The New York herald., 1879-09-24
RUSSIA CHECKED.

RUSSIA CHECKED.
DEFEAT OF THE ADVANCE GUARD OF THE Ex-
PED1TIoN AGAINST THE TEKKEs- REPORTED
LOSS OF SEVEN HUNDRED MEN-THE RUS
SLAMS FALLING BACK ON BEuRMA.
[DY CABLE TO THE HERALD
LONDON, Sept 23, 1879.
Official intelligence has been received here,
and confirmed from two authentic sources by
the way of Persia, that the Russian advanced
column has been defeated by the Turcomans ut
Geok Tepe, with the loss of 700 killed, and that
the Russians are falling back on Beurma. The
movements of the column before the reported
encounter at Cock Tepe had already been
known ut ,t. Petersburg by means Of an official
telegram from General Lomakin, commanding
the expedition. 1t states that the advanced
detachment of the expedition against the
ke-Turcomans passed the Kopet-Dagh
on the 4th inst. At Bashi and Beur
ma no Turcomans were encountered,
and only fifty Kibitkas remained at Artchman,
the rest of the population having decamped.
The Russian vanguard passed the night Of the
9th inst at Gurun, the main body remaining at
Artchman. 'It is rumored," adds the telegram,
"that the Tekes are assembling at Geek Tepe
to resist the advance of the expedition. The
health OF the troops is satisfactory" A late de-
spatch from London says that the viceroy of
India confirms the report of the defeat.
THE ADVANCE OF THE RUSSIAN EXPEDITION
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DEFEAT.
The Russian expedition under General Lazareff
Whose death was recently announced) left Kras-
novodsk. on the Caspian Sea. in the early part Of
the year. The force numbered about twenty thou
sand men. Merv or Herat was thought to be the OBJ
jective point The magnitude of the army and the
elaborate care with which it equipped
the numerical force being greater than was thought
necessary for the conquest Of Khivaattracted gen.
eral attention at the time. The vanguard. 5000
strong was under Prince Dolgorouki. and left
Chikishlar in tho latter part of June. But little
Trustworthy information has been heard from the
expedition. In April last we had q report
that the expedition had received severe check at
point forty versts northeast Of Krasnovodsk before
U
very slight one but it showed that the Turco-
mans were well armed. Tho Tekes caused
their camels lie down. and under this
shelter poured an effective fire the Russians.
The main body OF Lazarefs expedition left
Chikislar about the 25.h Of June. Besides some
twelve thousand cames, the expedition accom-
panied by 1900 wagons, carrying provisions for two
months. and forming train Ave miles in length.
While these proceeding their way east fresh
camels and carriages were to- follow and transport
victuals to the forts taken and garrisonod by tho
expeditonary corps. By thus establishing regular
line of depots it intended to secure tho troops
against the dangers that might arise from the enemy
retreating before them and nfesting their Tho
present defeat relates only to the advance body Of
the army, numbering some three thousand men.
THE CHECK WAS NET WITH.
The advance body of the expedition met with its
defeat at distance of about q hundred miles from
Chikislar, and consequently not too far in the
Tekkc country to prove fatal The departure Of the
main body from Tchikislar effected after con-
siderable delay, but this was compensated for
by the completeness with which the force pro-
visioned and armed. It deemed necessary to
accumulate at least two months provisions for
man and beast. and tho impossibility Of procuring
q sufficient number of transport camels caused fur
ther delay. After leaving Chikisar the expedition a
pears to have taken northeastery direction for Kis
Arrat. road troddcn by Russian troops before. to
which point Colonel Markosof penetrated in 1872.
Thence General Lazareff went toward Beourma.
point on the further slope of the Kopet Hills,
which. on referring to good map. it will be
forms the apex of triangle of no great altitude
and of which straight line drawn between Merv and
Chikislar is the base. Beourma is the first respecta
BILE fort of the Tekke. The distance from Kisil to
this point is estimated at sixty versts. or
about forty miles. From Bcourma the road leads
by the minor forts OF Artchiman, Karogan and Var
atshee to Kares, Geek Tepe. the principal strong
hold of tho Achal Turcomans the distance being
about the same from Kisil to Beourma. Cock
Tope was strengthened by the Turcomans the
receipt of the of the advance of General Laza
ro expedition 1t is said they prepared to make
a determined stand against the invader. The three
forts reached before Cock Topo' were found aban-
doned by the Tekke 1t will, of course. be necessary
now for the expedition to take Geok Tepe before
proceeding further. Once taken 1t is supposed that
the whole tribe will capitulate else retreat nasss
to Merv for the double purpose of securing their
safety and of reinforcing their brethren thereabous
As the mud and brick walls of Central Asiatic
forts cannot resist northern cannon. and the main
body of tho expedition now under command of
General Lomakn will still havo its full strength.
no anxiety can be felt in Russia to the issue of
the conflict. There camo report some time ago.
however, that thirty thousand brecch-loading rifles
had found their way to the Tckkes and If this is really
the case. then the Russians may meet sturdy re-
sistanco.
ruRcoMANs AS FIGHTERS.
The Tekke Turcomans are, however. a foo not to
be dcspiscd. With breechloaders. nature. distance
and vaor fighting for them. they said by author
ties to bc a match for superior forces. Their
number is estimated at 100000. The guiding prin-
ciple Of tho s:-"If an enemy should attack
your fathers property join him in order
to get your share of tho plumber" They
swift-footod and have great powers Of cndur-
anco, and often make their appearance quite unex-
pectcdly in Turkcstan Herat. Chorassan. and the
province OF Asterabad, spreading terror and dosola
tion wherever they by their acts of violence and
pillagc. Tho inhabitants of these districts live In
continual dread OF the inroads of the Tckke, and
Gad IN be nd In fho