Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings about Afghanistan [‎56v] (116/312)

its cadres also in time of peace. The results of a
new recruiting system are, estimated to enrol
annually about 60,000 to 70,000 more men than at
present. Moscow has now also had its Sassoulitch
affair. Some months ago a Mad lie. Alexandra Pau
lo wna Wenetzka, the daughter of a Privy Coun
cillor, fatally wounded with a revolvar a Mr.
Prozoroweki, a substitute of Mr. Przewalski, tha
hated public prosecutor. The assassin, a young,
handsome girl of about 23 years of age, had mis
taken her victim for his chief, on whom she wanted
to revenge some cruel action. Har caaa came on
for hearing on the 12th inst. before a jury at
Moscow, who, to the utter astonishment of all, ac
quitted her, although there could not be the least
doubt of her guilt. No particulars have yet been
published of this interesting affair, ao resembling
in character that of Vera Sassoulitch.
Government has been for a considerable time
engaged with a reform of university educa
tion, which, owing to its superficial nature, is
said to be the chief cause of the affiliation of so
many students with the Nihilists. The university
authorities were officially sounded by the Minister
as to their opinion on certain intended improve
ments. Although some months have elapsed siuca
the codification of the respective replies, Govern
ment is retarding the matter in a quite incon
ceivable manner.
The new Minister of Finance is doing his
utmost to promote Russian industry and in
crease the export of home products, espealally to
Central Asia. Under his patronage efforts are
being made to transform Lodz, a leading manu
facturing town in Poland, into a Russian Man
chester. A large number of German workmen
have, by high wages, been induced temporarily to
settle in Lodz for the improvement of the weaving
of cloth and shawls, so that these articles might
compete with the English specimens of the kind
^ind drive them from the Central Asiatic markets.
Lieutenant-Colonel Makjew, despatched soma
months ago by General Kauffmaan to the Amu-
Daria and the Khanats, entirely or partially in
dependent, lying between this river and tha
Hindoo Kush, returned to Tashkend and was im
mediately received by the Governor-Genaral, to
whom he presented a full report of his journey
and a number of detailed topographical charts,
drawn up by M. Petrow, who accompanied him as
assistant. Well-informed circles ascribe to Cjloael
Makjew's expedition considerable importauca, not
merely in a geographical, but also in a politicil
sense. He thoroughly explored those territories,
which were destined to become the basis of the pro-
Jected hostile operations of the Rus sians against
TBritisli India, and sought out the best way by
vhich an army could advance to the Hindoo Kush.
Ee did not confine, however, hh work to these
. researches, for the colonel, as it turns out, also
conducted momentous negotiations with the ruler
of Khokand and the chiefs of those little Kfaauats
situate on the route to India. He visited the
Khans of Wakhan, Sarikol, Dawak, Shugoal, Zia,
and Kar. The result of these 'pourparlers is kept
strictly secret, the only authentic news being the
conclusion of a convention with the Amesr of
Wakhan, a tributary of the despotic Princa ot-
Affghanistan, by which the Russians obtaiaed
authority to send troops through his dominions afi
anytime they like. The Ameer is reported to-
have also promised to furnish guides who might
lead the Muscovite invaders over the other-"
wise quite impenetrable passes of the
Hindoo Kush. In Turkestan a bsliaf is
generally entertained that the demobilna-
tion ordered after the conclusion of the
Treaty of Berlin will only be of short duration,
and that some grand military enterprise is secretly
in preparation. These supposiuona are coafirmol
by the attitude of the Ameer of Affghanistan, who,
following the wily innuendoes of the Muscovites,
intent on entangling Great Britain in soma con
flict, which would divert her attention from Euro
pean affairs by the occupation of her armies ia
Asia, has taken up such a warlike attitude that a
rupture with the Empress of India seems in
evitable.
${CLX».Ltut~iz
LONDON, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30.
/r
Our Correspondent at Calcutta telegraphs that
preparations for the expected campaign are being
energetically made. He reports the movements of
considerable bodies of troops, whose ultimate desti
nation is believed to be Candahar. The Commis
sariat Department, he adds, is collecting supplies
for ten thousand men. The Government of India
profess to believe that their military demonstration
will bring S here A li to terms without actual
fighting; but such is not the popular belief. At St.
Petersburg considerable attention is being paid to
the position of affairs between England and Afghan
istan. A semi-official statement (which appears
in the telegrams) declares that there is no ground
for the assumption that the Russian Government
had any part in the decision of S heee A li to reject
the British Mission, and attributes such a con jec
ture to the antagonism which existed between
England and Russia during the late war. The
Exchange News, however, says that if it should
come to armed interference on the part of England
Russia will hardly leave the A meek undefended,
and Afghanistan may play a part similar to that of
Servia in the late war.
Our Calcutta Correspondent' sends us further
details of the preparations that are being made in
India for the prompt chastisement of the Ameer of
C abul , and these particulars enable the country to
perceive that there has been no laxity on the part
of the V iceroy in taking the steps that
have become necessary by S here A li's re
fusal to receive > the C hamberlain Mission.
His information principally relates to the
movements of that force whose base is at Mooltan,
and whose objective point is Quettah. As we have
already pointed out, the principal interest of the
preliminary stages of the crisis centres in the move
ments of this column, and it will be from
General B iddulph's force that the first symp
toms of active hostility may be expected. The
force has not long remained in idleness at Mooltan.
The 8th Regiment of cavalry left that place on
the 27th, and the artillery was to have set out on
Saturday. The English and native infantry, if all
went well, was to march to-day, and the whole force
was to concentrate at Dera Ghazi Khan, and not at
either Sukhur or Larkhana, as had been at one
moment suggested. The full significance of the
change will be realised by those of our readers who
perused the article we published on Saturday upon
the country between Quettah and Candahar; for
it shows that our military authorities are resolved
to turn to the best account the increased geo
graphical information we have acquired of the
Indian border lands since our previous Afghan war.
By concentrating our troops at Dera Ghazi Khan,
we not only protect the weakest part of our own
frontier, but we also bring ourselves closer to !
Quettah than we should be at Sukhur. By 1
advancing through the Sangarh Pass on Hykulsye,
beyond Quettah, we reduce the distance from the
Indus to that position from three hundred miles to
two hundred and fifty. We also threaten Candahar
from a new quarter, and we make an advance into
the Ghiljie country a matter of possibility. While
our troops are on the march to Dera Uhazi Khan,
which they will probably reach in a fortnight from
the present date, all the steamers on the lower
waters of the Indus are being retained foi;
purpose of enabling the Mooltan army
the
of enabling the
to cross that river, and are being directed
on Dera Ghazi Khan, to be in readiness for the
immed iate passage of the army. Su pplies for ten
thousand men sure also being collected, and the
j work of concentrating an overwhelming force on
I the frontier goes steadily on. The alteration of
| the destination of the Mooltan column by no means
I interferes with the strengthening of the Quettah
i garrison, which has by this time probably been
| joined by the troops at Dadar, and will very shortly
j be by those at Jacobabad as well. In the rear of
I these are concentrating four thousand troops at »
| Sukhur, to be reinforced by detachments from j
| Bombay later on. The immediate object before |
these two corps is still pronounced to be Quettah ; \
but all depends on the action of S here A li . If he !:
make no sign it may be assumed as certain that the '
advance will be continued as far as Candahar. i
Moreover, it must be remembered that the corps at •
Dera Ghazi Khan cannot proceed beyond the village '
of Saki without violating Afghan territory. Public
opinion seems to be divided in India upon
the probable action of S here A lt . It is
assumed in some quarters that he will give in
1 before our military demonstration ; but the more