The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-06-12
AN UNKNOWN WAR.
The Remarkable Strussle that has Been
Going ON In Eastern Turkestan--Tho
Nhluese SoIdfers. '.s'


The Remarkable strussle that has Been
Going on In Eastern Turkestnn--The
Chinese rs Soldiers.
It is probably news to most OF our
readers that, while Russia has been en-
gagged in the overthrow Of Turkey, and
the rest of the world has been absorbed
in watching the performance and its
side-shows, vigorous and remarkable
campaign has taken place in Eastern
Turkestan, threat ening the Russian de-
Tendencies in that quarter Of the world,
and resulting in the resubiugation by
the Chinese Of the rebellious provinces
of Western Kansuh and Eastern Iurke-
stan, ending with the capture OF Kash-
gar, the capital of the latter. Of these
operations, covering, as glance at the
map. will show, enormous distances
(Kashgar is over 2, 900 miles from Pekin,
as the crow aies), the civilized world
has remained in almost absolute ignor-
ance. It was known in 1876 that the
Chinese government was about to at
tempt chastisement of the northwestern
rebels, including Yakoob Beg, the Ameer
of Kashgar, who is perhaps more fami-
liar to Western nations than any Of the
other leaders. By the close of 1875 all
the country north of the ~Tian Shan
mountains was reduced, and it remained
to proceed against Kashgar, some 900
miles distant, south of the range. This
was . far more formidable undertaking,
as the strength Of Kashgar was supposed
to be considerable. The invaders were
met at the frontier by force which they
overthrew, and pushed rapidly forward,
marching 400 miles in twenty y-one days,
in that time capturing three cities and
winning one pitched battle. 1'...' !.
The fact that on the day following this
battle the Chinese were able to continue
their advance as an organized body is
abundant evidence that their discipline
is something more than that OF q barbaiic
horde. The campaign WIS energeticaHy
pushed after this, the invaders being
favored by the confusisn into which
Kashgaria was thrown by the report OF
these unlocked for reverses., The prin-
cipal cities fell, offering more Or less
resistance, and in December, 1877, o
battle was fought and won before Kash-l
gar itself, which at once surrendered.
The commanding officer: OF the Chinese
movement is Liu Kin Tang, and We COM
mend at least superficial study Of his
campaign. Conducted as it was with at
least an approach to Western modes OF
.warfare, with q general staff and COM
misiarats which must have been admir-
BILE, and q sufficient artillery train, it
should be taken as q warning. Europe
and America may yet learn that the
modern breech- loader is an efficient
weapon in the. hands OF the despised
Mongolian. An ordinary. atlas will show
the main outlines of this remarkable
military achievement. The advance had
of course to be conducted acros deserts
and mountains without any of the mod
ern means of transportation, and it is
very evident from the distances marched
and the time occupied in doing it that
the Chinese soldier is not the contempt
ible person of whom we have been ac-
customed to think. Kashgar is not far
from halfway between Pekin and st.
Petersburg, and already there are
prophets who anticipate more danger to
Europe from the Mongolian than from
the Muscovite. Christian Ui'ao''.