Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-10
ENGLAND'S TROUBLES In INDIA

Afghanistan's frequent contact with Rus
sian and British forces the former is
supplied with modern arms and eouip- |
ments.
The Pail Mall Gazette Of April 81 saws:
There Is undoubtedly some cause for
anxiety in the situation which is develop
ing on the Indian frontier The tribesmen
have attempted 10 rush our post at Abazai
and an expedition is to start at once
That ii should be necessary TO send a
second punitive expedition against the
hillsmen within two months of the first
is bad enough i'm itself but the worst
feature of the situation is that thousands
of Afghans who have been reused by the
Tagan Mullah and other fanatics have
crossed the kabul river for the purpose of
supporting the Mohmauds i'm their attack
upon the British frontier guards
The Pail Mall Gazette adds that ii is
pity but fact that humane methods of
campaigning do not pay on the from
tier. I'm the long run hard hitting does
the least harm 1t costs less i'm life and
treasure. And the Pail Mall makes this
remark because OF the letting of too
lightly formerly of the Zakka Ehel for
whom he suggests some drastic punish
ment.
The London Times i'm its editorial OF
April - says: The tribal revolt on the
Indian frontier is rapidly
Serious growing more serious and
u;. there is longer any
reason for doubt that ex-
tensive military operations are inevitable.
Sir James Wilcocks prompt action. as a
frontier soldiers ought to be. has already
struck the first blow.
UNFORTUNATELY the rising appears TO he
no longer confined to the Mohmaud
tribe. The Bajaur district is now dis
turoed and that. presumably. means that
the Mamunds. who were responsible for
at least one awkward reverse to British
arms in the last campaign. have taken the
field.
THE one aspect of the position" says
the Times lis the presence OF large num-
bers of Afghans in the ranks of the en-
envy. The Ameer of Afghanistan Is aware
Of it, There must be completely on the
part of officials at Dakka and Jalalabad-
Il is clear that Afghans are furnishing
large contingents to the mutinous ameer
who is suspected. 1t is due to him to
await some explanation.
And the Times concludes: 'Sir James
Willcocks is no laggard in war and Lord
Kitchener will furnish him with all the
men he needs; but even If the trouble re-
mains compa ratively limited in scope. we
fear 1t will be longer business than
was at first anticipated.
The truth is. the Times and all intelli-
gent writers see in these so-called out
breaks of tribesmen" well defined re-
ligious revolution. Unrest in india Is
indubita bly, linked in some mysterious way
with Mohammedism. which chafes under
the too ambitious control of the Europea n
in the Balkans. in Egypt and in India. AZ
ghaniStan is a MOhammedan state. and
its ameer must have received encourage
ment of no uncertain character to have
thus boldly challenged the power OF
Great Britain.
The convention signed the 31st of Au
gust. 1907. between Russia and Great
Britain established A
Powers truce to the rivalries OF
those nations in Persia
and Afghanstan. but 1t
awOke In these latter bitter hostility
against both Russia and Great Britain.
Persia is hostile to Russia. and justly so.
because of the ubiquitous agreement TO
absorb and destroy her life as a nation.
Russia reserved for her part the northern
zone. which comprises the rich provinces
Of Gillian and Mazenderan. around the
south of the Caspian sea. including Teb-
riz. Teheran and Mechad. Persia was
asked. after the convention was an ac
complished fact. to assent that her coun-
try. including her capital. shall be convert
ed into zones of Russian and British in
fiuence. Persia refuses to assent Persia
refuses to play the role OF Poland in the
eighteenth century. and has addressed to
the powers of Europe through her par
lament. her solemn protestation. Persia
refuses to recognize a treaty which takes
her life. and her refusal will awaken
within her all the strength and virility Of
ancient Persia.
Persia is hostile to England. and justly
So because England reserves for her part
Of the booty the important port of Ormuz
GaZik and frontier bordering Baluchis-
tan. 1t is not rich region 1t was there
in its deserts and swamps that the army
of Alexander suffered great hardships
but 1t is highly important to England as
a part of the future railroad from Bag
dad to Karatchi-from Europe to India.
Afghanistan Is hostile because. an old
apple of discord between Russia and Eng
land. whose rivalrieS contributed to her
evolution as nation. Afghanistan. like
Persia. has been abandoned by Russia.
and. according to the Anglo-Russian
agreement. is committed to the special
influence
Afghanistan is hostile to England and
refuses her assent to the clauses affect
ing her life I'm the Anglo Russian agree
ment. which in common with Persia she
repudiates and rejects
The Revue Politique ct Parliamentary
for April contains an article by Prof. A.
Andreades Of the Eniver-
French sity of Athens which is
most Opportune. The
AsAou' author cited an English
man. Mr. Noel Buxton. ex-member of
parliament. who has written a book
Europe and the Turks" in which after
criticising the Turks he accuses his own
country of completely and says: But
Europe as we'll as Turkey is responsible
for the present state of things. Europe
has ma int aimed Turkey in Europe and has
permitted Turkey TO evade the obligat lions
imposed upon her by the treaty of Berlin"
And the author adds: ENGLAND bears the |
greater part of this responsibility. Eng
land inspired the war i'm the Crimea to
guarantee the integrity of Turkey in
Europe and later. twenty-three years
later. she was ready TO go to war to OBJ |
tain the annument of the treaty Of San |
Stephano." |
The bill of ARA ignment is a long one |
much longer than the Engiishman cares |
TO develop. England until these late years |
has been the ardent defender of the Turk |
in Macedonia. in ROumelia and Bulgaria. |
In Egypt where she acted with the Turk |
in preventing the complete independence |
of Egypt under a liberal and progressive |
ruler. Since the treaty Of Berlin Eng |
land has been replaced by Germany in |
the affections of the Turk. and this fact |
WIS avowed by Lord Salisbury. who said:
I'VE put our money on the wrong horse" |
Il is the power of the Turk, of which |
England was once jealous an advo-