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

may be sat 10 her further advance IN DoIn
~ those respects he docs but follow In the steps
NJ other writer's. To our mind his book Is
chiefly valuable because II brings down to
our own day the history Of Russian Turkestan,
which now stretches from the Caspian 10 Kash-
gar. and from Siberia to Kashmir. We imagine
that. for their knowledge NJ the subject most
persons rely upon Eugene schuyler's record of
nrst-hand observations, which was published
more than twenty years ago, but a great deal
deserving ~ note has happened since Schuylers
dny, and will he found set forth succinctly In
Mr. Colquhoun's pages. II IL that part OF me
alters volume 70 which We would now direct
attention
II vas Peter the Great who adopted the
policy Of expansor Ia the direction OF central
Asia which has borne such remarkable fruits
in our own dav. lie sent an armed expedition
for tho double purpose Of occupying the Khanate
Of Khlva and getting some Of the gold which
ho was assured was to be found on the shores
of the ONus, tho famous river which formerly
DISCHARGED into the Caspian, hut now falls into
IN. Ardl Sel The expedition was a failure, but
II resulted IN the building Of the first fort In
the chain known since rs the New siberian
line. which stretches across the Tshim Steppe,
and was completed In 1852 Astrabad on the
Caspian. which was coded 10 Russian i722 was an
important factor in the eyes Of the great car.
considered as a base for an advance toward India
Have YOU ever been IN the Gulf OF Astrabad'
he exclaimed 10 an officer at Durbent. You
must knoN then that those mountains. " he
said pointing 10 the heights on the shores Of
the Caspian. extend to Astrabad. and from
there to Ralkh and Badakshan with pack cam'ls
Is only u twelve dav-' Journey, and on that road
10 India no ono can interfere with you
Peter died In 1925, and after his death Russian
affairs IN Asia were for some time less Success
fully conducted Toward the end Of the eigh-
teenth century. however, In the reign OF the
Empress Catherine IL, n scheme was contem-
plated for invading India through the hhanates
Of central Asia. but was not carried into effect.
In 1907 the Emperor Paul. infatuated with Ma
poleon. agreed 10 a project for the Joint in
vasiou ~ India nv France and Russia. The
orders had already been given to the chosen COM
mander and an army ~ Coasacks had started
when the Cars death put an end 10 the plan,
His successor. Alexander T., did not pursue
the undertaking but he continued the struggle
20 extend his dominions into Central Asia, and
a long conflict with Persia ensued, in which the
fate Of Georgia and other Caucasian provinces
was disputed. hut for some time without any
decided advantage 10 either side.
The close Of the year 1914 found Persia. though
some Of her fairest provinces had been coded
10 Russia. AZ peace with that nation and also In
alliance with Great Britain. the latter Power
having promised 20 defend her in a war with
any European nation. unless Persia herself were
the aggressor. Russia, however, by her threat
ening attitude on the Persian frontier. which
had not been accurately defined. provoked
the Court Of Teheran to declare war, and the
British Government, when applied 10 FOR help,
elected 10 abide by the letter Of the treaty
rather than risk a war with a European Power.
IN the subsequent struggle Persia lost still
more provinces to Russia. We should here
note thar the first British-Afghan war took
place in 1880. and resulted in the occupation
Of the chief cities Of Afghanistan by British
troops Russia now began a policy OF slow
hut systematic advance In central Asia. In
the winter of 1880 an expedition led by Gen,
Perovsky started from Orenburg. ostensiblv
20 obtain the release Of Russian prisoners In
Khiva, and to execute reprisals for the Injuries
inflicted by the wild tribes on the borders OF
Russia: in reality the object was 20 obtain
influence over Afghanistan. and
10 Dust the British therefrom. That winter,
however, proved IN he one OF almost unprec-
edented rigor in central Asia and, after hor-
rible suffering caused by the effort to march
In binding storms through snow almost waist
high the troops returned TO Orenburs, leaving
more than a thousand dead, and bringing 900
slck 10 no lodged In hospitals, This expedition,
nevertheless. convinced the Khivans that
Russia was in earnest. and. to avert another
campaign, their Khan made overtures, and sent
back many prisoners, but II was not till 1912
that a treaty was concluded.
The Khanate of Khiva is a long, narrow oasis
contrasting both banks ~ the ANU Daria
(Oxusl and extending from the frontier Of
Rokhara 10 the southern shore ~ the Sea OF
Aral. The city ~ Khiva Is the exact centre
~ the Khanate. a girdlc ~ absolute desert.
IN area exceeding the territories Of Germany.
France and Italy combined, enCircles the Khan
ate on every side. From the southwest TO the
northeas this girdle was surrounded by Russian
domain. Russian forts and Russian troops.
On the south and southeast the Khanate was
hordered by Persia. Afgharistan and Bokhara,
md could only bc Of Importance II these Sta les
abandoned their neutrality. Khivs WINS one
~ the most sacred cities Of central Asia and.
according IN an old saving. II would remain
secure from foreign aggression until the waters
ot the ANU Daria, returning 10 the old bed, which
they had deserted. should once more wash
against the walls OF Kane Urgench. the old capt.
tai. Now In 1881 the river IL said 10 have risen 10
such an ex tent that its waters reached the an
ci.nt city. and the inhabitants. whose super
stton is notorious felt that the hour Of Rus
sia's triumph was AT hand.
The disasters which hefel the British in Afghan
istan during the wears Is4i-42 quite dwarfed Pc
rovskts defeat. which had made n powerful
impression throughout Russia. Thus II came
IN rass that. while England was preparing 10
retrieve the disgrace incurred by the calsmi-
tous defeat ~ her army under Gen. Flphin-
stone. Russia embraced an opportunity offered
her nv Persia, which appealed for aid TO check
the piracy ot the Turkomans on the Caspian
Sea. BY the Treaty 81 Turkomanchi Persia
had forfeited the right 90 keep war vessels
on this sea. but Russia was hampered by no
such restriction. The 81. Petersburg Gov
eminent sent shirs from the naval station
on the island Of Sari and took possession Of
Ashuravn tat the mouth Of the Gulf Of Astra-
bad. which vas promptly fortified Despite
the protests Of Persia. which requested Eng
land 10 interpose. this place was kept and hns
ever since remained the Cars property. This
one NJ Russia's hloodless conouests, effected
simply by the exercise of n cool. high-handed