The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-10
BEAR WATCHING BULL RUSSIA HAS HEIR EYE ON POLICY
 OF GREAT BRITAIN. Csers Military Strength in Direction of Indian Frentier is Being Steadily Increased, Though in Secret
 Manner.

St Petersburg, March 9-11:55 p. m. -Russia Is steadily reinforcing her mil- ftary strength. both in men and guns, In the direction of the Indian frontier. Sensational rumors of the despatch of endorsements for Russian Turkestan were current two months ago, but they were then denied. The Associated Press Is now in position to afirm the truth on the authority of a traveller of uniua- peachable veracity, who has just arriv- ed from Tashkend and who was a per- sonal witness of military activity on the recently completed Orenburg-Tash- kend and other strategic railroads through Merv to Krasnovodsk. Troops, guns and munitions of war have been moving southward for two months. Be- tween the middle of January and the middle of February hfty-six military trains mostly carrying artillery, arriv- cd at Tashkend. The guns were most ly sent from Merv, from whence a pure. ly military railway line goes to Kurosk. The traveller in question was informed, although he had no personal knowledge on the point that Russian troops had crossed the Pamirs through Terek Pass and garrisoned Kashgar. The Orenburg- Tashkend railroad was so crowded that the traveller was forced to return by way of Krasnovodsk.
 Ihe Associated Press informant states that the greatest secrecy is ob- served. Travellers. who are rare, must be provided with special permits from the Minister of War and are kept under the closest surveillance. The baggage Of this traveller was twice seized and searched, although his papers were reg ular It Is most significant that local officials have been ordered not to per- init Englishmen to travel in Russian Turkestan and steamship captains on the Caspian Sea have been forbidden to allow Englishmen to land on the east ern shore.
 Speaking generally. the Associated Press informant said that the greatest tranquility prevailed in the Turkestan region. At Bokhara there were only vague rumors that war was in pro- gress and absolutely nothing was known regarding political developments in European Russia.
 The only explanation of the renewal of Russia's military activity there is that probably it Is a demonstration to impress Afghanistan.
 The Associated Press is unable here to obtain any official admission that any unusual military move is in pro- gress, the statement being made that If guns were going south 1t was simply an ordinary operation in the way of shifting troops. but q Russian of high position made the following state- mept:
 Russia has not any designs on India, as England Is so fond of alleging. If Great Britain would only let us alone we would not trouble her. but we are not blind to the manner in which Great Britain has seized the occasion of the present war to buttress all her inter- est In Central Asia, where we have as vital interests as she; nor can Rus sians get over the idea that sooner or later a conflict with our traditional enemy Is inevitable. and we realize that our only path to victory lies in the direction of India.
 Without going back to Lord Cur zon's bombastic proclamations or any thing prior to the war and emitting consideration of the manner in which sine has sought to embarrass and dis credit us in It's prosecution, we recall what Great Britain has done in Asia since the outbreak of hostilities, and ask whether Russia would not be iusti- fled in making counter. move to Younghusband's expedition to Thibet, which was in direct violation of Great Brftains solemn assurances to us.
 "Younghusband, you will remember, negotiated treaty which so closely approached a protectorate over Thibet that the British Government was obliged to administer a public rebuke to him. Then Lord Kitchener's scheme for the reorganization of the Indian army blossomed and what was called a commercial expedition was sent to Persia The son of the Ameer of Afghanistan was next brought to Bonn bay. Then pressure was put upon Turkey to settle the Aden- Hinterland question and now there is a project for an autonomous Arabia.
 Great Britain has been making hay while the sun shone. but Russia can not hold her hands and see Thibet and Afghanistan converted into Bhutans or Nepals, nor Persia placed completely under their influence. have no per sonal knowledge of what. if any steps have been taken in Turkestan, but Great Britain will find Russia is not so engrossed or helpless as to be oblig- ed to relinauish border states to her mercy without a struggle