Washington sentinel., 1900-08-18
IT, ~, SENTINEL
IS RUS STA TO
CONTROL ALL
OF ASlA7

OF ASIA2 warm attitude
toward Eng
land was no idle one, for IN Dec
ember, 1900, after the first reverse
to British arms in South Africa,
the Kaiser seemed to turn toward
Russia. A concession to build a
railroad from Constantinople to
the Persian Cult was accepted as
a gift from the Sublime Porte by
Germany, together with a large
cash subsidy; and Russia, IN re-
turn, it is SAID, for German non
interference with the Cars claims
in European Turkey, recognizes
Germany's sphere OF influence IN
Asia Minor. Immediately follow
ing the granting OF the llway
concession, Russia announced to
the world that she would at once
continue her trans. Caucasian sys-
TEN on from Tabriz in Persia to
Bander Abbas on the Indian
Ocean. An American insurance
company having recently lent the
Russian Government the twelve
millions necessary TO complete the
missing link connecting TINS Per-
sian road with Moscow and Peters
burg, the money for its continua-
alton on 10 the Indian Ocean was
quickly forthc 3ming, and, as the
surveys have already been secretly
made, actual work begins lmme.
dlately. Wall street has absorbed
another twenty FIVE million dollars
of Russia's railway bonds, printed
in English for the benefit OF Amer,
lean investors. The purchase
money will never leave America,
but goes Tor coal, ships, cars, and
agricultural implements. Russia
is thus enabled to assume Persia's
debt to England, besides lending
the Shah several million rOubles,
for a consideration. A steady
stream Of soldiers is still pouring
over the Caucasus Mountains into
the country OF Iran, while from
every outpost in Central Asia
forces are marching southwark for
the advance into Persia and north
west Afghanistan, while across the
Caspian sails a line OF ships bear
ing men to fll the places OF those
who have gone forward.
The consideration which the
Shah was compelled to yield to
Russia is the port OF Bander Abbas
on the Indian Ocean, which will
soon be thrown open; and, so far
as America is concerned, the his
tory OF the building Of the Man
churian railways, from crosstles to
locomotives, by Yanke- firms, will
doubtless repeat itself in Central
Asia. So it is seen how subtly,
and to her own overwhelming al.
vantage, the astutG Slav, after
bringing together as his allies the
two bitter enemies, France and
Germany, propitiates America by
using the money Of her people Tor
building her railroads, then re-
turns it to them for the very
material with which they are con-
structed, besides continuing to pay
them interest Thus, hand in
hand with Russia, America finds
herself advancing all along the
line OI oIav contest IN asia. Mil
lions upon millions OF Russian
roubles are already pouring into
Yankee pockets tor preparing the
way Of advance, and the amount
will soon be more than quadrupled
by the opening up Of Central Asia
to our manufactures. Already
this spring several chartered
steamships have sailed from Phil
adelphia for southern Russia laden
with agricultural implements to
the value OF millions OF dollars,
orders for which have hitherto
gone to England and Germany.
In the case OF France, this is not
the first time this nation has been
ready to play the part Of military
catspaw TO the Car OF Russia.
Exactly one hundred years ago
Russia and France first conceived
their project Of a Joint overland
invasion of India, and today they
are again in a close alliance with
the same object not very remote
from their plans, hut with the dit
terence that, instead Of being
thousands OF miles away from
England's Asiatic possessions,
Russia has approached until she
touches India in the Pamirs, while |
French Tongue leans heavily on
British Burmah, and IS pushing
England's sphere Of influence in |
China farther and farther north
ward TO the Russian frontier.
1t was not until the present cen
tury was well advanced, however,
that Russia's enormous military
occupation OF Asia began; a large |
part Of Siberia has become Russian |
province within the memory Of |
persons now living, and the con.
quest OF Central ASIA did not begin
until 1896, since which time Rus
sia's conquerIng army has moved
steadily over the desert, sweeping
all before it. Prehistoric cities
were resurrected and brought to
new life. The cradle Of the Asian
race was quickly recovered to
science, until at last Russia's on
sweeping troops marched into
sacred Samarcand, the Marcanda |
OF the aucients and base Of Alex
ander's operations in Sogdiana.
This was also Tamerlane' capital, |
whence with his army ne invaded
Russia. Many Of the mosques and
colleges built bv this great con-
queror and educator remain stand
ing in the quaint old streets OF the /