The Washington herald., 1918-03-18
About India.

The German imagination is reeng with the
potentislites OF the Russian conquest. India al
ready is being fed to the insatiate Teuton thirst
for revenge on Britain. The thrust against Bombay
Is the new sword of Damocles which Germany
intends to against England as its weapon to
force peace on its terms. In few weeks
German propaganda will be busy scattering this
threat and menace around the world
The Washington Herald already has touched
upon the possible new routes to India which
the collapse of Russia has given to Germany
These routes have been worked out in some de-
tail as the result of the fall of Odessa, and the
prospective surrender of Rumania 1t now appears
that the utilization OF Rumanian ports on the
Black Sea, Constanza and Varna, are integrated
into the route to India, which is attracting
the most attention in Berlin; although the North
Caspian route, Moscow, Samara, Tashkend is not
being neglected
The route, involving ferriage over both
the Black and Caspian seas, is called the Berlin
Batum-Baku route and penetraes the rich oil lands
OF the Caucasus and the fertile sections OF Turk
estan and Afghanistan. As it stands at present
there is a continuous rail route between Berlin
and lndla-with the exception of a gap not more
than 400 miles in length. No hostile armies stand
IN the way, nsupcrable obstacles, except those
which the drain OF has imposed on German
resources. With Russia inert and Runana pros
trate. there is reason why the pan-Germans
should not start expedition against India
within the next few months-provded the dead
lock the Western front continues
Southern Russia is much more profitable as
a conquest than Northern Russia 1t is rich in
grains and OIL it is the producing heart OF the
Slavic world and, furthermore it is rovalist in
its sympathies and less likely TO witness revival
OF revolutionary activities than the sections firmly
under BolShevk control. The capture of the Rus
sian Black Sea fleet by the Germans probably
would kill off whatever impulse there is to re-
sIstancc in the Caucasus and its surrounding ter
ritory The capture OF Odessa means the control
OF the railroad terminals OF the territory To
link up thrust, first into Southern Siberia and
Turkcstsn. and then into India is not a task be-
yond the present resources OF Germanic power
provided Berlin desires to divert that much OF
her reserve OF energy from her more current and
pressing engagements.
1T appears not to be really understood in the
United States that India is seriously menaccd /"
stated allied diplomat in this capital recently
1t IS not premature 10 discuss the subject now
since 1t is certainly within the scope of Teuton
purpose It the war continues for another eight
cen months, it seems certain to do One of
the grsvcst features of the whole situation is that
the danger is likely to bring about division and
a schlsm in British military counsels more.
For three years and Great Britain has
been divided into two camps of military opinion
the "Westerners," who believed the whole British
lorce in the should be concentrated in France,
and the Fasteners who believed in supplement-
ing the attack the Western front by pounding
away at the back door OF the pan -Germanic
hegemony-that is. in Mesopotamia in Palestine
and in Salonki. The threat against India is likely
to strengthen immensely the hands OF the latter
party, and correspondingly weaken British effort
+
not going to be or lost in India, Mesopotamia,
any other corner of the world.
Germany is now racing against time. Her
project of power will be realized unless she can
be struck vital blow. No such blow can be
struck at the outposts of her growing dominion.
The only place to strike is on the Western front,
which is the only real front left.