RUSSIA'S MENACE TO INDIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12725, 30 November 1904, Page 4

RUSSIA'S MENACE TO INDIA.

... .-..i1l . I l.i . '!<»>■■ '. "'." '« The report from ■Afghanistan in the y cablegrams this morning is somewhat "alarming. Russian troops in large numbers arc moving.. up to Penjdeh, on the north-western fron- • tier, and only 40 miles from the im--5 portant town of Herat. There have been frequent reports during the present year of Russian troops being 'sent into Turkestan. Referring to these movements, Mr.; Brodrick made , the remark in* & speech recently that .. the Indian army was ready for any " emusffincXw. The retort of the -Wk&S&t remya to this statement was that ™»*

Russia also was ready. Though the j situation looks ominous, it may not? i msan more than legitimate prepara- j tion by Russia. Britain is Japan's j ally, and at any time she may be j forced into the war. Russia, there- I fore, may' have decided to be ready] in Turkestan for such an emergency.! Then the Russian Government may have decided that a large army in \ Turkestan would be a useful in- j fluence upon Britain when the terms ■ of peac with Japan come to _be arranged ' The British public , are lookirc with confidence to the issue of a w,te in which Russia sought to invade India. That confidence rests up!!>n~Xord Kitchener and his able lieutenants, Generals Hunter, Blood and Gaselee. The Indian army is said to be "in better order' than, if yor before, all its organisation bears upon an advance into those; passes in which British and native troops have ■ fought so often and so gallantly. Russia's advance beyond Penjdeh will depend largely upon the attitude of the Ameer. If he remains ; loyal to Britain, Russia would hesitate before undertaking the enterprise. If he went over to the Slav, that would be Russia's opportunity. It is opportune, therefore, that a .British Indian .official, baa' already left Peshawar for Ca'bul. Perhaps ' Russia's military activity. on the Ironj'■ tier' ■ is "me ant only ■ to impress' upon I *.k«< Am*** IhntliP! must not throw

tna ameer mat us mu»& no*, uucn. ; himself too completely into the banda of Britain. Events in Afghanistan are likely to-be. of great interest for some time to come.