New-York tribune., 1873-05-21
ULTERIOR DESIGNS OF RUSSIA.

Recent kilograms, cOuched in vague terms
and lacking details, have announced the
capture of Khiva by the Russians. 1t Is dlih-
cult to say precisely how much credit is to be
attached to these statements. If they are not
worthy of implicit trust, we may at least
assume, from the progress already made by
the invading army, that they only precede by
a few days more authentic intelligence OF
tho capture of the Khanate. For this cam
paign such extensive military preparations
were made as to strengthen the impression
that the intention was not merely to mfilct
summary chastisement upon this predatory
people. Of the five columns that were
directed from the most opposite quarters upon
Khiva, circumstances seemed to point 10 one
particular force which was to occupy the ter
ritory of the Khan. This was the corps OF
Turkestan. The remaining columns seemed IN
tended to render the occupation more effective
by keeping the neighbOring tribes under
proper restraint.
Subsequent intelligence has confirmed these
coniectures. The principal column, which had
the honor of being accompanied by the Grand
Duke Nicholas, had the additional distinction
of being under the special command OF Gen.
Kaufman, the Military Governor OF Turk
estan. This column, in the beginning OF
last March, moved in two detachments over
Djizak and Kasilinsk respectively, to Mount
Boukan, where the detachments united and
marched together TO the mouth of the Amou-
Daria, the 0xus of the ancients. The journey
included the vast desert of Klzil-K0om, but
was made without any serious obstruction.
The troops having once arrived at the AmOu-
Daria, new base of operation was estab-
lished which had direct communication with
Russia across the Sea of Aral. Khiva was
then at the mercy of the invading army, and
its capture was only question of time. The
tardy repentance of the Khan served only to
show the fixed determination of Russia to con-
duer his territory. When the news of the sur
render of the Russian captives was received at
st. Petersburg, the Russian journals signlf-
cantly hastened, with the permission of the
Government, to assure the world that the
circumstance would have no influence on the
operations of the army in the field.
1t might even have been said that the peni
tence of the Khan would have no influence on
the policy of the Russian Government The terri
tory of Khiva in itself is not worth possessing,
and its occupation would entail an amount of
expense and trouble which could only
be justified by considerations of ulteriOr
advantage. 1t is composed of several
oases between two great deserts. Its
soil is only partly arabic, the productions
being of an extremely low order. The seden-
tary population does not exceed 100000 sonls,
and there are hardly more than 100000 nOmads.
Although the Khan is a despOtic ruler, often
personally administering justice, orderly gov
ernment is impossible. The inhabitants are
taxed to impOvershment, and will be incapa-
BILE of returning within many years a small
proportion of the expenses of the Russian ex-
pedition. In q semi-barbarous country like
Khiva, an attempt to administer affairs would
require all the ingenuity of the conquerOrs,
and result in great vexation.
1t is easy then to conceive that Russia hopes
for advantages by the occupation of Khiya
not directly proceeding from the conquered
territory. These advantages are most likely
to accrue from the command which is given
of the Amou-D Daria, by the success of the expe-
dition. With free communication from the
Sea of Aral along this stream new channel
of commercial intercourse will be opened to
Russia, which, by future successes In arms or
politics, may secure communication with India.
If such plans as these are entertained by the
Russian Government, and there is little reason
to doubt it, the capture of Khiva would only
be preliminary step to further political de-
velopments in Central Asia.