The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-30

/ Petersburg knows little more of Eastern affairs
than the Cabinet OF st. James, and that although
the Russians certainly do make an advance In
Central Asia II Is rather the result OF accident
than OF design. The Emperor OF Russia Is himself
peaceable monarch. and he has no bellicose
Ministers. The extremely small quantity OF
administrative ability which Is to be found at st.
Petersburg Is entirely occupied with the internal
a1airs OF the Empire, and rather concerned with
putting of the immediate chances OF q revolution
than with increasing the extent Of territories
already far too large. Moreover they urge that
the Russians are not q commercial people for even
their local trade is nearly all in the hands OF Ger
And although II is quite possible that at some
remote period many Russians will resort to British
India, they Will never conquer the English posses
there as q united people. but rather split up
into several independent States which win no
longe De recognized as the Russian Empire, and
from which England neither has nor ever
will have anything to fear. In the nrst
place she win have fight with Prussia for her
Baltic provinces Then she has not yet done with
Poland, nor with the Caucasus, and her dinicul-
ties such that she would be obliged to post.
pone any idea OF conquest for Indefinite period,
even II she entertained 1t. nation can hardly
go to war without money, and Russian paper cur.
rency is often deprecated thirty per cent.
people cannot expect to gain victories without
science, and military education In Russia Is o
farce. She Is invincble, by reason of her climate
In war OF defence. She would be powerless in .
war OF conquest
These considerations may be said roughly to
up the arguments on both sides. Most
OF the leading politicians OF England firmly
believe that Russia has no designs whatever upon
British India, and that she would be unable to
carry them into effect even II she entertained
them. Lord Granville, who went on a special
embassy to Russia few years ago, Is fully con-
WINGED that his country has no danger to appre-
bend In this quarter, and Lord Kimberly, who will
probably be the next session British Foreign Sec
rotary, takes entirely the same view of the ques-
ton. The sentiments OF Lord Derby who knows
nothing OF Russia. are not worth much discussion
but his extreme caution is SO well known that it
may be presumed he will take the convictions OF
somebody else. and in this instance he will prob
ably appropriate those OF Lord Granville
which were left behind a few months ago
at Downing street. in charge OF Lord Tenterden
1t is not, however, the purpose OF this present
article to discuss the opinions OF English party
men and there are several far wider issues to the
Eastern question than any with which Great
Britain is alone concerned. 1t is in order to throw
light upon them and for the purpose Of indicating
new and unexplored directions for trade and en-
terprse that the following facts now brought
chants VINO purpose to extend their operations in
the East will probably peruse them with consld
cradle interest.
PRUssIAN COLONY.
Prussia, in ls4s, established a settlement stu
ated at the outlet of the river Syr Darya, and the
tort at this place, named Aralek, served basis
Tor operations against the Khanate OF Khokand.
further series OF campaigns was undertaken
which, in 1883, resulted in wrestling from Khokand
. fortified place then known as Akand Edsched,
and since then called Fort Orskl. Between the
latter and Fort Aralsk line OF communication
was established by means of two intermediate
forts and thus the entire line along the Syr Darya
had been secured. Immense advantages were ex-
pected thereirom when the time should arrive for
the further extension of the Russian frOnters
but the Crlmean war interviewed, and thus, for a
time, all idea OF further advance had to be aban-
doned, and Russia was compelled to confne her
attention to the protection OF the freshy-acquired
territory.
1t was not until the year 1859 that
fresh attempts were made to establish q
colony the eastern shores OF the Cas-
plan Sea- A settlement formed there,
ostensibly for the purpose Of promoting
trade with Central Asia. The place chosen was
the Bay OF Krasnowodrk. Russian merchants solic-
tied and obtained privileges for the establish
1t was soon, however, proven that the
situation too far south, because
Russian power IN the north had not yet
ceved SUFFICIENT development to guarantee settlers
against the aggression OF inimical nomad tribes.
Under the circumstances the colony became iso-
lated, and its administration more or less neg
lected
THE MARCH OF RUSSIA.
But no sooner had Russia recovered from her
disasters inflicted by the Crmean war, no sooner
had she regained the military strength
which she had held prior to tina:
period, than operations in Central Asia
were resumed on a large scale. Slowly, yet al
ways in an onward direction has been her prog
ress; her action being marked by that caution so
characteristic in the choice OF means, which tended
4 to protect her outposts against all hazards. In
\ 1884 decisive blow was struck, and the Khanate
4 OF Khokand lost Two important cities. namely,
I Turkestan and An Licata The acquisition OF those
i places enabled Russia to strengthen considerably
her position the line Of the Syr Darya. The at
tacxs were then renewed, and the Russians subse-
\ quently dill ected their attention towards Tshem-
\ kend, strongly fortified place. 1t was taken by
4 General Tschernajef-not, however, without
very severe fighting. In the year
\ following this important capture the
Russian army succeeded in subjecting the city OF
\ Tashkend. This conquest emDodies, in reality,
the most important gain which the Russians have
made in Central Asia. The city dominates the
principal caravan routes, and commands the key
to the natural outlets which Russian trade would
seek towards India. Between Tashkend and the
former extreme military station several forts
been established. The whole of this territory now
forms the Russian province of Turkestan.
Furnishing THE AMER OF BoKHAKA
| These successes OF Russia aroused the jealousy
OF the Ameer OF Bokhara. He feared the proximity
OF Russian civilization and the evil influences
accruing thcrefrom, for he looked upon it
as the means by which his own people
might be contaminated and induced to revolt
from his authority. Reports were current at Con-
stantlnope in the beginning OF last year that the
Ameer, in conjunction with the chefs OF Khokand
and Khiva had entered INTO an ALLIANCE nffen.