The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-21
BOKHARA.
The RussiG n InvasiOn-The Advantages
Gained.

The London Saturday Reuie,o Of Aug. says:-
The main cause OF dlderence from the oegln-
ming WAS the position ia Bokhara which the
Russians took up SO far back as November;
1866. At the end of that year the impulse OF
the victory of Irdjar carried them out OF the
Valley OF the JaXartes across the mountain
barrier which separates Bokhara from Kokand,
and we'll into the heart of Bokhsra itself, the
advanced posts OF DjuZak and Yali-Kurgan
being within few miles OF Sarmacand, the
second city of the State. The pressure Of
not but provoke resistance. The campaign
opened towards the middle OF May by
march on Sarmacand, to which, at Yani-Kurgan
the Russians were very near. The motive was
the assembling of large hostile force in ad-
vance of Samarcand. from which an attack was
apprehended 1t WAS deemed desirable to defeat
and dispeIse 1t before it gained much sue and
momentum. The move was so tar completely
successful. Less than two days march brought
the Prussian column to the enemy's position
some high ground on the left bank of the
Zer-Ahshan, covered by the river in front. In
spite of an attempt to delay the Russians by
a flag OF truce, the battle was instantly COM
menced. The main part OF the force Was
formed in the line to attack the position III
front, a small de.achment only being sent
to cl, ar the right flank from the enemy.
Ia all, tweDty-one companies OF Infantry with
about twenty guns aud nearly one tho lsand
Cossacks- not a very large force altogetheI-
took part in the attack. The enemy were OF
course much more numerous, but, equally of
course, defeat was ineV Vtable, in spite oil the
great strength OF their position, Advancing
Waist-decp across several arms OF the river, and
then struggling over halt mile OF muddy soil
or morass undJr tue cICss-hTe OF the enemy, the
Rus slams at length reached the foot of the hill,
and charged up the heights. The enemy Aed IN
hot haste as they approached, but they were all
too much exhausted t. engage in the pursuit
Thus the army of Bokhara escaped without
much loss. and without being completely bI oxen
up: and this tact qualified good deal the deci-
siveness of the Russian victory. The camp
and baggage, with some guns, Tell into
| their hands; their own loss was tIihing, aud
the people OF Samarcand, shutting their
gates on tkeir own army. surrendered the city
without blow the following day; out the army y
| OF BokhaIa survived TO give good deal OF
trouble. Samarcand was none the less a splen-
did Prize. Tue modern CITY is poor aud sQualii 4,
ard the inhabitants leW--Vambery estm ttIng
the REGULAR tt TENS AZ no more than ~, 900;
but there are mrny buildings gnd ruins to attest
its ancient greatness This is plainly most
WearsOme and dangerous warfare for a sm All
force ike that which Russia employs. Consider
ing that all this happens wien the general
| garrison OF Turk estan, owing TO the extent of
| country held, has been largely increased, it is
lot aston shipg that ne NSpapers like the Mosco "
| Gdzete should be talking OF the heavy burdens
which these conquests impose should be
nnalhg out that whatever profit may be derived