Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-29
DRAWING: NEARER TO
INDIA AFFORDS OPENING


There Is another gateway into Rus
STA which lies open to the allies, and
especially to the British. l mean the
gateway through Persia and the eau
casus.
The Turks and Germans are already
moving through that gateway from
the west Unless we make n strong
counter;novc. we shall soon find them
overrunning Persia and RUSSIAN Cen
trail Asia and winning over the wavcr-
ing section of the Afghan population.
That means strife in India. While we
arc talking about little parliaments for
india, the enemy is drawing nearer TO
the Indian frontier.
Yet there IS much that we could do
in this region. though we ouGh; 70 have
hegun the moment the German troops
entered the Ukraine.
There are three great sections of
population in the CaucaaUs-the Geor-
CLANS. the Armonians and the TuriSo-
Tartars. Their numbers are very va
riously estimated but they may be put
roughly at 100000 apiece. The Ar
mcnians, who are by no means so un-
warlilkc as is sometimes supposed,
have put UP gallant fight on their
own account. They are now being
overcome and cXtcrminated. but their
remnants would welcome the appear
ancc Of allied force.
The Cicorgiai.s are mostly Christians.
They, too. have tried hard to hold their
own. but they have been driven 10
turn towards Berlin TO save themselves
because they have looked in vain for
allied help.
The Turllo-Tarta who chiefly In
habit the Caspian side OF the Caucasus.
VIII probably side with the Turks; yet
many OF them own much property. AMI
pitrh N-,.ir l,l Pc 1
the Caucasus. in European Russia. lie
the territories Of the Cossacks. WHO
still hope we viii not fail them. Here.
then. is n nucleus with which tho allies
ought to get in contact.
Hun MENACE GROWING
on RUSSIAN BORDERS
The essence OF the Russian problem
is TO form at various points on the
Russian borderland strong groups OF
allied forces round which the Russian
races can rally.
For the British there Is no more
promising field OF operations than the
Caucasus. which Vcliamcenoff long ago
likened 10 "a mighty fortress, mar
velously strong by nature"
Remember that l am not advocating,
except on the suggested line of Jap
anesc advance, the employment Of
large bodies OF troops. These are re.
can be operated with any prospect II
success. The Turks took Tabriz the
other day with a few thousSnd meu.
All forces must carry their own sup
plies, for Northern Persia has been
swept clear. II is n land where troops
must travel light, but the point ~
that they will everywhere be lightly
In the beginning this would he a
campaign of handouts on both sides
India might be largely drawn upon
when her new recruiting schemes be-
Gin to bear fruit. The idea that India
can provide millions OF scrviceabie
troops is faliacious. but she can still!
furnish large numbers.
While we are battling for our lives
in the west we are yielding up to Ger
man dominion over Russia ana the
Middle East. Our vision is still too
narrow and our horizon too limited
The central powers. possessing mastery
OF the corn and oil. the iron and gold
of the East, Will gain world power
unless we recognize that the war cor
tinues to be fought on two fronts.
BY helping Russia we help ourselves.