The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-27

| robber-chief Sadyk, 1000 strong has crossed the
Amu-Daria and is moving on Min-Bulak, in the
road to be taken by the Turkestan Expedition.
| DOUBT has been expressed by some as to the
| effect which the Knivan Embassy and the return
OF the Russian captives would have on the expe-
| dition, and some have even thought that 1t would
be necessary to wait for the decision OF the En-
peror before proceeding further. This however,
seems not to be the case, from the fact that the
expedition is continually advancing As, while
sending an embassy of peace, the Khan is taking
| measures to protect himself, 1t is probable that
| the release Of the slaves is merely one OF the
TRICKS AND SHIFTS
to which all Asiatics resort on the breaking out OF
war. Before the capture Of Samarcand an en-
bassy sent out In the way, In order to dis
tract the attention OF the Russians, and conceal
the preparations for fighting. The release OF the
Russian slaves removes, indeed one OF the chief
reasons for the expedition, bnt 1t would be I'M
possible for the Russians to stop without INJECTING
an exemplary punishment on the Khan, and with
out eXacling guarantees that more Russians
would be held captive in the future. II the expedi-
ton were to end now, the Khivans would be so
encouraged by the success OF their manGuvre that
they would believe still more than they do now that
they are impregnable, and would be convinced that
captives would be TAKEN attacks would be made
on the Russian frontiers. and q new expedition
would be necessitated far more costly than the
present ore. CHE Orenburg expedition will cost,
1t is said 100000 roubes) Besides these, there
are
THIRTY THOUSAND PERsIANs HELD IN CHAINS IN
KHIyA,
and Russia, who has so nobly rid herself Of the
stain Of human slavery, can hardly begin an anti
1Ia
furIhest extent and releasing all the victims OF
this nest OF pirates The capture of Khiva will be
the death blow to the slave traffic In Central Asia,
for Kniva is now practically the only market where
the Turcomans can dispose of their captives. The
enslavement and imprisonment oil Russian SUBJ
jects is not, however, the only cause OF complaint
that Russia has against Khiva That country
forms refuge for the most inveterate enemies Of
Russia. for traitors like Sadyk and Atamku and
there they assisted in all their hostile plans
anu undertakings Bands under the leadership OF
these men, and even regular Khivan troops, are
continually attacking and
RoBDING THE KIRGHEEz TRIBES
that are subject to Russia, or are exciting them to
discomfort and revolt. The length OF time that
these offences have been suffered so unpublished,
the failure OF the expedition OF Bekovitch Tcher.
kassky in the time OF Peter the Great and OF that
OF Perofsky, in 1870, have given the Khivans the
idea that they are really strong nation and
do as they like with impunity. 1t is evident that
some efiectual stop must be put to this state OF
things, and that Khiva must be reduced to semi
dependant condition, where Russian influence will
be paramount. To do this 1t Is not necessary per-
manently to occupy the country but only to retain
or two fortresses on the Oxus, to preserve
the free navigation OF that river, and perhaps
build one or TWO forts on the land frontier. This
is probably
WHAT WILL BE DONE WHEN KHIvA HAS BEEN TAKEN.
/ speak of the capture OF Khiva as a certainty,
because l see no other possible issue to the cam
paign. The great difficulty was for the Russian
army to arrive there. Both the columns from
Kazala and from DjlzZak have now passed the
worst part OF the road, and Will meet on the OXus
about the 18th OF May. The Russians have pom
toons for crossing the river and there are besides
plenty of native boats and OF trees OF which rats
can be made. None OF the canals are too deep to
be forded and any attempt to mood the country by
cutting them would be iutile in that porous soil
the water would all disappear In twenty-four
hours.
THE DEFENCES OF KuIvA
are very weak; there are no cannon except
some old pieces captured in former Russian expe-
ditions, and the sodery are unframed ana very
badly armed. l should not be at all surprised
If the city surrendered without fight. So lar as
the Khan is concerned he is very much frightened
and ready to give in at once. But the government
of Khiva is really in the hands of a hereditary
aristocracy and these may be disposed to make
hard struggle, fearing that they may be deprived
Of all their privileges.
In one respect the conquest OF Khiva will be
OF great Importance TO civilization, as breaking up
THE LAST STRONGHOLD OF MUssULMAN FANATICIsM.
With the fall of Khva will end all dreams of
mi Mn rio In Cap fro1 Aco I,dio
The Russian authorities in the territories under
their rule have put no restriction on Mo-
hammedanism, but the faith is so fast falling
into decay that even the Russian officials are
called on by the native religious authorities
to enforce the laws OF the Sheriah, Mo-
hammedan religious tradition. India, so re-
cent English writers inform us, is threatened
by the rising fanaticism of various Mussulman
sects. All Of these look to Khiva and Bokhara for
aid and comfort in throwing Off the yoke Of the un.
believer. Bokhara IS now powerless, and when the
false reputation OF Khva is overthrow and the
Mussulman world is convinced that she is also i'm.
potent the hopes Of fanaticism will be at an end
Every blow dealt at the Mohammedan power and
influence in Central Asia by Russian arms is also a
blow at Mohammedan fanaticsm in India and q
support to English influence there. The English
who best Of all should know this, should welcome
rather than regret the capture Of Khiva. Instead
ofjealousy and intrigue and suspicion, they should
join hand in hand with the Russians III the spread
of civilization In Central Asia.
Interview With Returned Russian
Slaves.
FORT No. /, NEAR THE MOUTH OF JAxARTEs,l
OR SIRDARIA RIVER, April 90, 1878. I
AS was lying indolenty on the divan yesterday
afternoon, reading in Horace about the "Partnos
feroccs AMI the "fabulosus Hydaspes" and dream
ing between the lines OF Genghiz and Tamerane
and the glories Of Samarcand, the faithful Ak-Ala-
metef came in and told me that three OF the Rus
sian slaves from Khiva, old pals OF his had come to
see him. at once offered to stand the tea and
0odha, and when they got we'll going went in to
hear their sypries.
All three were fair-hared bue-eyed men. but
burned Nv eynosure tn the sun To n dark browp