The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1918-08-17
F~GHANISTAN is a buffer
state and a prize Germany
would like to control. For it

FGHAN1STAN is q buffer
L state and a prize Germany
would like to control. For it
Is a broad door to India. The
enteIte-versus-Teuton contest for its
adherence is a gamble as delicate as
the spin of a wheel. This contest may
turn on a single throw of the dice.
1t Is not a question of influencing pub
lie sentiment through a thousand and
one approaches, any n of which may
be abandoned If proved a mistake
without jeopardizing the other thou
sand, writes Basanta Koomar Roy in
Asia. The stakes are laid on the per-
s~onality of one individual-the Amir
of Afghanistan. He is astute, ambi-
tlous, conscious of the balance of pow
er he holds, and not unlearned In the
art of watching the urn of world
events. If this is soil for intrigue and
influence, the pretty gamble between
the Briton and the German, which at
n period of the war was at high
tension, can hardly be considered final
ly settled, though the British claim
that the game is much in their favor
at the present time.
Next to Turkey, Afghanistan is the
strongest country in the Mohammedan
world. 1t is, like Switzerland, q noun
tain fastness, and this has given it its
independence as a buffer state. Its
people are fierce fighters, a quality
the British Raj had occasion to test
in the two Afghan wars of 1S40-41 and
1S7S-79. The dangerous nature Of the
country's topography vas also discov-
cred at this time. Afghanistan has
an area Of 250,O00 square miles, inside
which both Germany and Bulgaria
could easily be placed.
The population is 100000, or as
large as that of Holland. The
Aimaks, Ghllzais, Hazars, Kafrs,
Pathans, Tojiks and the Uzbegs are
the principal races Of the population.
The great majority of the Afghans
are Mohammedans of the Sunni sect,
but there is no such bitter animosity
between the Shias and the Sunnis as
between these sects in India. The
Afghan chronicles call the people Benz
Israil, and the people claim descent
from Saul, whom they call Talmut.
Nine years after the proclamation of
the mission of Mohammed, the AZ
ghans sent a deputation under Kais
to Medina. The members of the depu-
tation were converted to Mohamme-
danism. On their return home, the
Afghans embraced the new faith, and
even today high-caste Afghans feel
proud to claim descent from Kais.
Afghan Has Fine characteristics.
The Afghan is of a remarkable race.
With long beard and flowing hair, he
walks with majestic step. He is kind,
hospitable, grateful. He will do any
thing for a benefactor, but is CORE
spondingly severe with the treacher-
Gus, or avowed enemies. He is hand
some, Woodworking, and capable of en-
during long privations. He has the
desperate fearlessness of the Gurkah
"a terrible fighter-and the strong,
sinewy and stalwart physique of the
Sikh. He is a born horseman, an ex-
cellent shot, and uncompromisingly IA
talistic. He is exceedingly patriotic,
and guards the freedom and the honor
of his country as jealousy as he
guards the honor of his wife or wives,
as the cas may be. His fearlessness,
fatalism, physical strength and patri-
otto fervor make him a splendid sol
dier.
Agriculture Is the main occupation
Of the people. They have a remark
able system of irrigation, and every
acre of fertile land is under cultiva-
ton. The products of the farms in
clude wheat, barley, rice, lentils, to-
bacco, millet, sugar cane, lumber, cot
ton, grapes, castor-oil seeds, berries.
Industry is un~developed, yet the u
try is rich in mineral resources, par
ticuIarly iron and coal; gold, silver,
copper and lead; anthony, sulphur.
The industries include the making of
carpets, felts, silks and articles from
goats and camels' hair. A~fghanistan
imports every year from India a total
of $2,721,0O0 worth of goods; her i'm
ports from Bokhara alone reach to ST.
100000. Exports to India amount to
$4,O35.O
II ls q Paternal Monarchy.
The government of A~fghanistan is
an absolute, but a paternal, monarchy.
The Amir is the executive and the ju-
dicial head Of the state. He has a
council which Is composed of Moham-
medan priests, noblemen and the rep
resentatives Of the people. This coun-
Gil IL divided into an upper and lower
house. He has cabinet ministers, but
none is permitted to give any advice
unless asked for II. But, quite unlike