The New York herald., 1879-09-29

interesting to follow the expedition as far can
since the landing at Chikissr. The Tifs Messenger
announced that the vanguard of the force started
eastward the goth of june and consisted Of three
battalions OF foot 500 horse. four guns and CON-
pany OF sappers. under the command of Prince
Dolgoroukof. colonel Of the Kabardin regiment
The main body Of the expedition advanced in echelon
of small detachments Of one or two companies
This cautious method Of proceeding necessitated
by the difficulty of transport for provisions and the
paucity of wells. the watering stations being from
eighteen to twenty-five miles apart. These difficult
ties would become greater the distance from the
base is increased Later reports speak Of the suffer
ings which the Russians underwent in raversing the
vast plains OF the Teke country.
TURNING THE COURSE OF THE ATrRAK.
According to further intelligence communicated
by the correspondent OF the Iapdiide Rtsse from
Chikislar the Akhal Teke living between kzil-Arvat
and Beourma were unwilling to wage against
the Russians and remained quietly in their settle
ments. As to the other Teke southeast of Beour-
ma. they had sent of their herds, property and
families to the Merv oasis. the men remaining be-
hind with the serious intention OF fighting the in
vader. This apparent disunion in the Turcoman
camp was sought to be explained by the fact that
the dwellers in tho plains between Kiz-Arvat and
Beourma had already seen the Russians and expe-
rienced the futility of opposing them. while be-
yond Beourma tho Russians had not yet penetrsted.
and the Akhal Teke therefore thought that fear OF
them Is the retarding motive. The Akhal Teke,
too are said to confound the Russians with the
Persians. The state of affairs in the Turco-
country seems to have been pretty
accurately described in the above letter. for
Beourma without meeting any opposition at all. The
forts the way were found deserted until Geok
Tepe was reached, and the first resistance met
by Prince Dolgorouki's advance force. The last
Of the expedition was the turning of the
Of the Attrak. To be sure Of meeting with water
within a couple Of days march from Tchikislar
General Lazareff despatched Colonel Shelkovnikof
with force OF some hundreds OF men to destroy
the dam ut Bent and the its old north
ern bed. This task, says correspondent OF the
Daily Nescs was successfully accomplished and there
upon the advanced guard commenced its march.
Some of the hardships borne by tho expedition
may be gathered from the letter OF Russian
troops" he says. lis growing worse. dysentery and
scorbutic ailments making great ravages. The heat
In furnaccike, the sand being 80 infamed that the
hair on all the horses legs from the feock to the
knee In completely singed OF. Those who try to
seek relief by bathing In the Attrck experience the
sensation OF more than tcpid BATH while the east
wind brings burning agony. The evening mir is one
dense mass of fics. The officers wrap themselves in
wettod linen and sock refuge In deep holes dug
relieve the suiferings of the poor soldiers. and
the bi-weekly mail steamer from Sainarcand
bringing sSosnns onan5 for slcaGss most onnr %
correspondent wrote:--"when the troops be-
gan move IL was found that the water supply
ment on its way to Tchat narrowly escaped entire
destruction from thirst. because IL more
nlorous than the wells could possibly furnish with
water. 1t therefore became necessary pass the
army in small detachments across the desert tar
those parts of the Attrak where the quality of
had hardly been overcome when the death of the
commander OF the expedition announced
General Laxaref's death was caused by carbuncle,
a very common form OF affection in the Asian
deserts. He died at rchat the 2Oth of August.
His body sent to Russia General Lomakn
then took chief command. II has recently been
that General skobelef will be- sent TO taKo
command OF the expedition.
roRMER EXPEDITIONS
note that tho present expedition the fourth which
since l7l7 has been directed against the Turcomans