miles Of rails with apecial
trucks for carrying heavy guns has been pur-
chase | in Germany, and most OF II has already
been delivered.
The significance OF these facts 10 not to be
mistaken at the samo time. they are only pre-
pnratory. nni have In reality. nothing specially
10 do with the Anglo Boer war. notwithstand.
ing statements representing them as flowing
directly from IL. They are only stages on n
line Of action begun several years ago and
leading to "a dehnte end. namely, an outlet for
Russian commerce on the lttoral OF the Indian
Ocean.
The Noroe Tremva. In opposition rather to
discussing the subject with a freedom unusual
with russian NEWSPAPERS. does not regard nm
cossity IN itself. hut only TO be Thought Of in
the event OF England opposing Russian aims in
I'm TINT case" II says. "a camp.ien ae.inst
India ought to To not only n possible eventual.
i,y. but an obligatory and redeter med neces-
order to unior,ake a campaign against india.
SoS$a Ssi iSr the purpose Of rSacSn q, the the
Nothing viii be done. however. while the
Amir ct AfEhapis,an lives. Or without his con:
any time. much win Depend on the action OF
GreRt Britain British advance from Quette
t VOLTA bs Sm% to aks6
Hindu khush, and IN this way the partition Of
NOroe Ire,nVd believes IL would no more 70
the interest 81 Russia to leave Afghan stan In
,aGt; and indicates that there may be other
Tor England's recent anhe xation o. NushkIin
8nluchi@tnn. ka-hgar. In Chinese Turkestnn, is
lands extension at other points and tho recent
activity ~ railway construction in The droc-
can only mean that Russia intends 10 be reoJy
for whatever may happen In the great region
north Of he II imaayas. into which England is
"nd"avorlng to push her trada from India
through kaNhmir to Inrkand. next 10 Ksshvar
Asia.
But Will" the Russian press has hccn dis
cuss'nG the question of Hernt and Kashgar tho
Mnssinn Govrrnment has h"rn negotiating at
Irhcrhn, with the result Just announced,
that II has succeeded In obtaining from tho
Persian Govcrnment nm extension Tor ton
years OF its exclusive rights of constructing
railwnNs IN Persia, with this cOnression
Nu"sla can aho'd To hide her time and VIII ,lo
preparing for any cventua' lty ma No doubt sho
wi! continue Ia DO she will do nos hing ~ dis.
turh the stains QuO in that par OF Az n or
cause breach he rrAcc that might not be
localized in Its Cifrcts w