INDIA.

Lake County Press, Volume IV, Issue 206, 15 May 1875, Page 3

INDIA.

Speaking on the subject of the rumor that orders had been' sent to India to hold the troops in readiness for the field, oq the 13th ult., the Melbourne Argus has the following:—“ Although it is explicitly stated in the Calcutta Englishman of the sth of March that troops have been ordered to hold themselves- IST readiness for active service, and that there is a possibility of war on a large scale, the report is discredited, upon what prolesses to be good inform-

j lion, by the Bombay Gazelle of ibe Slink. At a the same time the latte Journal records its conviction that a wa> I between England and Russia is inevitable, and that its outbreak cannot bdelayed many years. ‘ The two nations,' it observes, ‘ regarded one another with ill concealed distrust and hostility, and nothing but the weakness of Lord Granville’s foreign policy prevented an appeal to arms two years ago to settle their conflict ing pretensions to supremacy in the East.’ Supposing England felt called upon to adopt any special measures of defence in India, it is believed that the first step to be taken would be the occupation of the passes leading to Jellalahad and Quetta, as so long as the approaches to our Indian possessions from Afghanistan and Heloochistan are unguarded, our military position is said to be weak, even for defensive purposes; although much superior to what it was 30 years ago, inasmuch we have now a secure base of operations, stretching from Kurrachee to Peshawnr. 4 But, bn the other hand,’ remarks the Bombay Gazette, 4 Russia is very much nearer Herat than she was then, and can now send columns to seize that city from her new Jort on the Attrek and from Samarkand; and, having once seized Herat, she could advance on India with all Central Asia at her back.’. If, therefore, it should prove to be the fact that orders have been received from England by the Governor-General of India to prepare a large expedition for active service, it is not intended to assume the control of the Kyber aad Bolan Passes. The Times of India suggests that its destination may be China, and that its object may be to punish the attack made upon Colonel Horace Browne and his trading expedition by the Chinese, who murdered his interpreter and five Chinese servants; but it, is scarcely likely that a great land force would be set in motion for a considerable small matter of this kind.”