Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-17
RuSSia'S Action In Asia Is
Cause For Alarm.
IS CONCENTRATING MEN
On Border of Afghanistan But Claim
it is Only the Annual Maneuver-
Queen Takes Great Interest in the
Wounded Soldiers.

London. Feb. I.-(Copyrights1 1900 by
the Associated Press.)-What is known IN
Great Britain as the Central Asian peril
once more obscures the Pac.hc lnterna-
tional aspect of affairs. AS viewed ny
the man-in-the-street. the detinlte news
shows thai in spite of denials, RUSSIA mas
advanced a strong force within striking
distance of Herat and whether she IN
tends this as a distinct demonstration
against ~Afghanistan or merely as a pima
to draw off attention from or ultimately
assist her objects in the Persian gulf is
merely a matter of
Whatever all this really means, a large
portion of the British public and
the pr1ss IS devoting serious attention to
that time-worn bugbear, the menaclng
shadow of the bear. Though Lord Sails
bury refused 10 discuss the question IN
the house of lords, the Associated Press
is able to give the opinions of British gov
eminent officials, which in the main are
those of Lord Salisbury, upon this latest
d~evelopment But, first OF all, it will be
wise to say that no action has yet oeen
taken or decided on by the British.
Weeks ago the report Of a Russian ad-
vance was circulated and when question:
ed on the subject the Russian ambassa-
dor assured his dear friends in Downing
street tina the reports were exaggerated.
1t was nothing but annual maneuvers, ne
explained, and least of all, was it intend
ed as a menace. In fact, it was so BELT
tied by this diplomat that the British Of
ficials had no other alternative but to be-
lieve the reports were practically untrue,
especially as Russia, in conjunction with
every other European power. had a few
weeks previous formally assured Lord
Salisbury thaf she had NOT the f9intpSt
intention of profting by Great Britain's
embarrassment in South Africa by press
ing outstanding claims or interfering in
any way.
News from Central Asia trickles into
England slowly, but there came from
sources information that the Russian am
bassador, to put it mildly. had misled
Lord Salisbury and the foreign office,
Wednesday last, had to bring itself UP
with a sharp turn to the realization that
Central Asian situation demanded imme-
diate attention. Yet what form such at
terltion will take constitutes a dilemma. on
the horns of which the British govern
ment is still perched.
Details of the proceedings on the bor-
ders of Afghanistan are still lacking and
are likely to be for some time. AS a high
official said to Il representative of the AS
ISOLATED Press:
If we politely suggest to the Russian
ambassador that a further explanation
us in order, we are sure to get the same
friendly assurances that it does not
amount to anything. If we address a
formal, stringent protest to st. Peters
burg We deliberately cast doubt IN Rus
s,a's practically spontaneous declaration
of friendship and non-interference. 1t is
possible the matter is the Amer
cans call a bluff But we have to be
very sure Of our facts before proceeding
or such a basis. The Ameer is not i'll in
spite of all the alarming reports. I sup
pose he will die some day and there will
possibly be great disorder. But, until
this occurs, I fail to see what Russia
cam effect. If the movement is as import
ant as represented, I think it far likelier
that she intends to make a demonstrated
of the strength that might be brought to
bear upon some minor concessions to be
asked for by Russia hereafter"
The opinion of this official and those
Of the majority of persons accurately in
formed is that Russia's move is merely
one Of the finer points of the diplomatic
game and that she has no more idea OF
forcing a war with Great Britain than she
has Of forcing a war upon the United
States. So, While it appears that inter-
national relations are really not threat
ened with any serious break, it also APP
pears that Russia is likely to get what
ever she asks for, within reasonable di-
plomacy. IN the near future. Nothing is
more patent from the conversation of the
cabinet ministers and officials that the
desire, to concoliate and not over value
minor concessions. However. it must no.
be inferred that Great Britain intends tc
allow herself to be bullied into granting
anything asked for, and it IS interesting
to note in this connection that THE chan
mel squadron, consisting of eight battle.
ships and other craft, is due in the neigh
bCrhood of Gibraltar, Feb. 26.
The renewed naval activity has had al
most as much to do with the return of ma.
tLonal confidence aus Lord Roberts evil
dent grasp Of the campaign. While the
nation is still looking askance at the new
military programme introduced this week
there is genuine qualification at learning
THAT the reports that hundreds of thous.
ands of tons Of Welsh smokeless coal ha.
been bought for a foreign nation are un
true. There is no substitute for tina
"breath Of empire" 1t is almost as i'm,
portanr AS smokeless powder and wert
the supply to be seriously diminished i
would affect Great Britain's power of de.
Tense tremendously.
The navy's activity is also evidenced II
its progress with wireless telegraphy. Elk
periments will shortly occur to ascertai,
whether 1t is possible to communicate b,
this means between ships and balloons
The importance of such a test, in ascer
tain-ng the whereabouts of an enemy an
countless other points of warfare canno
be over estimated.
The qneen's personal Interest in tn,
men fighting her battles is being constant
1y illustrated by her visits to Nett,a,
hospital and the private houses where lii
officers AID mon VINO We're wounded i,
South Africa. A few days ago her ma
jesty stood Godlnother to the child of
majors wife. whose husband was klle,
at Elaadslaagte and has now
to osborn Bugler Dunn. aged Is, of tn
HIrGf ROYAL y1lhIin fllCilnorc vgfo