The New York herald., 1879-10-21

"A uespatch TO the Ndndard from Simla re-
ports that the Russian troops which were de-
feated at Okok-Tepe will winter the shore
the ancient bed of the Oxus River, with view
to connecting it with the Caspian Sea, has been
abandoned the difficulties in the way of such
connection being found practically nsurmount-
able.
The Times correspondent at Berlin says Gen
eral Kaufmann, Governor of Turkestan, who
has been for some time in st. Petersburg, will
return to Turkestan Immediately. He will be
provided with fresh instructions based on the
istan.
THE RECORD OF THE VARIOUS EXPLORING Ex-
petitions FROM ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
OF THE GRAND DUKE NICHOLAS CoNsTAN-
TINovICH BEING THE CAPToR OF MERv.
The scraps Of news which have from time to time
reached would appear to show the possibility and
the probability of the capture Of Merv. In the lat
ter part OF 1878 three columns formed in
Turkestan with view to an advance southwark.
composed of the Third. Fifth Sixth Ninth and part
of the Seventeenth Turkestan battaons mixed bat.
talion the Third West Siberian battalion. the sapper
company. the whole of the Fourth and two sotnas of
the Fifth mixed Orenburg-Ural Cossack regiment.
four sotnias of the Fourth Siberian Cossacks the
First and Third and half of the Second battery of
the First Field Artillery brigade. the Institutional
battery, the First and Third Orenburg Cossack
Horse batteries. and rocket battery. under Major
General Trotoki. The left flank column at Mar
guelan. in Ferganah under Major General Abramoff,
consisted of six rifle companies and two sotnias
OF the Fifth mixed Cossack regiment, with six
guns Of the Mountain Horse battery. and
half a rocket battery. Tho right flank col.
umn at Petro-Alexandrovsk. under Colonel Groten-
helm, composed Of six companies, two sotnias,
and four guns. Merv supposed to be the first
objective of these columns. What their ultimate
goal is time will show. In April last the Daily
Ne,cs announced that the exploring expedition
would consist Of tour columns each numbering
9. 900 men.
WHERE THE EXPEDITIONS ARE.
The goal of these columns at the time was given
out as Merv. Very little has been heard of
them during the past year. though many
reports have reached us Of the progress
OF various exploring expeditions" under which
term their course can probably be followed. Very
General Abramon. at the head of expedition
has quilted Ferghanah and moving toward the
Pamr. The report DIT is spoken Of with pride
by Turkestan officers that his mountain. artillery
has accomplished the difficult task of crossing the
Kara Kazk Pass at height Of 14,400 feet. Until
Abramof crossed it the was considered mpracti
cable he has obtained prestige among
Kirghz of the Pamir by his feat Abramos
object is twofold-he intends to annex the noun
famous region abutting upon the Pamir, and to
take up an attitude o: observation in regard to
Afghanistan. In tho latter respect he has de-
cded to abide by plan arranged between
himself and General Kaufman in 1878 tor
the invasion of India. On that occasion it
was resolved that the column of the Pamir. of
which General Abramof commander, should
raise the Badakshanis and the hill tribes of the
Hndoo Koosh. and carry them along with it to
Cabui, meeting tile road the column from Tash-
kend."
A GRAND DUKE IN COMMAND.
On the nth of March the ammo uncement was
made that "the expedition to Merv-3Oo0 men
was under the command of the Grand Duke
Nicholas Constantinovch." Since then we
have news from Turkestan with reference to two
"scientihc expeditions" aud mention is made of
the forces accom- anying them. although the Grand
Dukes namc appears. The news. dated in August
Central Asian exploration party have arrived
at samarcand. Tomorrow they sot out in two
parties for the Bokharan frontier. One party,
posed Of Count Rostovken, Engineer Leapunoff,
sorokin and Mushkclo, and the painter
together with two telegraph officials. pro-
Goods across the steppo to Karshi the mil
itary ccntro of Bokhara. in order to inter-
view the Emir and explain to him the object
Of the expedition. The other party. comprising
Major Lunkevitch. MAJOR Maeif. Major Krcitchmer,
Engineer sokolovsky. DIR. valitsky. zoologist pelt
sam. together with the Grand Duke Nicholas, will
proceed, via Kitab. shaar. Var Tube and Kata-
Of the first party from Karshi. II therc is
time while the second party is waiting to
run on to Sherabad in Bokhara, the Grand
Duke will do so, and perhaps he may proceed be- |
yond. At Derbend will be detached Major Maeff,
whose mission is to explore tho northern sources |
Of the oxus-namcy. the sourchan. the Kahrn.
inghan aud tho Bachsha. The valleys Of |
these rivers are ut present wholly un-
known Maeff hopes to float on raft from sardjui |
down the sourchan to Termez. and after
ploring that place. to pass to Kobadan, and |
thence to Hissar. Having finished his examna-
ton of tho sourchan Valley and Kafrninghan, |
Maer will explore the basin of the Bachsha.
Above Norako this river is not navigable. |
On his arrival at Kurshan Tube he will |
meet other members OF the expedition and join /
the party. With them he will proceed to Keif ferry
and then, across the mountains, journey back via
shaar to samarcand. This exploration will open up |