The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-15 00:00:00

the Czars ; and it has besides a strong material
interest in the friendship of so powerful a State.
The Kaissaks are rich in cattle, and believed that
the protection, or at all events the amity, of the
Russsians is of great advantage to them. Thanks
to their alliance with these populations, the Russians
under General Endokimoff were able to traverse a
large extent of country, and even to obtain posses-
sion of some important places without striking a
blow. On the side of Lake Aral, for instance, they
got possession of Akmedjid, a place of great strategic
importance at the mouth of the Sir-Daria, without
any trouble at all. This fortress they claimed as
havingbeen sold to them by the ex-Khan of Khokan,
who is at present an exile in Bokhara. On the side of
Turkestan, a march of 21 days brought the Russians
without meeting any opposition, to a point within
three or four days march from their objective poin,
the fortress of Tachkend. But here,- what had
resembled a triumphant progress, thanks to the
friendly tribe of the Russianised Kaissaks, was des-
tined to terminate in disaster and retreat. The for-
tified town of Tchimkett, otherwise known as
Toumkat, is the key to Tachkend, as this is to the
Khanats of Bokhara. and Khokan, and Gen. End°-
kimoff appears to have expected that he should h°
allowed to march into the place with as much faci-
lity as he had marched through the CPuntrY arounbue
it ; but he was labouring under a delus.'9n, for
found the Regent of Khokan, the Emir lyi era A
Khanli, posted in the neighbourhood with a .1..er",;"
which was so strong as to render any attempt
capture the place impracticable. The town was in
an efficient state of defence, and the Russian gene-
ral, finding that an assault was out of the que,stion,
determined to attack the army of the Regent. A
desperate battle ensued, which ended in the • Ells-
sians being defeated and driven away. Gen. i
Endo-
kimoff was compelled to fall back to a place called
Hodja Ahmed, and his retreat was so precipitate as
to resemble. a flight. The Russians appear to have
lost 4,000 men, and the Khokanese only a fourth of
that number. Considering the numerical force ef
the Russian army, which is described as consisting
of 50,000 men, exclusive of cavalry and artillery
this is a very serious reverse. It was no mere skit'
mish under disadvantageous circumstances. On the
contrary, the Russians seem to have had everything
in their favour. They had the advantage of the
friendship of the populations through whose country
they had marched, and they had a numerous,
appointed army. The Khokanese force, which was
able to defeat that army and compel it to retire
with a celerity approaching to a precipitate flighit,'
must not only have been very large but very flab
commanded. Indeed, as we have said, it appears
that the Regent of Khokan, the Emir Mera A2LIL
Khanli, has at his disposal no less than 150,000 eIL"
cellent troops, while the Khan of Bokhara, whes°
country is equally threatened by the aggressive
projects of Russia, is also at the head of a large
of of observation on the frontier. Before
Tachkend can be occupied, Tchimkett mint b;ite
taken ; and, as we have seen, this fortress is
an excellent state of defence. The spit'
of the inhabitants is now thoroughly rouseT
and there are 150,000 good troops
must be reckoned with by the Russians before tueJf
can attempt to take the town. From the factri
the Khan of Bokhara having not only set his for
in motion, but having also sent a sum of moneythe use of' the Khokanese, it is to be inferred ti 1,30
there is a thorough understanding not only as to tnof
designs of Russia, but as to the necessary means ht
defence. The Kaissaks, who appear to have thong
it their interest to ally themselves with the Russia 115'
will now cease to have faith in them. Rude per.;
lations of this sort are vividly impressed by sirff.
events as the defeat sustained by Gen. Endokirce
Such a defeat, involving the loss of 4,000 men, rcaeir
not in itself be of much consequence to a rewd
which counts its soldiers by the hundred thouso.66
but if the populations of Central Asia are, as
well may be, suddenly roused to combined resistants
or converted from respectful friends or depends
into contemptuous enemies, all the work wm:,.g
Russia has been so laboriously prosecuting for Ye'--5
past will have to be begun over again, or perh,la
even abandoned altogether. Even if success eh
attended the scheme with the execution of vi TO
General Endokimoff was entrusted, it would a
been but a barren conquest. If Tchimkett
Tachkend bad fallen without a blow, the acqu'scio
tion of those places, though it might have nla,s
Russia more dangerous to her neighbours, VT
certainly not have made her stronger or richer!
_go
more respected among the nations. A Power viriefot
hand is against so many races of men must CO.
upon having to deal with a multitude of enela3l.„
That Russia will profit by the lesson which this o'o
feat and the circumstances attending it are so Isica
adapted to teach is not very probable. The nwr-
which history is ever pressing upon the attention f,
the powerful and aggressive is proverbially 110 D
heeded. To consolidate the power of the Ci` at
over such races and such regions as she ainis,er
bringing within her dominion seems altos of
Utopian. The best part of a century has ns.
sufficed to reconcile the Poles to the political seio,
tern into which they have been coerced. Theties
graphical position of Circassia presented WI
sio
for dealing with its inhabitants which do net,e
in-
in the case of other populations which Russia I'oo
tent upon subjugating. If she would give over the
work of aggression, and direct her energies t°
reconciliation of the races who strain at the
she has imposed upon them, it would be better
well for herself as for the world.