The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-07
CENTRAL ASIA.
The Russian Troops Made Ready to Take
the Field Against Khiva.
Plan and Progress Of the Imperialist Campaign
Against the Khan-Extsnsive Operations
for tho Conquest Of an nl-Armed Foe.
TELEGRAM 10 THE NEW YORK HERALD.

ST.. PETERSBURG. April 6, 1873
despatch from Baku on the western coast or
the Caspian Sea, dated April 3 announces that the
Tchgischlar column would take the field against
Khiva on the 5th inst
STRENGTH AND PLAN OF THE MUscovITE ExpEDI-
The expedition against Khiva is in three detach-
ments. The first, starting from OrenbHrg. concen-
trates at Unbaposa and proceeds on the table land
OF Uctust, which begins 600 versts south Of Oren-
burg, at the river Izchaiau. There 1t will take six
days. supply OF drinking water because supply
will be Improbable until the springs OF Aktzchah-
Kuluk are reached.
The second. or Atrick Valley detachment, will
march through Australian and must overcome the
Turkomans before reaching Khiva.
The third detachment, starting from Turkestan
will probably avoid the desert in the neighborhood
of the Sea of Aral and march along the syr-Diria
river to Petrovsk. Thence it will take the banks
OF the Dani-Daria river to the frontier Of Khiva.
THE VICTIM POORLY PREPARED FoR DEFENCE.
The Khivan force is Insignificant and its arma-
ment poor, the rifles being particularly defective.
The Russian Comm n ndcrs, their Strategy
and Route.
The Russian generals. In executing the opera
tons which are indicated in the above despatch,
act In accordance with orders which were for
warded to them from st. Petersburg after the de-
liberation OF Russian Council OF War which was
held February 81. At this assembage 1t was
finally decided to adopt plan OF Colonel Vienna
kof, b. which the attacking force will be divided
mann, to proceed from Taschkcnd; the sec
ond, under General Kr2yzalOlsky, from Oren-
burg, and the third, under Colonel Marko-
son, from the valley OF the Attrek. The
Darya TO Paromsk, and thence by the banks of the
Djana.Darya to the khvan frontier. 1t will thus be
amply provided with water, besides which 1t VIII
carry sufficient quantity or wood ana forage,
which will be packed on the backs of cames.
The Attrek detachment Will consist OF the troops
formerly stationed at Krasnovodsk, where they
were employed In collecting Information about
the surrounding country, with the object
OF opening new commercial route from
the Caspian to Central Asia. The plan of this
route was formed on the suppostiOn that
Khlva would ultimately either become Russian
or be entirely subject TO Russian influence. An
exploring expedition was accordingly sent into the
Kannet Dagh, in 1871. Last year, too several
expeditions OF this kind, accompanied by num-
Der OF scientific men, proceeded along Mouraveff
road from KrasnovOdsk to Sary -Kamish, near the
dry bed Of the River Usbal, which Is supposed to
have once formed branch OF the Oxus, was ex-
plored as far as Topiatan. Last Autumn 1t was de-
cded to the troops to the Valley OF the Attrek
ii being found impossible TO start an expedition
against Khva from Krasn0vodsk The fort OF
Tchakisar was then built and Russian troops now
pied only by few non-commissioned officers and
men.