Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-03-03

remain Turkcstan, AfBhanistan and Thi-
bet, all of which have been and still are
actual fields for Russia's secret activities.
RUssIA's ROUTE TO INDIA.
1t is by way of Persia, or through
Turkcstan and Afghanistan, that the Rus
slams would reach the northwestern
passes. Twenty years ago their advance,
under the pretcnse of surveying or paci-
tying the nomads sncaked through Tur-
hestan as far as Panjdch An English
commission was sent to look into this
business; and the czarsh people were
induced to stop there, as they generally
do when met with frmness. That Is.
their visible movement stops for the
time. and gives place to burrowing in the
dark. In this connection. as characters
tic of this subject, | recall "a conversation
with the Russian minister then stationed
at Tchcrau. The Persian government
had approached me with the tender of
concessions for building American rail
ways and the like in Persia The offer
was made sub rosa, and so far as | was
concerned was kept secret. ALTHOUGH ulti-
mdtclv dc clnod as then ncXpedcnt. Eut
the Russian minister, who through his
spies at the court kept track of the other
lC@atiOrs cot wind of this business like
wise. Soon after this we met Mt a dipo-
matte entertainment and had an amicable
chat on uuiiuportant matters with the af-
tcr-dirucr cigars. Without warning of
what WAS coming he asked bluntly, but
insfnuatinely, "1s it true. my dear coll
league, that You arc proposing to build
railways in Persia with American capi-
tau" lie thought to take me off my
guard instantly replied. however.
"Whc1 vcu havo finished your railway
to India. Mr.. Minister. we will discuss
the question of American RAILWAYS in
Persia"
He sprarg M as if shot. steprad across
til" room ostcnsply to get n light. and as
tho further procec lings interested him
no more soon terminated the convcrsa-
ton. Russians curiosity in her neighbours
affairs is in5atiallo hut she roscuts any
hints as to her own plans even when
those plans affect their own interests
With troops mussod in Turkcstan it would
bn comparatively easy for Russia 10 work
To tn" lnohn passes, provided she has
smootho} tn" road with Afchnns after
the Russiau mode. The hfchans being
brave and warlIkc. could mako much
trouble in mountainous country. As
buffer S'alc Afshnnstan is poor
defense when the crisis comes
Tibet.
On tho northeast frontier of India lios
Thhot. Who can possibly want that
d"Solatc land hidden among bowling
wastes and eternal shows? Eut Russia
wants it and England needs It, The first
sine" she designed her military railways
to china. finds it possihlc to move troo,.
to India from thnt quarter ~ AT lo,s,
mako Il mischicvnus diversion thence
while England finds that 'rhhct may be
used as buffer Stato. Hussias agents
have already penetrated into Thihct
whilo EruE.nd has ius, launched for tho
second tim. an cxpcdition ostorsihlv to
drtnnud rrlrienls for affroute hu+ rc,l,v
to prevent tho seduction of 'rhibot nv thc
Eussian cnisearics already on tbo snot
Let us suppos,, that tho hosts of Russia
are AT tho rrontior of Inlio Nvbn. do.
fcrso have the EnY1ish ia nr,eouto rvo
or three hurirol thons,nd Sonovs AMI a
fow thousand Errlishmon. Tho co,,rapo
AMI skill Of tho l,ttor K s,r, ,e erro nc
IT was at Informant. but ca ie me- ~ tho
enemy. and they womb Ic far pnoro Num-.
crnus and norvcd hv ronoticisn, and :,
hich heller in n,nirost destirv Ma,
for man they might NOT hn ohlc 1n crue,,
the ENGLISH. not oven with sunorior MN.
y rs But England vor1d also have to
preserve order in ,ho rnnr sho b.,s or,,
- Oo0 or s0c British soldiers i'm India
to keep its two hundred ana sixtv millions
under control ANA sho finds IL hard ia
send more. Far moro than that number
would hc needed to tocn tbo ,,ntivos dou.r
in c.iyo of n universal rovnIt A. for Nv,
Scroys. who have been finely drilled to
Euronoan tactics. Euclnnd ,,dotih,cdIv
"rpendS largely ON them TO r"p"l inVa-
than useless Thov would Lo like tho
clcNhnnts that tho ancients cmplovod
i'm battle which, when wounded i'm tho
front ranks. would turn and rcnI IN. vcr,.
army they were intending to Gcfaud.
I;ussi1's method with Asiatics is - DO
as little fighting ms possible and to win
by othor means. Her secret agents like
dVant couricrS would swarm through In
dir provided with gold and an unlimited
supply CT plausible promises. MANY OF
them arc already there DiSirf, ction
would begin before a gun was firol T.itc
most subject races. the East Indians.
however well treated. long for II change
Of masters with tho hope that any change
mo"rs hone for the better There is also
an instructive leaning toward tho Russians
in parpS of Asia from a sense Of kinshin
shown by their methods and the peniue
Of both for duplicity. But tho rbirf
reasons for believing that Tho English
cannot rely. in the last ANALYSIS az tba
case. upon tho fidelity OF their ortor
splendid native troops lie down decn in
tho character of many Asiatics ana o.
pecialv Of most East Indians r.w ~
them can resist termination TO hetrav -
trust. A friend or n master whom nm al.
vantage Is hold out with a minimum
of risk. and the high in rank who contrni
provinces are the most dangerous
-
'H'r- iA~ " HN METHODS
The other reason orlsea from, tbo ,no,h
ols of oriental worfor, which ,,ra1,,'''
lack of indi,idu1Iitv NJ, iritinti,.h i 49,
soldier ana accounts for thn f,ciIi,,. ~,
Turopoan conolests in Asia and ~ ,h,