New-York tribune., 1873-02-22
CENTRAL ASIA.
TlHE KHIYAN CAMPAIGN.
VIEWS OF TIE syrHOR OF "TENr LIFE ~
sIBERIA.D

sian Journals Of a projected campaign against the
turbulant Khiyans Of Western Turkestan, ana the
subsequent comments of the English press upon tho
situation have attracted special attention again to
the steady advance Of Russia into Central ASIA .
movement which has long been a source OF uneasl-
ness 10 British statesmen, and which threatens
sooner or later to disturb the peace Of Europe. The
Central Asiatic Question: however, IS not new one
brought ND suddenly by an unexpected coup fetat of
diplomacy nor does it rise directly ont Of the pro-
posed expedition against Khiva. II may be traced
far back to the original establishment Of Russian
aud British power in ASIA and the Khiyan difficulty
ia only it's most recent development. When England
advanced into Northern India and Russia crossed
the Kirghis seppes TO the banks of the SyT-Dar1a,
the ultimate conflict of their respective interests IN
Central Asia might easily have been foresoen. They
who have watched most closely the progress Of af-
fairs in that remote region least surprised at their
present threatening aspect.
In order TO comprehend fully the situation it IL
necessary 10 go back 70 the years 1851 At that
time the great Central Asiatic region south Of the
Aral Sea- known TO old geographers rs Independent
Tartary,p was independent in fact as wcll as IN
name. It consisted Of three great Khanates-khiya'
Khokaud, and BoShara, lying at the corners Of a
triangle with the desert Of Kizel-Koom in the cen
ter. and the apex Of the triangle pointing south,
ward. The Russian advanced posts were within two
OF three days march of Khokand in the east and
Khiva in the west bat no serious attempt had been
made rs yet 70 subiugate either province. In 1869
however the Russians marched into Khokand, took
possession of its principal city, Tashkcnd. and,
pending further movements, organized provisional
government under the direction of the General in
command. Slowly but steadily they strengthened
themselves in their position, and widened the
limits Of their authority, until in Jaly 1877,
they were able 70 organize " Government
General of Russian TurlSestan," which included tha
military provinces Of Syr-Dar'a and Semrctchinsk,
and comprised nearly the whole Of the fomer
Khanate Of Khokand. On the 23d Of July Gen.
Kaufman received the appointment Of Governor
General. and proceeded at once 20 push forward his
columns 10 the frontier of Bokhan. In 1858 war
broke ont with the Emir of the latter klanate, and
after a short but energetic campaign, the Russians
took B0khaTa and rmarcand by storm. aaI dictated
q treaty Of peace. Under this treaty they claimed
the privilege of establishing cant0nmcnts and con-
structing fortifcations at three of the most I'M
portaut strategcal points in the province which
virtually gave them the control of the whole region.
In less than five years therefore they bad conquered
two of the three Khauates, added nearly 4oO'OJs
square miles of territory 20 their Asatic ro sessions
and gained firm fO0tl0ld in the very heart OF Cen
tral Asia only 40 miles from the frontier ol INDIA
until the beginning of the present year. deyotins
themselves chiefly TO the consolidation Of tlcrpoweI
in the newly acquired territory, and the chastls,-
nent the nomadic urkomen and Kirghis, who made
ncessant raids across their lines of communications
The Khivans, however, were still unsabtued' anc
the ACQUISITION Of that hhanats was especially &C.
sirabie since il controlled the fertile valley OF the
Amoo-Daria, or Oxus, the largest river ID Central
Asia. The barbarity with which the Khyani
treated their Russian captives gave Cen. kaufman
a good excuse for another offensive movement, ana
he has now planned 4 campaign against the last ol
the resisting Khanates. 1t can hardly be doubted a'
the close of another year viii see Russia IN un's-
puted possession Of al Western Turkss'an, sendine
steamers up the AmOo-Daria TO within a few hund'
red miles Of the Afghan frontier
It is only natural that this rapid 5oUthward ad.
vance of the Russian armies should awaken n In.
GLAND the graycst apprcheusi0ns. AIclanlstan is
the gateway 70 northwestern India, Hort IS the
key TO the Punjaub,' aud Russia Is moving steadly
toward gate and key. A Russian army firmly ostaD-
lished within the borders Of Alghanslan, or even
upon its frontier. would be a standing menace tc
England at the very point where her detenses are
weakest She would have also another ca.5a ror ua-
easiness in the growing disatfectlon on her Moham'
medan subjects in northern India The frequent ia'
surrections Of the Wahabeas, and the recent a3sas
are indications If q widespread discoa.olt awoae
the Moslems OF the Punjaub-a d.scoutcnt winch
Russia could easily turn TO account IL she desired tc
atacll OF even threaten England through her Ialar
possessions Ii does not seem 20 be her policy. how
ever. to provoke hosuiites at present. aud n En-
Gland acauiesces-as she must, IN the conquest o
Khiva-the Central AsIatic question VIII -1r TIE
present be quietly dropped. Bat tlo danger s none
the less serious because IL is deferred. Before Eauy
wears Russia VIII De in 4 position 10 threaten .le
Puuiaub and it looks very much as f Ing na
would have % be counted ont when ,he lOHs l-5
puted Eastern Question comes no ior ina Sc. Tie.
mcnt. The bearing of Russia upon t-c pohuea.
chess-b0ard Will then resemble the t0rscd at2eA oi
"A knight. On one side She viii threaten Turkey Oh
the other India, and ii her adversary attempts -
save her queen, size VII run the risk II losing Lei
castle.
In the meantime Russais direotinoal hercncrglc'
toward the Development aud civilization CT hcI
recently acquired possessions In pursuance OF tle
same enlightened and far-s.glted policy which
marked her conquest OF the Caucasus. she hs cstab
lished government training schools at OrCnDurg anC
Tashkend for the sons OF IWkoman OozDek, and
KIrghis chiefs, whom she VIII teach 20 sJInpathzs
with her views, and through whom she VIII event
ually rule the country She has opened 10 laslkenc
library of Oriental books and MSS, and publishes
there weekly journal printed half in Russian AMI
half in the Tartar turkish dialect OF the country
The Imperial Government has also under earnest
consideration the subject of steam communication
with its Asiatic possessions and plan tcr railroad
between the Caspian Sea and the AmOo-Daila has
met the approval OF the Ministry OF Finance and
received the sanction Of an Imperial ukaSe Tins
road IN connection with the TRANSIT Caucasian Rail.
road and the Volga River steamship lines, viii
o,ive Russia two avenues of steam com