Evening star., 1918-04-14


IQ route to India is a litth the prema-
ID1 ture. Yet 1t has. possibilities.
- While nobody can Yet foresee
the full consequences of the Russian
collapse, it does not follow that Ger
many will be able to carry QUIZ her am
bilious plans. The routes to India will
be settled on the western frdnt rather
than on the frontiers of Europe and
Asia
Two countries lie athwart, the route
between Russia and India. They are
Persia and Afghanistan. Both are Mo-
hammedan countries. and the kaiser's
proclaimed partnership with Moham-
med has been viewed as one move in
the great railway pawn. Mohamme-
danism has much to do with the future
routes to India. but that phase Of the
subject may be dismissed for the time
being. The geographical situation is
the one of more immediate Importance
joining up the railway systems of
Europe with those of India
Most persons will be surprised to
know how comparatively simple Il is
as a geographical and engineering
the European railway systems and the
Indian railway systems Is Approximate
1y only five hundred miles. Complete
surveys rather than the engineering
that have been obtained heretofore,
most likely would reduce the gap to
450 miles, about the distance between
Pittsburgh and New York.
railways are the European connecting
link. although the transsiberian
through its connections may also be
included in the European system.
The transcaucaEian line comes down
to the Persian border from Tifiis. This
Caucasian city. therefore. has been
looked upon by some engineers as the
real starting point for the through lins
to India, but in order to utilize this
route 1t will be necessary to construct
a trunk line virtually through the
whole extension of Persia
There are several routes through
Persia to the Afghan and Baluchistan
borders. The most feasible of these
Is said to be the caravan route from
Seistan, in Persia, near the Afghan
border. This sometimes is consider
ed in connection with the proposals
for railway lines from Teheran and
Ispahan to India following the cara
van routes which havesbeen used for
centuries. but besides the long line
which would have to- be built in Per-
sia this route passes through the
southwestern corner of Afghanistan,
and in getting into India by way of
Afghanistan strategic and political
considerations would find the more
direct route preferable.
The direct route has its starting point
at Nerve. on the transcaucasian system
In
branch Of the transcaucasian runs
straight down to Post Kushkinski,
which is on the border of Afghanistan
From Post Kushkinski to Herat, in
Afghanistan, is about thirty-five miles.
That is why Herat sometimes is called
the outpost Of India 1t is the gate
way through which Alexander the
Great. Genghis Khan, Tamerlane
and other conquering warriors passed.
Herat is about $500 feet above the
sea level and 10 the trade center for
much Of the traffic between Persia,
Russia and Afghanistan, as well as a
way station for the traffic between
India and Persia.
avoids the high mountains Of north
ern Afghanistan. 1t stretches down to
the plains Of India through the Bolan
pass.
because the amir doesn't want them.
He believes that he is better able to
defend his wild country when means of
communication are limited to the caravan
routes than II 1t was open to railway
communication.
When they were rival world powers
England and Russia acquiesced in the
amirs view, but each was ready to
push . railway from either border, II
Wsthous vi with wsitans % sor the q conssnt % q the he
amir. Russia always has been ready
to construct the extansion from