Afghanistan and the Anglo-Russian DisputeRodenbough, Theophilus F. (Theophilus Francis)
History
Afghanistan and the Anglo-Russian Dispute
Rodenbough, Theophilus F. (Theophilus Francis)
Afghanistan; Eastern question (Central Asia); India -- Defenses; Russians -- Asia, Central
The supply of the Russian army is carefully arranged under the
central Intendance. The ration in the field was, in 1878, 14.3
ounces of meat, 14.9 black bread, preserved vegetables and tea, with
an issue of brandy in the winter. Immense trains follow each
division, at intervals, forming consecutive mobile magazines of
food. A division provision train can carry ten days' supply for
230,000 men.
Forage is now supplied for transport in compressed cakes, of which
20,000,000 were used by Russia in her last war. [Footnote: A
compressed ration of forage was extensively used by the Russians in
1878, weighing 3-1/2 pounds; 5 days' supply could be carried on the
saddle with ease.]
Clothing is furnished by the supply bureau of certain regions in
which there are large government factories; it is usual to keep on
hand for an emergency 500,000 sets of uniform clothing.
_Routes_.--Having devoted a share of our limited space to an account
of the roads leading to Herat, from India, we may consider, briefly,
certain approaches to Afghanistan or India from the northwest. This
subject has been so clearly treated in a recent paper read before
the Royal United Service Institution by Captain Holdich, R.E., who
surveyed the region referred to, in 1880, that we quote liberally as
follows:
In improving our very imperfect acquaintance, both with the
present military resources and position of Russia in Central
Asia, and of the difficulties presented both geographically and
by the national characteristics of the races that she would have
to encounter in an advance south of the Oxus, a good deal has
been already learned from the Afghans themselves. Among the
turbulent tribes dwelling in and around Kabul, whose chief and
keenest interest always lies in that which bears, more or less
directly, on their chances of success in mere faction fights,
which they seem to regard as the highest occupation in life, the
Russian factor in the general game must be a matter of constant
discussion. Thus it may possibly arise from their individual
interest in their national position that there is no better
natural geographer in the world than the Afghan of the Kabul
district. There is often an exactness about his method of
imparting information (sometimes a careful little map drawn out
with a pointed stick on the ground) which would strike one as
altogether extraordinary, but for the reflection that this one
accomplishment is probably the practical outcome of the
education of half a lifetime.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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