The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-21
How Far Is Germany Pledged to Eng
lAnd2


lAnd2
Tho announcement that q second detaoh-
ment OF white troops from the Anglo-Indian
army IL to be sent 10 South Africa suggests
that there may be some solid ground for
Mr.. CHAMBnnLAIs's reference to an Anglo
German alliance, and that the British Gov
eminent may have received from Berlin
the assurance that Russia will not be per-
mitted to take advantage Of Englands
present situation. How otherwise would
the authorities at London and Calcutta
venture second time to weaken the troops
mainly relied upon for the defence Of Brit
ish India. when the despatch Of reinforce
ments thither from the United Kingdom
would be out Of the question
1t Ia estimated that six weeks hence Eng
land will have placed in South Africa under
the command Of her most prominent Gen.
erals about one hundred and eighty thou
sand men. The total will include every
regular soldier that can be spared from the
United Kingdom. besides detaohments from
the yeomanry. militia and volunteers with,
In addition, colonial contingents. and two
divisions Of the white troops belonging to
the Anglo-Indian army. the latter aggre-
eating some twenty-five thousand men.
That all Of these soldiers will be needed
In South Africa is evidently believed at the
British War ONCE. otherwise they would
not be sent there. Suppose. however. that.
while all Of these troops are fully occupied
In that quarter. there should break out In
India an instruction, fomented by Russia
and assisted by an army Of invasion
England would then. obviously. find her
self In a most unpleasant dilemma She
would either have to face the assailants Of
her Indian Empire with q force seriously
depleted by the recent drafts upon It, or, II
! she sent renforcements thither from the
Cape. she might have to renounce the plan
Of operations by which she hopes to over
come the Beers. That was what happened
to her In 1888. She had to acknowledge the
independence OF her American colonies
because abe could not undertake to fight
them. after France and Spain had inter
posed in the struggle. and after the so-called
League OF Neutrals had subjected her to
moral coercion.
What Indications are there that England
may presently find herself In q similar pre-
dioamenti She would be, undoubtedly In
grave jeopardy II the German Empire would
become party to an anti British coalition,
or even II 1t would pledge itself to remain
strictly neutral. That Russia desires the
conquest OF British India Is as certain az
that she aims at tho occupation OF Constan-
tinople. Steadiiy during the last thirty
years her outposts and her railways
have been pushed southwark through
Central Asia until they are now within
striking distance Of Herat, OF Cabul and
Of Cashmere. II promising oppor.
tunity for the invasion OF India should be
offered, the Gar NICHOLAS H., could
no moro resist the forward pressure
OF his people, than could his grand.
father ALEXANDER IL, avoid the war
with Turkey in 1s77-7s. The Russian
strategists at st. Petersburg and Tash.
kend have long maintained that, after the
completion of the Trans-Caspisn Railway,
an Invasion OF India would be practicable
whenever the number of British white
troops In that country should be mate.
rally diminished. and should also be in.
capable OF reinforcement Those conditions
exist to-day. and. II the opportunity ia
missed, 1t may not recur for q century,
That 10 the way in which Russian military
authorities may be expected to argue, and
they cannot be effectuslly answered except
by the demonstration, or the well-founded
apprehension, that, II Russian army were
TO cross the Himalayas. a German army
might GROSS the Vistula
Even awar In Afghanistan and Hindoostau