The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-25
India Menaced by Russia.

India Menaced by Russia.
The construction OF this new line has
brought European Russia close to India.
and has made the British empire a
continental power in its great eastern
dependency. According to Japanese
soldier. who has made a personal study
of India and the Indian frontier, Russia
VIII be able. with no great difficulty 70
place an army of from 500 600 10 100000
men upon the Indian frontier, and To
maintain that army there in fighting
condition. As to the soundness of this
conclusion little doubt can be felt. since
IL the present war with Japan Russia
has been able TO transport within a
year 10000 men from Europe 10 Man
churia and 10 keep them there in fight
ing condition 1t is true that central
Asia Is not so rich, so densely populated
or so productive a country as Aanchu-
ria but against this must be set the
fact that there IRE two railroads abut-
ting upon the Indian frontier, whereas
TO Manchuria there is only one.
LORD Kitchener was among the first
to realize The gravity OF the situation
created by the construction Of the new
railway. He is peculiarly and pre-
eniaently a railway general By rail-
ways he reconQuered the Soudan; by
the help of railways he crushed the last
vestges of Boer resistance IN South
Africa. i thus was not inappropriate
that. after he had accomplished his
Work in the Transvaal, he should have
selected India as the field OF his activ-
lily, much though his presence as or
ganiZer and reforrner was needed in
England at the war Office.
Lord KitchenePs Policy.
The policy of Lord Kitchener has been
TO render india seIf-dependent. In the
past artillery, ammunition, rifles. sad
dlery, and all the thousand and one
requisites of an army had to be OBJ
tanned from England and Europe. In
The event Of war prompt stop might
be put 10 the supply by hostile cruisers.
Lord Kitchener has, therefore, taken
precautionary steps a cordite factory
has been opened in southern India.
which can turn out powder as good as
that produced at Waltham Abbey, and
this At a saving 70 the Indian tax
payer.
A rifle factory is nearly ready 10 begin
turning Out rif1es AT Ishapore, and here
again 4 substantial saving 10 the Indian
government VIII result Artillery is to
be manufactured in the same way. while
gun carriages will be produced at I'M
meuse works at JubbulpOre- A horseshoe
All the demands OF the Indian army.
Thus self-dependence in every direction
is being attained
The organization and training of the
Indian troops are now being conducted
with . view 10 efficiency ia war, and
however much The lessons OF she cam
paign in South Africa have peen over
looked IL England, they are nOJ being
ignored in Indla. The troops are brought
together III large masses, so that their
commanders may learn how 10 handle
great bodies OF men; the brigades and
divisions in peace are trained under rho
generals "ho would lead IN war
Boat Bridge at Khushalgar.
The boat bridge at Khushalgar is one
OF the most important p0ntoon bridges
over the Indus. on the northwest from
tier Of India The Indus has always
been difficult TO bridge owing TO the rap
idity OF its current, more especially dur
ing what is known as the rainy season,
when il becomes much swollen. This
bridge is permanent. and not temporary,
as might be supposed. and il was over
this bridge that the Tirah expeditjouary
force advanced into the AfFidi country,
running from RaWal PindI TO khushaI-
gar which lies on the left bank of the
Indus.
The simplest form of perlnanent ferry
consists Of ropes stretched across the
river BY means of which RATS can be
sheeEred or hauled backward and for
ward frCp bank 10 bank. The khushal-
gar bridge is however, the ordinary
Boating or pontOon bridge. 1t is capable
OF bearing amy traffic with the exception
OF heavy siege artillery. The banks on
both sides of the river are very steep,
winding up the cliff at steep angle.
The surrounding country is rocky and
barren