Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7402, 10 August 1885, Page 4

The statement made by the Secretary of State for India on the subject of Indian finances shows the severe strain these have been subjected to by the recent military preparations. A reported deficit of three millions, with an increase of two millions in the expenditure, is an indication of the scale 011 which the preparations for war have been conducted. The efforts made by the Indian authorities were undoubtedly such as the crisis called for; nor have these been slackened in consequence of the delay in the negotiations between Britain and Russia. The preparations may have of late been conducted with less haste than at the height of the crisis, but the work yet proceeds leisurely and at less cost. The Bolan railway is being steadily pushed forward, and according to a recent communication from the Calcutta correspondent of the Standard, engines already run over a considerable portiou of the distance. At the terminus of this line in the Fish in Valley ninety days provisions and stores of all kinds, including clothing, tents, and ammunition for an army of 30,001) men, are being amassed in the entrenched encampment there ; and, according to Lord Randolph Churchill, material is also being collected there with the view if need be, of extending the railway to Candahar. That the delay in the negotiations is regarded as indicative of war rather than of peace may be inferred not only from these precautionary measures but also from several other particulars. Among these may be mentioned that recently the furlough of officers in the Indian service had again been stopped, and that, as the telegrams of this morning state, the Government have decided to proceed with the fortifying of Herat, while British officers have been despatched to superintend the works. This latter step has evidently been resolved on more to strengthen the position of the Ameer than with the view of making that district the field of operations in the event of war. In his article on " Peace or War," in the Fortnightly Review, Mr. Lepel Griffin seem 3 indeed to attach no great importance to Herat as a strategic position, and thinks that even if captured by Russia, it would be of no great service to her in determining the issues of the war. That position, if she could hold it, would mainly be of value to her in furthering her progress through Persia to the ocean. In this direction, however, her advance is likely to be blocked in a way that she has not been reckoning on. A very significant item of intelligence is supplied by the Standard's Calcutta correspondent already referred to. He reports that Captain Jennings has returned from executing a very successful Burvey of South Eastern Persia, including the hitherto unknown Sarhad country. This implies that by virtue of some understanding with the Shah the British authorities are arranging for the opening up of communications from Pishin through Beluchistan and South Eastern Persia towards the Persian Gulf. Such a project would effectually cut off Russia's access to the ocean in that direction, and spoil the purpose which she manifestly has in view in all the encroachments she is so resolutely bent on making in the north-western portion of Afghanis tan. Make war when Blie pleases she wil now find that England is ready to check her at all points.