The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-16
Can the Chinese Cope with Russia in
Asin

hNNOibihR W itNfuN ltlfhitulH llt NlllfSt
Embassy at st. Petersburg have met with
no success in their application Tor the sur
render OF Kuldia. 1t is understood that tho
rejection OF their demand will he made a
cdsus beM by the Pekin Government. and
that the troops now occupying Kashgar will
be ordered to cross the frontier. There Is no
doubt that tho position Of the Chinese in this
quarrel is just. The territory which they
claim formed. up TO fifteen years ago,
the northern section OF Eastern Turk
istan, and there is no doubt that
the Pekin Government could have dealt
with the Tungan rebels there far
more easily than with YARUB Beg, the
usurping ruler Of Kashgar. But the latter
having made preparations To attack the
Tungan power in Kudja, the Russians
promptly fOrestalled him, and In 1869 con-
verified IL into Russian province. Accord
ing To the pledge OF their Ministerial Pekin.
however, the occupation was merely tenn
porary, and the district would be promptly
surrendered on the arrival OF q competent
Chinese foVce No doubt the acceptance OF
this EXPLAIN tion would be held to carry with
it an implie\ contract to reimburse Russia
for the cost o. invasion and defence. 1t ap-
recognize the obligation and to leave the
question of indemnity to arbitration. But
Russia Is all the more disposed to keep this
strip OF Eastern Turkistan, since the COM
petence Of the Chinese army to establish
law and order has been signally demon
strated by its swift overthrow Of YAKUB Beg.
The fact is. that the destruction by the
forces Of the Middle Empire in a single
campaign OF the fabric reared with twelve
years labor by the ruler OF Kashgar has
raised TO a high pitch the prestige Of China
in central Asia. Twenty years ago its in
nuence in this quarter had suffered grave
eclipse which seemed to herald a complete
and final disintegration. Close 10 the heart
OF the empire lay the disease which rem
dered the Government weak at its extremity
The cause, indeed. OF the widespread discon-.
tent that broke out in China after the disas-
trous war with England cannot be defined
with certainty, but there would seem 10 be
some popular aspirations which a Tartar
dynasty finds it impossible to satisfy. There
is no doubt, however, that the Tae-ping re-
volt in the metropolitan provinces and the
Panthay insurrection In Yunnan both az
fected adversely the strength OF the Chinese
-
aggravated by the Mohammedan rising
that broke out in Kansuh during 1862, and
that quickly spread TO the Muslem cities
lying further 10 the west Owing TO the
privileges enjoyed under the tolerant ad-
ministration OF the Mandarins, the Tun-
gani or Mohammedan subjects OF the Pekin
sovereign, gradually acquired the ascend
ancy in numbers and resources, and after
the expulsion Of their Governors seemed TO
be impregnably established as regarded in
cursions from the east. AS matter OF
fact, their successful invader proved TO be a
co-relglonist from Khokand, but their con-
viction OF Chinese decadence was shared by
the new ruler. who never seems TO have
seriously entertained an apprehension that
the ruling caste in Pekin would dream OF re-
conquest. Their return after twelve years
respite must have looked like the memorable
decree Of fate, and the heart of the Moslem
prince may well have mlsgiven him when
he found himself constrained 10 face the
same danger which had crushed every
KhOIa prince in central Asian history from
JEHANGIR TO ALI MoHAMMED. Not only
outnumbered but outgencralled by force
far superior In discipline armament, and
physical prowess to his own, YAKUB Beg
kept up for a few months running fight
made up of defeats until he died, either
through natural causes, or by the hand OF an
assassin, as is now the accepted version.
Those who frame their notions OF Chinese
valor and military efficiency upon the
coolies Of the coast and the efIemlnate
troops encountered by the English in mari
time cities. are ludcrously blind to the
facts OF past and present history. The
khitay, or Buddhist Chinese of the western
border, are among the bravest Of the hui
man race, and have repeatedly demon
strated their kinship 10 the Mongol hordes
which, under ArTILA and tho grandsons OF
ZENGHIs, have twice brought Europe TO the
very brink Of ruin. During the Tungan re-
volt. indeed, which smOothed the way for
the Khokandan adventurer, the fortltude
and desperate courage displayed by the
Khitay garrlsons in kashgar made such an
impression on the invader that he took
three thousand OF these soldiers into ser
vice, and esteemed them the flower of his
army. Nor should 1t be forgotten that
YAKUB's leves we're Oflicered TO n large ex-
tent by Sepoys who had deserted from
India; and, according TO the report OF the
Foi.syTH mission, they were well armed and
equipped. Yet this military system, which
became the marvel Of Mosem Asia, and con
forred on its creator a European reputation,
succumbed in absolute collapse at the first
shock Of the Chinese army. The Khitay
force, whose contact shyercl the champion
OF Islam, was made up Of men who joined to
a reckless fataiism the command OF arms OF
precision, with rifcd cannon in whose uss
they had been drilled by French and Eng
fish teachers. What was perhaps still more
surprising to their Russian neighbors, the
operations Of the column were directed with
a foresight and sagacity evincing no mean
capacity Of generalship on the part OF its
chief commander.
When we consider what delays and re-
verses the Russian arms have encountered
in their successive collisions with the west
ern Khanates, we shall be slow TO take for
granted their prompt and easy victory over