DANGERS OF BOLSHEVISM

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14261, 12 January 1920, Page 5

DANGERS OF BOLSHEVISM

INDIAN FRONTIER THREATENED. DANGEROUS SITUATION POSSIBLE. STRONG ANTI-BRITISH PROPAGANDA (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received January 12, 10.55 a.m. ALLAHABAD, January 10. With the entry of the Bolsheviks into Bokhara the road to Afghanistan and the Indian frontier is now ,opeu. It is expected that the Bolsheviks will shortly establish communication with Persia. In Central Asia there are no settled Governments and the population is suffering active economic distress. If assisted by the Afghans, who are sullen under the recent defeat, the Bolsheviks could create a dangerous situation on the Indian frontier. The present British troops in India are untrained in frontier warfare and the officers are ignorant of the conditions. The old troops have been demobilised and sent to England. The present Amir of Afghanistan aspires to the formation of a PanIslamie League. The discontent of the Moslems against the Turkish peace terms is also great. With the help of Bolshevik agitators a strong antiBritish propaganda is being conducted *in Central Asia. The Bolsheviks hope to have 50,000 troops in Tashkent by the spring. Enver Pasha, who commands a rabble army in this area, is reported to have visited Tashkent and met the Bolshevik commanders. Persia is still in a state of unrest, and there is a steady growth of a campaign against the Anglo-Persian agreement. Disturbances are taking place in North Persia, and communication with Tiflis and Armenia is cut off. South Persia, under British control, is quiet, but the situation generally is arousing i much speculation in India.