The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-02

plains Of western siberia. 80 rich In grass, or
to tho southern Ural Steppes. or to the Us'
Urt, which lie, between the Caspian and the
Sea Of Aral.
Khiya was the door Of all commercial routes
10 the centre Of Asia, but the lesson taught
by previous diplomacy aud campaigns hah
been that this door would never open 20 peace
ful negotiations but only 10 force. IL was
felt that the base for successful operation
against Khlva was the Caspian Sea- ana q hne
u forts was planned on the east ooaH,
Krasnovodsk was To become n consld crane
fortress, and energetic measures were auop'eu
toward the nelghboring iomud ana i"hA.
tribes. Warfare with these people was carried
on under difficulties. for they deserted the''
stockades at Me approach Of the enemy and car
ried of all their goods and cattle. The future
hero OF Pleyna, then Col. Ak obelef, accom-
panied by three CoSsacks disguised M usoek
merchants, succeeded In penetrating INTO the
cultivated parts Of the oasis OF khlva' ana
passing safely through the hostile MONACO
who kept their focks there. returned 10 Inns
without mlsadyenture, and added much U"
the scanty knowledge hitherto possessed OF
these regions.
In the following year an expedition under
MHTkhSOn TchtIltu M Sdlll' 'B'N ~
Daria and brought back valuable Information
as TO the country through which they had
passed. Thanks to Skobeleff, the commander
was able 10 arrange his halts so "a to
strike the principal wells. the water OF which
il sometimes very bitter. but can be used for
cooking purposes. He found the Rhivan
desert. consisting Of hot. dry and yielding
sand, "A trying one TO march through, but ne
had the advantage Of a cool wind. From a
spot named Sari Kamish on the dred-up an
Gent water course Of the River Oxus, Markason
made a reconnaissance. and coming across some
fresh water pools in the former river bed was
able TO verify Skobeleh's visit there in a curl
Gus way. Close to one Of the wells he picked
I'D a silver teaspoon with that Officers Initials
which had been dropped there the year before.
On the return march toward kraSnoVodsk
Markasof had a miraculous escape at one OF
the hating places, for the camp was beeieged
on all sides by the Turkomans. who made q
desperate attempt to kill him.. even bursting
into his tent and cutting down his guards.
In 1928 Markason conducted a campaign
against the Tekkes, with Khiva as an ultimate
goal. The Tekkes were a martial race, who
had built a number Of small mud fortresses,
very primitive works, which we're, however
deemed impregnable 10y the neighbortng tribes.
They were simply squares composed OF mud
walls without fortiications, the kibtkds, or
tents. being arranged both inside and around
the fortress. Though essentially nomad IN
character and habits the Tekkes we're fond
Of agricult IRE. and Notwithstanding that the
country is badly watered they grew vegetables
grain and cotton in the neighborhood OF Their
dwellings. The 1ekkes adopted a very simple
plan Of warfare on the approach of Markason;
they burnt their hbitkds and fed, Event
ually, however. they came TO close quarters
and were defeated at Dshmala. after which
they sent an embassy to MaTkasof to assure
him Of their friendship and TO ask for the re-
lease Of the prisoners in the hands Of the Rus
Markasof acceded TO their request
demanding in return a tribute Of $40 camels.
which, though promised. he never succeeded
in getting His column. while useful as af-
fordine valuable opportunities for a survey
OF the country. was not destined to reach
Khiva. The Trkomans attacked him per-
sistently, and he thought IT wiser to retire.
The ~. Petersburg Government. however,
by no means renowned the purpose Of con-
uuering the Khanate. and an elaborate cam
paign was arranged. in the course Of which
five columns were TO converge from different
points upon Rhiva. All but that under the
" hul dNN FdNA'u i'i '''''AH
ton. and in June. 1873. Khiva capitulated TO
Gen. Kaufman. and the Khan. although per-
mitted to retain his throne. became thence
forth n mere puppet Of Russia. The Tekke
tribes continued to give considerable trouble,
and another unsuccessful expedition was con-
Quoted against them in 1879: but II was not
until 1881 that. as we shall see. the Russian
troops under skobelef were able entirely to
subdue them.
In 1877 an expedition under Iomakin Wa
despatched against the Akhal Tekkes. but met
with disastrous failure, which, coming Just at
the time when Russia had sustained a reverse at
Plevna, considerably reduced her prestige in
central Asia. In the following year Lomakin
undertook a second expedition, which. however,
was even less successful than the first. The
Russians were not TO be beaten. and still an
other campaign was organized. Gen. Lslaren
being now appointed 10 the command never
theless, disaster continued 10 attend the Rus
sian arms. for I~azaref. falling a victim TO the
poisonous air and impure water characteristic
Of the Caspian shores. died just as the troops
were entering the Akhal territory. After his
death I.omakin was again placed In command;
but at Denghil Teph, where the Tekk6s made a
resolute stand. no lost his final chance Of re-
trieving his former failure, and, after a wanton
massacre in which he spared neither women
nor children, was himself driven back and his
troops were overwhelmed by the desperate
nomads. Alikhanof. an eyewitness Of what
took place. says. The whole course OF the
battle, from beginning TO end. was a defiance OF
the commonest elementary rules Of the art OF
war" With this last reverse Russian prestige
sank to the lowest ebb. and for the Dine being
the campaign against the Tekkes was aban-
doned. In 1881. however. Skobeleff took charge
Of a new expedition, which was destined TO he
successful. With the fall Of Denghil Tepe. the
strength Of the Akhal Turkonans was entirely
broken. Skobelef estimated the total loss Of
the Turkomans during this last siege TO be about
5000. OF half the defenders Of the town.
The occupation OF Merv seemed likely TO be
the next move on the Russian programmes; but