NOTES ON THE GABLES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11797, 28 July 1900, Page 7

NOTES ON THE GABLES.

By Ma job Kennedy

The difficulties the British Empire must face sooner oi later do not end if her Imperial and Indian forces are able to turn the hordes of Russia back from in front of Herat, and scatter them, through Turkestan, for Russia's ally, Prince, occupies Auairi'and Tbnking in Indo-China contiguous to Burmah. In these provinces France is reported to have about 40,000 troops, and this number will probably be greatly increased before there is an actual quarrel between the Powers, for an open rupture is not likely to take place until the capture of Peking has been effected and the Boxers disposed of to fhe satisfaction of all the Powers interested. In the meantime France and Russia will have had months in vvhich. they can" despatch troops to the Far East, and there can be no doubt that both Powers will avail themselves of the opportunities which time will "give them, and while Russia prepares to invade India by way of Afghanistan,' and thence through the Bolan and Khyber Passes, France will muster her forces along tlie 600 miles of frontier of Burma, which adjoins her Asiatic possessions. The situation must be faced by Great Britain, for sooner or later the interests of the Britisli Empire and those of Russia are sure to clash, and war will bo the only arbiter. The universal opinion.of military ' men who have studied the.. situation carefully from every point of view is of some value, to say the least, and ought to be taken into account "by British statesmen when the question of a settlement of Chinese affairs is under consideration, for from Lord Roberts, the greatest of them all, to the lowliest in rank, they all agree that the sooner the question of the supremacy of Cossack, or Briton is decided the easier the task'will" be, and the better the outcome of the struggle for.the British Empire and for humanity. What, then, is being done to meet the gathering hosts of Russia before Herat, or to defeat the troops of France in tne^plains of Anam; for it is madness to allqw-'an invasion of British territory if by any possible means such invasion can be stopped. 'The' British' have had a'serious lesson during the past nine months of the folly of allowing an enemy to invade their provinces, '• carrying war and its terrors and sufferings instead of British armies carrying devastation into the territory of the enemy. Have we profited by the lesson taught us in Natal and Cape Colony? Or are our statesmen making amends for "their past sins bypreparing an army to guard Herat, and making alliances with' Powers whose interests are identical with' those of Great Britain in Asia? Has the Foreign Office secured the co-opera-tion of Japan, of: Afghanistan, and of Persia in a scheme to administer to Russia a lesson that she will' not soon forget? Or do our politicians and statesmen put back, the hands of time and wait until the enemy has crossed the Hindu K66s.li, as they waited last year, for the Boers to cross Laiug's Nek, before ] they prepared a single battalion for active service? Has any understanding been arrived at with America, or Germany, or Italy, regarding the future of China and the steps j these countries will take unitedly or sepa- | ratoly to maintain its integrity and the commercial integrity of all foreigners who trade in its market? If not, why not? j

It is marvellous to think how easy the whole of the people go to sleep without thinking about the great risks they are taking by reason of the lack of proper military protection to secure thoso interests against possible and probable seizure by an enemy. In no quarter of the globe is this lack of protection bo notice-

able as it is in India, for in that country Britain rules a territory of l,5&0,160 square miles, containing a population of 300 millions, and although the people of that country are of different race and religion to their British conquerors, the only precaution British statesmen take to retain possession of the country is a garrison of 73,000 Imperial troops arid some 30,000 European and Eurasian volunteers, supported by 148,000 men enlisted from amongst-the natives, and a reserve of 20, QOO men who have seen service in native regiments. On the 31st July, 1899, the actual number of troops serving in India, including the volunteers and the reserves mentioned, above, made a grand total of 271,157 officers and men, and since that time about 6200 men have been sent to Soutli Africa, and 28,700 to China, io that the numbers remaining give a total of 236,257 men, provided the various commands have been kept up to the strength they had one year ago. The figures given do not include the armies of native States', which at the same date numbered about 58,000 men; but the tendency is to decrease the number of these troops by taking them under the control of the Indian Government. This process will in a few more years practically wipe the armies now maintained by the native princes out of existence. Ihis assumption of control over the armies of the native States by the Indian Government has been welcomed by the princes, who thereby show that their professions to the British Government are sincere. The loyalty and splendid fighting qualities of many of the native races has been so often proved that no mention of their devotion to their Empress is necessary. But in view of the powerful military forces of Russia, and the probability of having to coritest with that Power for possession, not only of British commercial interests in China, but for political and commercial existence in Asia, it seems to be a suicidal policy to leave India in its present undefended condition, when there are so many thousands of men of the finest fighting races who would gladly join the Indian army.

If Great Britain doubled her Indian army by the addition of 150,000 men recruited from amongst the warlike races who inhabit the north-west territory, including Afghanistan and Baluchistan, the cost of maintaining the increased numbers would be more than made up by the reduction in expenditure on account of frontier wars, as the tribesmen, who are the principal disturbers. of the peace on the frontier, would prove most valuable soldiers, and would most willingly join the British forces if they had an opportunity of doing so. Unfortunately tjiey are also ready to join the Russian army if by doing so they can satisfy their desire for fighting, and have a chance to secure loot as a legitimate or illegitimate result of their

prowess. ' The situation in Manchuria is said to be far more serious than the Russian authorities will admit, and it is reported that the Chinese forces have again recrossed the Siberian frontier and bombarded Blagoveshchensk a second time, and attacked the Russian . steamers on the Amur. It may be added that the general situation in other parts of China is not improving. Anarchy exists at Peking, while the army and its Boxer allies hold the city in a state of siege. Li Hung Chang is reported to have stated that the Legations are safe, and that the Tsung-li-Yamen is trying to induce -the Dowager Empress to send the foreign Ministers to Tientsin, accompanied by a military escort, commanded by General Sun Wah Lin.' A still later despatch says . that he has offered to convey the Minister to Tientsin, if the Allies agree to abandon- their march on Peking. The whole situation seems in a muddle, and the only way out of it seems to prepare for the greatest war that has ever taken place. All the world seems under arms and eager for war, if I except the two great Anglo-Saxon nations, and it seems that unless they follow the example, of the less civilised Powers and stand ready to fight to' the death if necessary civilisation will receive a set back from which it will take many years to recover.

The Allies are said to be divided in opinion as to the best possible route to take to advance on Peking. Some of the officers commanding are said to favour the route via Teintsin, while others are said to favour the route from Shar.haikv/an. the present terminus of the railway which has. been constructed from Peking to the eastwards .is far as Teintsin, where it turns to the north-east, and reach the coast at Shanhaikwan, on the Gulf of Lkotong, a distance of 300 miles by rail from Peking. The distanco by direct road from Shinhnikwan to Peking is only 160 miles, via Yvihen and Tung Chow. There can be no doubt, however, about the advantage of following the route from Takii up the Peibo River, provided boats of light draft in sufficient numbers are obtainable. But" the advance up the Peiho will have to be supported by a land force moving in light marching order on shore following the railway, which rims close to the river for the entire distance. The ad-' vantage" of having the river for the transport "of supplies cannot be over-estimated in a country which does not possess a properlyconstructed road, and which the Chinese cart easily flood by cutting the banks of the canal. The difficulties experienced in' 1860 from lack of roads were very great, and it would be much worse now owing to the greater, number of troops required, and the ability of the Chinese to fight being much greater now than at thttt time.