The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-30

haved everywhere exceedingly well. N0twith-
standing the exertions undergone during the
march the health OF the force was good. some
officers and men suffered from Inflammation OF the
eyes, brought on by the dazzling Wilderness OF the
snowy steppe.
According to the latest intelligence received
the van, consisting Of TWO sotnios and the sap
pers, left the Embensk Post the 7th OF April, the
main force starting in eche,OnS on the 10th and
nth OF April Their route lies by the walls
OF All Djaksi and Asu Tasti, the Desert of Isen
Tchagil, and the shores OF Lakes Aral and Abugir,
NJ far as the Aibuglr declivity Chnk OF the
plateau, fifty miles from the city OF Kunya Ur-
gendsh At the Aibugr declivity General verev-
kline is to effect junction with the Caucasian
forces right across the Ust Urt from the Kin
derli Bay. To cover the Generals rear and main
tam order and quiet in the Orenburg Steppe
smaller attachments VIII be despatched to the Ust
Urt plateau, the Desert OF sam and the chasm Of
DJeDiske near the river Tchegan.
When leaving the EmDa Post the force carried
provisions Tor eighty days. Further stores VIII be
sent from the Post TO the promontory OF Urgu,
where, as we have said fort is to be built. The
provisions sent and to be sent VIII suf1ice to main
tain the orce till the 9th OF September precau-
ton taken In case an inadequate quantity VI
vctuals is found III Khiva. The provisions Tor the
march hoIic are not lHCiuCeu III LHlS puL Will DC
collected and despatched separately.
WHAT WILL SHE DO WITH IT
1t is q question much agitatea In England
whether Russia having marched UP the Khivan
hill will simply march down again Tor the pleasure
and satisfaction OF john Bull. on this the inspired
Moscow Gazette says that the announcement OF
Russas intention to evacuatc Khiva after conquer
ing II must not be taken for u solemn promise. As
in the case of Samarcand. Russia, in dealing with
Khiva, Will be solely guided by circumstances
and her interests. Russia would certainly pre-
fer occupying only few commanding points OF the
Knanate, but 1t would be as premature for her to
decide this complicated question now as it would
be useless TO the English TO discuss 1t at this early
date. Only after their arrival on the spot will 1t be
possible to determine whether the interests of
peace and commerce can be sufficiently protected
with the Khan remaining In power.
The Go{oSs (semi-oflciaD speaks even more
strongly, follows THE question, what is to be
done with Khisa when subdued, can have but one
answer Tributary independence, in the case OF
an Asiatic Khanate, means simply an unbroken
series OF murders, robberIes, rebeions and inter-
ruptions OF traffic. AS Tor evacuating the KLAMATH
at the close OF the campaign, 1t would be virtual
suicide. For those who have once advanced into
Central Asia there is no retreat. Our backs once
turned, the whole country behind us would be
ablazc In moment. The forces OF Russia Qet us
speak plainly and boldly cannot and shall not be
withdrawn from Khiva when once 1t Is In their
hands. Let the sneers OF NJ. Vambery and his
English colleagues rain upon us If they will-what
does it matter2 Russia is neither Burmah nor
Cashmere, that she should require to secure herself
by duplicity; she is strong enough to lay down TOR
herself reasonable boundary, and to defend 1t, ii
need be, by the strong hand"
This is plain speaking; but not whit palmer
than the occasion demands. If the expedition is
to leave behind it material for fresh outbreaks and
fresh chastisements al infnit,s7,, 1t might as well
not be sent at all. No government can be expected
to'expend eighteen months In costly and laborous
preparations. to lavish millions OF roubes, to
march an army OF $1,000 men (and the Russian
forces will muster at least that number the
worst deserts of Central Asia, merely in order to
repeat the whole undertaking as soon as the
Khlvans are strong enough to be insolent. Rightly,
indeed said Machavelli, that "the only safe blows
are those which are too heavy to be avenged.n To
treat the arrogant seml-sayage OF the East as q
man and Il brother may be very pretty in theory,
but II is excessively inconvenient in practice In
his eyes all Kindness Is mere stupidity, all forbear
ance mere cowardlce. Few truer words have ever
been spoken than the sentence quoted few lines
back, that "for those who have once ad-
vanced into Central Asia there Is no re-
treat" 1t has become the fashion in Western Eu-
rope to say that the Asatc tribes have been either
cajoled or coerced into complete submission to
Russia. greater mistake could hardly be made.
1t is not too much to assert that the slightest
verse to Russa's arms at the present moment
would unsheath against her every yataghan from
the Sir-Daria to the 0xus, not merely in the inde-
pendent Khanates but among her own subjects
likewise. 1t would be utterly unreasonable to sup
pose that If the expedition succeeds in reaching
Khiva and the Russian government is enabled TO
make the ruler OF the KLAMATH feel that he is
amenable to punishment, 1t will consent after
time TO evacuate the country, and thus to leave
the Knlvans free to continue their insults ard
depredations as before. When once Kniva is IN
Russian hands it will and ought to remain Russian
forever.