The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-08-03


travis Of the British fishing feet. shook
the foothold Of every throne in Europe.
while culver of excitement ran through
the financial markets OF the world.
The threatening probability of war be-
tween Russia and England-a probability
that became the more menacing- because
of the undoubted hatred of the masses
Of each OF these countries the one for
the other-struck everyone Of the widely
expanded tentacles OF the British out
posts and caused the already aroused
possessions of the Car to ferment with
additional military precautions. The
probability of a war between Great
Britain and Russia, which Is always the
Joker in tho modern court deck of cards.
with which the worlds diplomats play
the game of international intrigue and
deceit, began when the sound of the shot
that rang over the bleak waters of the
North Sea reached London. a probability
that only the coolest judgment on the
parts OF both the Russian and British
leaders fortunately averted at the last
moment.
But that war. which Is the talk of
London and st. Petersburg. does not
show its really DANGEROUS symptorns
either in the Black Sea or where the
rock-ribbed cliffs of Gibraltar The real
pulse OF the British-Russian danger
beats afar on from the capitals OF both
empires. The actual outposts of the
two countries come together In q noun
famous. isolated. slightly populated and
altogether barbarous section just north
OF the OXus River. a Thousand miles
from the Caspian Sea and another thou
SAM distant from Delhi, the most
northern capital OF the Hindoo PENN
sula-
Where the Danger Lies.
To the careful and sincere student OF
the military paradox which has Brought
the Island Empire and the two Russiss
face to face In that far-distant territory
Of the Upper India Plateau. there is a
ceraalh s-ss1s.. IN notlcinS the long
part OF Russia and again on the part of
the British Empire. by which each ma
ton has GRADUALLY crept upzEngland
north towards the key of India, which
both nations realize is the picturesque
Mohammedan town of Herat But while
the North Indian situation. neither has
as yet ATTEMPTED to bodily occupy III.
To the student OF inside history IT Is an
open secret that the present Russian
japanese conflict was ventured by the
Japs only after the British Empire had
formally declared the dual alliance,
the JAMS were 10 be allowed to attach
the Gar in his weakest point. The kew
TO the whole situation was that Japan
was TO have international freedom from
Interference unless the nation fnterser-
ing with the japanese assault lIpon
Russia was prepared to go to war with
EIOhA-
For over Is years japan had becn
pointing out 10 the conservative officials
on Downing street the fact that this at
tack upon the Car was the Essential
thing. and nevertheless Lord Salisbury
could not be persuaded to openly Join in |
defensive alliance with q purely |
Oriental race
Why England Joined Jnpnn.
The British dominancy over the Few
tian. over the most civilized Of ali or3e5- |
HfnGnnE
the British diplomats to Join as an eoI,aI /
an oriental people. which cannot be con
Eidered superior, morally or racially to /
every one OF dozen nations held IN /
the grasp OF Britain, and ruled by deni1.
ties of Britain. The whole kew fher = /
the present Russian-Japanese in snrine /
as IL did. from the British Alliance Ms, /
Japan arose from an expedition vvbicb
while made light of by the diplouoafS - /
St Petersburg, absorbed Persia into the /
Russian sphere OF influence, and most /
important OF all. brought the fartbest /
outpost OF Russian Cossacks 10 vvfthfa /
q days ride of Herat, the KEY to the /
northern gates Of India Now, this exS |
petition, which resulted IN so frigbten- /
ing England that for the first time in /
history European power has Joined on /
quail terms with an Asiatic one was \
pparently peaceful enough. Yer wifi /
a Russian railroad actually built and in /
operation to within 20 miles OF Herat, the \
Car has actually beaten England in fhe l
stubborn contest for the control OF the I
northern frontier OF India. Only an as 4
sault upon some far distant frontier OF
the Car, causing an enormous eXpendf-
ture, and the trouble 70 transport the
scattered forces of Russia to the point
Of attack, could save the British posses
Etons in India. Although the British
diplomats viii still vehemently deny the
Russian menace against the British pos
sessions In India. the actual confessed
facts and the actual military OCCUPANCY
along the entire Indian frontier shows
clearly to the trained military student
the fact that until the Japs had smashed I
al 81 h
had dragged 20 the farthest East the
hover OF the Cars army, that Russia
had assured position within 50 miles
OF actual British territory IN India that
would have enabled the Cars generals
within three days to have occupied all I
the important posts in Northern India,
that territory. which would have re-
quired almost superhuman exertion on |
the part of the British to crush back.
what Russia Wanted at Herat.
The Russians themselves have realized /
thoroughly the strength of their posi-
ton just north of India. and fits terrible |
threat against the solidarity of the !
British Indian Empire. General Soboleff
as far back as 1SS2 urged the military
occupation OF Herat He said: "a body 1
OF European troops established at Herat
and standing with its front TO the SOUTH
east would draw upon IL the attention
OF the whole population of India In
that lies the significance of a military
occupation Of Herat: and Il IS not with Il
out reason that a number Of English ex-
perts. knowing India well, have express
ed their belief that, were an enemy to
occupy Herat with q powerful force, the
English army, without having fired a !
shot. would consider itself half beaten"
BE was then chief Of the Asiatfc
branch o. the general stan and exer-
cised a large control over the Russian
military advance In Central Asia. Sub
seQuently be was appointed minister Of
war In Bulgaria where he distinguished
himself by his zeal in outstanding the
Mt he ~ ha fw1c
time for q fresh advance upon Com
stantinopie