New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-27
BrSS1A,s DESIGNS UPON HERAT.

The report that Russia has seized Herat IS
probably not true. That it should be put for
ward at lust this time is, however, exceedingly
suggestive In that there is no reference to the
war IN South Africa, which to some seems TO
afford Russia an opportunity to move forward
in Asia with impunity. For some time past
several Russian papers have been urging an
Improvement Of that opportunity by the occu-
patton Of Herat. But the chief significance or
the report is in the circumstance tAat it fol-
lows so closely upon the practical abandonment
Of Great Brtain's forward" policy on the Ind
ian frontier. 1t will be recalled that rev
weeks ago it was announced that instead Of
pushing on TO the Hindoo Koosh and Kara
korums. the British would be content with the
Suleimans and Himaayas, leaving the Hill
States as buffers. This was distinct with
drawal from a policy that had been deemed
menacing to Russia. Yet the reply TO 1t Is n
recrudescence of demands for and reports or
fresh Russian aggressions That such demands
will be gratified by the Russian Government Is
scarcely probable. The Car has other and
more profitable enterprises in view than war
with the Afghan tribesmen. Nevertheless, the
actual circumstances Of the case are such as
to give some show Of color to the alarmist re-
ports.
Many years have passed since Armnius Sam
berry and Charles Marvin called attention to the
designs Of Russia in the valley of the Oxus.
Herat was then called the Gate OF India" and
1t was actually believed by not few serious
statesmen that Russian occupation Of 1t would
Immediately imperil British possession of Ben
gal The fact Is now generally recognized even
| by the most aggressive-or most timorous; the
words are in not a few cases synonymous of
| the forwards that Herat is not the gate, nor
n gate, Of India at all, and that its seizure by
| Russia, though 1t might be cause for war,
would not be the slightest cause for alarm In
the Punjaub. All through the years, however,
Russia has been pressing forward toward Herat,
sometimes in secret, sometimes openly, always
with the same inflexible and remorseless pur-
pose Khiva Merv, Sarakhs and Pendjeh are
the great mllestones OF the march. There is
now railroad from the Caspian Sea TO Merry.
| Thence IL turns TO the northeast, 10 Bokhara,
Samarkand and Khokand, as though II were to
| leave the Indian frontier unmenaced and seek
its goal In junction with the great Siberian
line. But within the last three years significant
offshoot of the system has been made at Merry
This is a substantial branch line, constructed
by military engineers, from Merv up the valley
Of the Murghab to the Kushk River, on the
very frontier Of Afghanistan.
Now there is on the Kushk no city to be the
terminus of this road. Nor are there in the
Murghab Valley any interests to be served II
is scarcely conceivable that the road Is expected
TO serve any industrial or commercial ends. It's
service will be military and nothing else. And
that service must have relation to something
/ beyond the Afghan border. This belief is con
/ frmed by the secrecy that is maintained con
corning the road and the region through which
II runs. road meant for commercial uses
would be open TO travellers. Patronage would
be invited. But not so on this one. No lama
serai in Lhassa Is more strictly forbidden
ground than Is the road from Merry 10 the
Kushk-to all but Russians Yet It Is by nc
means unknown. We have said there IS no city
on the Kushk. No; but there is n fort, and
there is a COssack army; there are stored at the
end Of the road enough new steel rails, and ties
and what not, to build the road two hundred
miles further-Herat is only one hundred miles
away-and there are specially constructed cars
capable Of carrying heavy cannon. All Of which