New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-16
RUSSIA AND INDIA.
THE ADVANCE IN CENTRAL ASIA.


THE ADVANCE IN CENTRAL ASIA
GENERAL KAUFMAsS's MYSTERIOUS EXPEDITION
RUSSIAN CONQUEsTs IL TUIKEsTAN-BAKH THE
PROVINCE LIKELY To BE INvADED-LlNEs OF
COMMUNICATIONS WITH INDIA THE SHORTEST
ROAD TO THE PUEJAB
The Russians have resumed their march IN
Central Asia. As early June % General Kaufman
and his stan left Tashbnd aud joined the principal
of the three expeditiouaTy columns that had areaoy
been formed The objective point OF the expedition IS
supuosed 20 be the province OF Balkh. Bokhara is al
ready under Russian influence, and the occupation OF
the capital would have no Significance General haul
manu. moreover, had dispatched early In June dlpio
matte agent 20 present letter TO the Emr OF Bohhaa
and 60 give such explanations as might be dehahueo
The Emr was Informed that the Russian Army desired
10 cross bis territory in order 10 advance TO the upper
basn Of the Dara. This is district OF Bokhafa
that ia virtually independent. General khufmann, III
his letter referred 20 the services which the Emr had
rendered him the time OF the expedition 10 hhi'a'
and expressed hope that the authorities would supply
his troops with bread, -four and other provisions The
Emr did not at first disposed 70 comply Win the
reauest but after time he altered HIS tone and prom
ised 10 ave all that had been asked for. He only
wished the agent 80 tell him what arrangements the
Russians proposed 10 make with the Emr oil Capul'
The agent replied that It would depend upon the Emir
Of Cabul whether he had Russia for an enemy or Tor
friend but that General Kaufmaun for his part was
most pacincay disposed toward the Enr aud that lie
,vos about 10 send an smissary to him. The report OF
this interview as published I'm the official journal OF
Turkesan indicates that the Russans viii march from
sams 10 the city OF BOkhara and thence TO Balkh
BY occupying tho district between the HindoO-koosh
range aud the AmOoDaria, or Oxus River they VIII
command the mountain passes which lead 90 Cabn and
Peshawur II they remain there they will get foot
hold on the borders Of Afghanisnn, not far from the
northern frontier Of British India.
The Agenee Russo throws out mysterious hint that
the preparations for the expedition were made when
England was threatening and that the orders have
been countermanded On this hypothesis II is difficult
20 understand why General Kaufman sent his agent to
the Emr Of BOkhara early in June 10 obtain permission
10 march through his territory Tie AngloRussian
Memorandum had then been signed, Invitations had
been issued 10 Congress and the chances OF war were
very slight While the earlier preparations In the Spring
may have been made In view Of the possibility OF an
outbreak OF hosttie II 10 scarcely probable that march
ing orders have been Issued as late June
peacefuI solution OF the Eastern question certain.
II the expedition had been intended menace to Eng
land.
CONQUEgTs IN CENTRAL ASIA.
In the upper centre Of the map which accompanies
this article will be found the four cities on the line OF
march: Tnsbkend, samarcsnd, Bokhara and Balkh.
They are situated In the vast rogon formerly known as
Independent Taftary, and now called West Turkestan.
IL comprises the Khanates OF Khiva, Kokand aud
Bokhara indicated on the map by their capitalist
southern tier OF small Khanates not shown on the map.
and finally Bakh. The Russian advance eastward and
southward I'm Central Asia began early In the present
c.ntury. Forty years ago Persia had surrendered
10 600 sauare miles Of territory aud the Tar
tors 100000 square miles; aud within twenty
veara the conquest Of Khiya and Kokand has
been completed and Bokhara has been brought
tIndor Russian influence. The line OF conquest
did not begin the eastern shore OF the Caspian Sea-
but led from Orenburg TO the Sea OF Aral and thence
along the banks OF the syr Dsris During the reign OF
Ncbolas chain Of trading posts and military stations
was established on that river In the direction OF fash
lend Fort Peroysky being the strongest link. mill
tsry commission reported IN 1854 that 1t was absolutely
NECESSARY 70 unite the outpost line on that river
with the advanced posts on the Siberian frontier.
After the Crimean war this plan carried into execu
lion In 1864 the Oty OF Turkestan was captured, and
I'm the following year the frontier extended beyond
Tsshkend The KhanI OF Kokand and Bokhara by their
constant assaults upon the outpOsts exposed
themselves to formidable campaign In 1858,
yhen samarCand surrendered 10 the Russian arms.
The Khan Bokhnra defeated in pitched battle
and forced ito Sign treaty OF peace, by whch ne
acknowledged tho right OF tue invaders 10 retain all
that thoy had conquered The Khsnste OF Khiya was
not invaded until 1873 WHOM under the pretext Of re-
pressing brgandaEo army was sent out In TWO main
divisions one advancing from Turkestsn on the east aud
another from Orenburg and the Caucasus on the west
column under the OF dencTdl
Kaufmann and the line OF march led the steppes
The Khiyaus were defeated In several skrmishes and
forced TO abandon their capital. The Khan signed
treaty OF peace by which heavy indemnity i'm
posed and territorial cessiOns made by which the
entire eastern coast OF tho Caspian brought under
the dominion OF tho Northern power In 1873 reyou-
tou occurred In Roand and the conquest Of the KLAMATH
WAS eomplsted by these successive movements what
NAV no roughly described the Northern half Of Turk
esan from the Caspian the Chinese frontier has be-
como Russian territory although the Khanate Of Khya
ia still nominaly independent. Tho last expedition
made in this quarter in the direction OF the noun
tans southeas OF BOkhara Prince GOrtschakof At one
time promissd to restore Samarcand TO the Khan Of
Rohhars but he never has done Il and Russian innu-
ence mas steadily increased In the Southern district The
whole region Is completely at the mercy OF General
Kaufmanp and from q military or political point Of
view HIS position would scarcely be improved by ts
complete conquest BY the occupation OF Bakh, how
aver he will gain a commanding outlook upon Afghan
istan and the frontier Of Northern India.
THE DISPUTED TERRITORY.
The province Of Bskh forms part OF the ancient Bae
tra which ives conquered the seventeenth century by
the Great Mogus In the eighteenth by the Afshans and
I'm 1928 by the Bokharians The rights however, oil the
Emir OF Bokhara over Balkh we're never Acknowledged