The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-30
THE PLACE ITSELT..-WHAT 1T Is AND
WHERE 1T Is.


Khivas fall and the capture of the capital by the
Russians, under General Kaufman, is oficialy
announced to st. Petersburg, ana thence in the
HERALD telegram which we publish above.
So thorough, complete and efficient were
the operations of the Russian invading col
umns, they have been from time to time detailed
by the HERALD's commissioner, on the spot that
no reasonable doubt could exist In re alton TO the
event. desert oasis two hundred miles long by
half that breadth, inhabited by wild, nomadic
tribes and surrounded by neighbors only more bar
barrie than themselves, without the aids Of modern
military implements and scientific generalship,
with population OF say half million, stood no
chance to successfully resist the well plapned as
sault of one of the most powerful or the Old World
nations. No element was omitted in the calcula-
lions for success by the Cars able commanders,
and every accessory which promised to assist the
desert and mountain march was literally provided.
Due attention was paid to the season OF the year,
that the forces should neither be defeated by rost
nor checked by the parcning Summer heats and
droughts on the arid steppes beyond the Ura.
Great taken In selecting the leaders OF the
various columns, which were to concentrate at
several points near the city of Khiva and operate
on 1t at the same time both from the east and
west. Their Imperial Highnesses the Grand Duke
Nicholas Consrantinovitch and the Prince Eugene
Iaximianovtch Romanovsk, Duke Of Leuchten-
berg, accompanied the Djzak column. Major Gen.
eral Golovatchov, commander OF the forces from
the Sir Daria Province, chief Of the Turkestan
detachment. The Kasalinsk column, up to its
junction with the Dizak column, was commanded
by Colonel Golov, chief of the KasansK district.
On Friday last, the 27th instant special
HERALD despatch from Aue Ate, in Turkestan,
under date of May %, stated that the Khan had,
after many efforts at treachery by negotiation,
formally surrendered his capital to General Kauf
mann. Subsequent reports published by London
papers have confirmed this exclusive intelligence
Arst given to the public by HERALD enterprise, and
announce the intention Of the conquerOrs to con-
tinue through the newly acquired territory ex-
tension Of the Russian railroad system eastwardy,
with the view to secure for the great northern
empire the rich prize OF Chinese and Indian COM
Merce.
Previous to the receipt OF the report that the
Khan had surrendered the city Of Khiva, we had
been informed that the consolidated Russo-Tur-
kestan army. under General Kaufman. arrived at
the Anu Daria River from Chalaat on Mayo.
General Werekin had also occupied Kungrad, 100
miles north OF Khiva, May 90, and continued his
march southwark, the Khivans retreating before
him.
The southern extremity OF the Sea OF Aral was
used as base OF supplies for the Russian columns
which attacked the Khanate from the east by the
line of the Sir Daria or Jaxartes River
Khiva, known to history as Kharazm and by Its
neighbors as Urganj, holds according to vambery,
ere former appellation from Persian word signify
ing 'warke." Richardson gives currency to q
1anciful derivation of the name from Persian ex-
preston OF Cyrus. It seems, however, that we
may be content to accept, as fact, that the Khar-
Azmis Of Eastern annals are the Chorasmi OF
Herodotus described by Lempriere as "a people OF
Asia near the Oxus."
The inhabited part OF Khiva is estimated at less
chan two hundred miles from north to south and
one hundred from east to west, and is confined to
the lower section Of the 0xus south OF the Sea OF
Aral. The remainder OF the Khanate, or rather
the outlying country acknowledging in any way
the sovereignty OF the Khan, may be con.
sidered, with few exceptions, perfect
waited and populated lands are Yenghi, or New
Urgant and Khiva, the capital. KJhnah, or Old
Urgant. once the capital, is now reduced to insig
nincance, and OF It's former splendor there only re-
vnain two ruins OF towers of the same massive
designs as the other towers OF Central Asia. YAM
berry eulogizes tho fertility OF the soil, and con-
'nders the corn, rice, silk. cotton and
dye-yelding root called 'ruyanD especially excel
lent. As regards the fruits, he holds that not
Persia aud Turkey alone, but even Europe itself,
would ind It difficult to contest their superior
merit He instances apples. peaches, pome-
rranatea, and, above oil, melons renowned rs
far even az remote Pekin, that the sovereign Of
che Celestial Empire never forgets. when presents
now to him from Chinese Tartary, to beg for some
.UrgspN melopMn Among manufactures. the IT.