New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-09

fstan is not much the result of personal oh |
seTvations made on his travels through the conn
Nt-y as IL is q compilation OF the information
Tes'essary II we are 10 arrive at an exact opinion
IN regard 20 the political and economical posi-
lion or that buffer state in its relations toward
Russia and Great Britain He obviously takes
the British point OF view when Il comes 10 mat
ters Of controversy; but his facts and figures,
based upon painsfaking researches, may be re-
LED upon as recent and correct. he has no inu-
Fions IN regard 10 Great Britain's dealings
with Russia and Afghanistan. Calling attention
10 the significant coincidence OF. the completion
by Russia OF the orenburg- Tashkent Railway
with The evacuation Of Lhassa by the British
troops OF the Tibetan Mission, ne frankly states
that the two events may be taken as measuring
IN a manner the character of the policies pur-
sued by the respective governments OF Russia
and Great Britain in Aiid-Asia" Accordingly he
takes as his starting point careful considera-
uon ~ this new railway which marks the pres
emf climax Of Russias consistent forward policy
R SSTfie g s'seE and CALCULATING required Mid
rApanslon OF empire following not so much the
re OF least resistance the direction which
niineIts have been crossed, Kingdoms annihi-
60 a9a Proyinees absorbed BY Russia In her
cent al Asia; until there is nothing so important
Afghaniatan to-day as The intricate perpiexities
49,, iNe elanated from this untovyard approach.
eject an adjustment OF the points al issue The
result has been unsatisfactory. since the patch
work application OF pen and pap,r has come as a
I1Ie, N response 70 some accomplished coup"
there Is nothing result Of any OF these com,
knoveee Of The existing st99too I5 90 our
coupled with a really lamentable Ignorance. dis
gnoer which these rectihcations OF frontier and
treaties have been carried out.
The new road opens up direct communication
between the great military depots OF Southern
and Central Russia and The Russian forces In
Askhabad. Me-v, Osh and Tashkent, and by
improved road and river transport with the
whole region lying between the southeastern
slopes Of the Pamirs Chinese Turkestan the
Russo-Afghan and the Russo Persian frontiers
formerly dependent for transport and supplies
upon hotilla OF fourteen steamers in the ca
PRECIOUS Caspian Sea and the long circuitOus
railway route by way OF Moscow and the eau
easus. IL Is no wonder accordingly, that the
author has felt the necessity Of enlightening his
countrymen in regard 10 the menace offered by
the railway and its projected extensions, and Of
awakening them 20 sense Of their responsible
HIS consideration embraces not only
Afghanistan. but the regions through which the
railway is tapping the northern Afghan frontier.
The volume is IN fact, largely encyclopedia I'm
rs Character. and affords. through a very full
index, q ready reference 10 any particular point
upon which information may be desired. Two
chapters are devoted 70 the Murghab Valley and
fts railway. through which approach has been
made 10 within inCOnsicerabie distance OF
Herat; Herzt and rl1e western border absorb
another chapter and Kandahar and Kabul are
also separately considered The history, ad-
uufnistration, laws and revenue OF Afghanistan.
ffx trade, industries and products, its army,
fpurs and communications. and the ethnOgraph-
trzI distribution Of Its peoples are thoroughly
epne into and many pages are taken up with
sndy OF Anglo Afghan relations including pre-
ssse accounts Of the McAiahon and Dane mis-
Cons the latter resulting in the treaty OF 1900.
The present Amir Habib Ullah the author
r.sards as an unfortunately weak willed and too
xmiable SUCCESSOR Of his father. Abdur Rahman,
90 whom IS cue the credit OF unifying the coun-
rrv and by establishing a military autocracy,
guaranteeing the absolutism OF the Amir For,
-rhfle there Is an Afghan race almost identical
IN tyne. speech religion and culture. there is
rone possessing a distinct sense OF its unity.
with common political sentiments and aspira-
nsns" The various tribes form many diff
fsrent communities within the state. and it is
only through the commanding personality OF its
ruler that such a unity can be appropriated
The task which presented itself 20 Abdur Rah-
man upon his accession 20 the throne Was OF
suc4s magnitude that" In the view OF Mr.. Ham
Mon few Asiatic potentates would have ven