Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1868-07-03
BULLETIN, VOL. a, NO. l..


Dispatches have been received in London
from Bombay, which announce that bloody
battle has been fought between the Russians
and the Khan Of Bokhara, and that it re-
suited in a great victory for the Russians,
the death OF the Khan and the occupation OF
the city OF Bokhara, the capital Of the Khan.
ate Of the same name, By the Russians. The
Indian dispatches, on the advance OF the
Russians 10 Asia, are not always to be trust.
ed, and mere than once they have met with
Hat denial On the part of the Russians
but as the English Government in India
now keeps secret and Trustworthy agents IN
Central Asia to watch the movements Of the
Russians, it is probable that information of
such Importance would not be transmitted
from Bombay to London without being SUBJ
stantialy correct.
Supposing, therefore, the correctness of
the dispatch, its importance is manifest.
The progress OF the Russians in Central
Asia is one Of the greatest occurrences in
the whole recent history Of Asia. GraduaA
ly and steadily they have advanced south
ward, enlarging their territory at the ex-
pense Of the larger neighboring countries,
and wholly absorbing the weak ones. Dur
ing the last few years, it has been, IN par
ticular, the gradual annexation Of Turkistan
or Independent Tariary which has attracted
public attention. Turkistan was large d.
vision Of Central Asia, bounded on the north
by Asiatic Russia, and on the south by Aft
ghanistan and British India. Its area was
estimated at nearly 100000 square miles.
II consisted Of number of independent
States or Khanates, of which khiva, in the
northwest, khokand in the northeast, and
Bokhara in the south, were the most impor-
tant. The FIRST attack Of the Russians was
directed against khiva, the whole Of which
has now for several years been in their pos,
session. The subjection of Khokand was
completed in 1865. In the same year the
Russian province Of Turkistan was organs
lied, completing the incorporation of the
conquered territory With Russia. A war
against Bokhara has since that time been
going on. Last year it was reported that
peace had been concluded between Russia
and Bokhara. but, as the important news in
our issue Of to-day shows, the peace has not
been of duration. The war has re-commen>
ced, and has ended in the conquest Of Box
hara and the death of its ruler. Thus, al
the important States Of what was formerly
Independent Tarary are held by Russia.
The nominal independence Of Bokhara may
be allowed to continue for shoit time, but
virtually it viii be as much dependent upon
Russia as Poland and Finland.
In consequence Of this war, Russia be>
comes the almost immediate neighbor of
British India. Only few miles now sepa.
rate the two great empires, and this small
barrier may, Of course, be removed At the
pleasure Of either Government at any mo-
ment. Russia protests that she has no hos--
tile intentions against England but it easy
tc see what formidable neighbor she is to
India. The Russian Government is hasten
ing the construction Of railroad which viii
connect the new provice with St. Petersburg.
As, moreover, the Caspian Sea constitutes
the entire western frontier Of Turkistan, she
can at any time convey there 9 large army
BY steamboat. And as regards the future,
II is almost certain that the thin population
Of Tarkistan--only about 1000, 600 will
soon be absorbed by the Russian nationality.
That England is without any Of these ad>
vantages was but few years ago clearly
shown by the Sepoy insurrection. Even if,
therefore, war between Russia and Eng
land should be avoided for many years to
come, the strength Of the Russians cannot
fAiI to be . cause Of great and lasting alarm
to the English.-N ]. Tribune.