The decline and fall of the British Empire - University of Oregon

of the British Empire 51
They might have known that their
commercial and literary ally, France,
was too deeply interested in Russia's
finance to join them in a war against
her. They might have known that
it would be mere child's play for a
revolutionary Russia, having seized
Persia, to hurl 600,000 men against
India by no less than three distinct
routes. They might have realized
that such an attack would be accompanied
by a raid from German West
Africa and an attempted invasion of
England. They might have guessed
that alien-manned corn-ships would
forces to make a formidable diversion during an
Anglo- German conflict at Koweit (on the Persian
Gulf) and on the Egyptian border .... The
Suez Canal could be blocked with ease. Ma'an
is only fifteen marches from Ismaila, and though
the Sinai peninsula and the desert of El Tih are
inhospitable enough, large armies have entered
Egypt from the north-east since the dawn of
history, and the Turkish soldier requires little
but bread and water and cartridges." It seems
strange, in the light of after events, that the
English should have taken no notice of this
sinister forecast of events, which were really
destined to happen.