New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-03


.,r,e ,ovver on another t,rritory-thst OF Central
Asia.
The probability of collision OF the two great
Asatic powers, Russis and England, somewhere
halfway between Siberis and Inds, OF conflict
between the Cosssck and the Sepoy on the BANKS
Of the Oxus has been often debated since. simuta'
p.ously. in 1882 England and Russl' sent armies
toward Central Asia. TIE original defeat OF these
.rnes-a defeat caused 10 either case by the asper-
ity Of the country and its climste--for while
| deprived these speculations OF interest. hngand
avenged her defeat by successful out unpro-
ductjye march 10 Cabul. Russn appeared 70
pocset her disgrace, but how little she gave up ner
plans and how successfully she obtained her ends
We shall soon see. When the late war broke out
there was again the question raised as 10 the
practicabilty Of Russian advance to India; but
| Iittl, did the public know then where the Russian
| outnost. stood. and where their advanced patrols
uer. accommodating. Indian papers brought stray
par,ersph. of reported Russian conquests IN Gen.
! trail Asis, but they were not Needed. Finally
during the Anglo-Persisn war OF lS16' the whole
estion vas again discussed.
"a, tiers, however, have been latterly, and are
-. 'anging rapidly in Central Asia When
SUM- N = 1872, put down in his map Moscow
N'Po'VNN operations in campaign against
lor oa~ 81 lowed Peter the Great. A far
ihula' ne ou' i'A rar-sighted Prince who pointed
''.A o. 90 '"'' -, 'ections for conquest to his
on' oh 'He 'al'ou' wv 'xpediton against Khiys
which, Of course, pro Vt ,s;.,m,h.a b. pn..;.
steppes OF Iuran remained ul So ,h. .orr,-v
for a long while; but in the m, vi oo,,.a
between the voga and the Ural Nvef va, p'fa ~.
With Cossaeks, snd the Cossack Ia 'e
latter river established. Still, beyond II ''''f
the suzersinty Of Russs over the three hol u'' u
nations of the Kirghiz remained purely non. 'Ha''
aud Russian caravans were pundered both by th> ~
and the Khiyons until, in 1893, General Vasili Pc
roysky was sent to Orenburg as commsnder-in- /
chief He found the commercial relations of Rus
ala with the interior and south Of Asia completely
interrupted by these plundering nomades, so that
even the military escorts given for some years past
to the caravans, mad been insufficient to protect |
them To put stop to this, he organized, first,
movable columns against the Kirghiz, ard very
after commenced establishing military stations of
Cossacks in their territory. In few years he thus
brought them under the actual control and dominion
OF Russia and then took up the old plans of Peter
the Great against khiya.
Having obtained the sanction of the Emperor, |
be organized force of about q division 900 |
men) of infantry, with numerous bodies of half |
regular COssack and irregular Bashkir and Kirghiz |
horse. Fifteen thousand camels We're brought |
together to carry provisions through the desert |
steppes To undertake the expedition in Summer,
was out Of the question, account Of the scarcity
Of water. Thus Peroysky chose Winter campaign,
snd moved in Nov, 1882 from Orenburg The
result is known. SnOw.storms and excessive colds
ruined his army, killed hs camels and horses, and
compelled him 10 retreat with very great loss Still,
the attempt fulfilled its ostensibe purpose: for
while England has never yet been able TO syenge
the murder Of her ambassadors, Stoddart and Con-
ally, at Bokhsrs, the Khan Of Khiya released sll
Russian prisoners, and sent an embassy to st.
Petersburg TO seek for peace.
PerOysby then set 10 work 10 prepare line Of
operations across the Rir2hiz steppe. Before
eighteen months had passed, scientific and engineer
ing expeditions were busy, under military protec-
ton, surveying the whole country north Of the
,Jaxartes (Sir-Darys) and Lake Aral. The nature
of the ground the bsst directions for roads and
the best sites for large wells, were explored. At
short intery ala these wells we're bored or dug snd
surrounded with fortifcstious Of sufficient strength
to Withstand any attack Of the nomadic hordes and
Of suffcien, capacity TO hold considerable stores
ksrabulak on the Oxus and Jughis on the river of
the same name served as central points Of defense
IN the north OF the kiTghiz .teppe; between these
and the towns on the Ursl River the routes are
marked by smaller forts and wells every ten or
twelve miles.
The next step WA taken in l3i7, by the erection
Of fort on the Sr-Darya, about 80 miles above
ia mouth which fort was called Aralsk. Il could
hold garrison Of & battalion and more. This very
soon became the center of al extensive Russisn
agricultural colony on the lower part of the
river and tAs adjoining shores Of Lake Aral; and
1ow Russia formally took possession of the whole
country north Of that lake .nd OF the delta Of the Sir
Dsus. In lel5 and ~ the lake wss for the frst
Eme accurately surveyed and new group Of ISL
lads discovered which We're st once set apart for
the headquarters Of the Aral steam Aotills the ,
creation of which was taken IN hand without delay.
Another fort was erected on al island commanding
he mouth Of the Sir.Darya, and at the same time
he line Of communications from OreGbarg ~ Lake .
Aral vas further strengthened and completed.
Perovsky. who mad retired from the Commander. I
hip OF Orenburg in l-i2 now returned to hs post,
nd sdTsnced in the spring Of lo53 with consider
lbe forces 20 Aral.k. The passage Of the desert
vas effected without much trouble, and now the
lrmy marched up the sir.Darys. while steamer
If Eight DRAFT escorted .s movements on the river.
Arrived at Akmerhet, fortress about $50 miles