The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-21
RUSSIAs ADpANcE IN ASIA.
Between the Caspian aud the Oxus-Capt.
ButIer's Recent Expedition.

Before we receive from the lips " tho gal
liant explorer himsclfthe narrative of his travels
IN the little known regions OF the 1urcOmans II
may Toe possible 20 say something in extlana-
ton ~ the Importance with viii Capt Buffers
journey must be invested This topic hinges
upon the presence OF England and Russia in
Asia as conquerng. md. to n certain extent. in
consequences. as rival powers.
The Russian acquisitions In Central Asia have
hitherto been directed to tho Jaxartes In the
first stage Of their operations, and 10 the ONus
IN The second, With the fall Il TgshKend in
1865 the Iussians completed the first part Of
their programme, and with tho annexation Of
nation OF these conquests. and tho subsequent
absorption OF Khokand Western Turkestnn
was converted into a Russian province. But.
A. these acquisitions We're valueless in the pres.
cnt. discomfort rathor than conteniment filed
the bosoms Of the Russian conquerors. Before
the Hindoo koosh and beyond the 2O1 miles n
mountain country lay the seductive plains Of
the puulab. But the difficulties they had over
come severe n they Were. were ~ nothing 10
those that appeared ahead in the mountain
passes and intricate valleys Of inhospitahlc Ca
Al this moment. too, when some among the
Husslnns wore beginning to perceive That the
conquest Of Western Turkrstan was profound
mistake. our Government felt compelled To- take
what may be termed q step of rcmonstrance
d"rs " India. Lord Granville IN 1873 entered
into negotiations with Prince Gortchakol for
the definition of a neutral zone, but these diplo-
matte ov.riurcs only resulted in our Govern
inent declaring that t would consider Afghan
territory. hussias pain south oi u. ONu- Is.
therefore. barred not only by the difficulties ui
nature hut also boy the declaration of the Brit
ISL Government madr i've vars ago. In short.
II Russia were 10 cross the ONus into Balkh IL
would he t9niamount 10 declaration Of war
against England.
There remained TO Russia the route. II any
such could be found. through the region held
by the Turcoman tribes. To resume operations
In this quarter was but the due result II the
inroad made by Gen. GOovatchon into tho
Jomuit country IN 1873. and II was also u strict
accordance with treaty right. for the Russian
frontier line is drawn considerably 10 the south
OF their advanced plckels. and no British guar
antee interyenes.
Bearing these facts In mind, the importance
Of Capt Buffers Journey is selt-cyilent. Some
months before he set out from India a Russian
expedition left the harhor OF Krasnovodsk un-
der the command - Con Iomnkine and pro-
ceeded as far TO the southeast as Kill Arvat "A
position Of considerable strength and import
ance The Akhal clan. who held 1t. In conjunc-
q n with some OF tile Tckes. opposed the Rus
sian invaders: but, according 10 the most
authentic version, III vain. Gen. Iomukiuc re-
tanned oss ession II 1t for a few weeks. and his
advanced guard even gut 70 far as B"urma, on
the road 10 Abiyerd. There Il appears that the
Iekes gathered in force. and GEN Lomakine
defeated at Bcurma and n III ANat. was glad
10 ina safety in hrasnuNudsk. The Russians
still claim Xii Aryat. and We may expect before
long mat another attempt VIII De made 10 Sc
There can be no doubt thu, those operations
between the Caspian and the ONus havea much
greater significance for 10 than any Russian
movements in Western Turkesian. Moreover
w 20 Il r'EtAlu point We 'hl say lutnlnE dRdluSl
them. The Russians have perfect right e
chastise the deprcdators beyond their borders
and we certainly can no more question thcil
claims over Kill Arvat than we can over
Samhreand. although thoir occupation Of the
former little known place will infinitely more
closely concern Us than their possession OF the
latter city docs. We're tho Russians al Xiii
Arvat. in possession OF n double line Of com.
munications in Tchikschlar and Krasnovodsk
with the Caspian and thence with Europe
Herat would be greatly mcnaced.
The blow would have been struck but for
Capt. Butler, almost without attracting our at
tention, for Herat has been considered vulnera
bic only from Merry or A-frahad. Between
those two places there can now be- no doubt tina
development Of the question Kill Arvat. Abb
vord. and Sarakhs will be the names rounC
which discussion will wax hot. or the country
round Sarakhs Capt. Butler will give us am pie
details Hs may be- Judged from his discover,
81 a gorge practicable for artillery through th'
kuren Dagh. PeteTmann suggests the exist
ence oftHuch in his latest map. It may be men
toned.
II can hc no pleasing news to Englishmen t
know that Russia pOssesses n third road lead
ing w 10 the gates Of Herat. and that il behooVe
us to follow Russian movements not SO much II
/ the Atrck Valley but in the more remote cOun
try lying north Of it. BY declaring Afghan
/ tonA buttress 10 the deiences Of Cabul ]
must be- the object Of our policy 10 discove
/ some similar plan with regard 10 the Turco
mans. II Capt. Butler travelled on this occasion
among these NOmads ~ an Euglishman h.
may have been intrustcd with the confidence a
/ their chiefs. But for the exact Information nee
/ essary 10 decide what can Doe done 10 free lIera
turn Of Can't. Butler either home or 10 his regl
! ment in India.