The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-24
THE RUSSIAN nOvkMRNr IN ASIA.

The extension OF the Russian mobilization In
Asia to western Siberia. Semirie,chensk and
Turkestan Ia und oubtedly in pursuance Of a far
reaching policy. the execution OF which has
probably been forced on Russia by the
results OF the disturbancein China. Practically
the whole OF Asiatio Russia has now been
called tn arms. though the chief scenes OF ac-
lion Will DO In the widely separated southwest
ern and southeastern extremities and the bor-
oering territories. The mobilization In Turkes-
tan and semirietchensk is apparently de-
signed FOR action toward Chinese Turkestan
ana DJungaria In western Mongolia. In
inc event Of a Russian army crossing
the frontier OF Chinese Turkestan. the natural
objectives will be Kashgar, where there Is a
considerable Chinese garrison. and Yarkand.
Doth points OF commercial and military impor-
tanoe. A march 10 kashgar presents no serious
Obstacles and the Russian troops taking part
In II would be brought almost up to the
frontier by rail from the military centres
at Tashkent, Samarkand and other points fur
Their west, reinforced by others from across
the 'aspian. The Semiretchensk mobilization
Is obviously directed against Diungaia and Its
capital. kuidJa, which Russia annexed and
occupied In 1871 and afterward evacuated
under strong pressure from China. The con-
oentrauon OF troops In the districts TO
the north would have Ia view Tohugutchak. the
most important frontier CITY In western Mon
Golia. a. II commands the roads leading To the
fertile regions In the southwest and into con-
trail Mongolia. the capital Of which, Uliassutai.
10 south OF the mountains In which the Yensei
River takes It, rise. Tohueutohsk Is reached
BY . military road from Ssmipolatinsk
AZ the head Of the navigation Of the River Irish
from Omsk. one Of the principal stations on the
Siberian Railway. The distances Is about four
hundred miles. the road running due south
from Sem'polatinsk for some two hundred
miles to Sergiopol. from where one road
branches to the southeast to Tchugutchak. and
the other, passing near the eastern end OF Lake
Balkash. continues in a southerly direction TO
Viernoe. the terminus OF the railway from
Tashkent
From The Trans Baikal district II is reported
that the Chinese have occupied Kailar. a town
south Of the line Of the Manchurian Railway, on
the trade route from Tsitsihar on the N ana
River to Staroi Zuruchaitui on the Argun. where
the railway CROSSES the frontier from the Russian
territory. The object Of the Chinese would APP
pear to be 10 stop the construction Of the railway
and prevent the completion OF the line from the
blucTiAu Totu 10 lhltelnar Dy WHICH INC huSsldn
troops coming from Europe would be saved
many days Of travel down the Amur and up the
Sungari. On account OF tha vital importance
OF this line. the Russians are bound to send a
strong body Of troops to clear the way and keep
the communications opon.
In China proper the Government or who
ever II Is that Is in control, Is displaying a de-
cided spirit Of resistance TO the action OF tie
cooperating Powers. 1t can hardly be doubted
that the procrastnstion regarding the fate
OF the ENJOYS is to gain time 10 COM
plete the military preparations. That
the movement against the foreigners
Is general throughout the Empire is
evidenced by runners having been sent into
Tibet to rouse the people to e1pel Euro
peans from that country. The report that a Rus
sian army was moving from the north into
China direct TO Pekin though semi-oNlcIally
denied at the time IL was given out, Is now said
to be well founded. 1t is said to be over
$4,000 strong. and to be advancing by
forced marches. should these figures be
only approximately accurate their arrival at
PekIn or its neighborhood before the combined
forces from Taku and flemish OF Shanhaik wan
would materially influence the situation in q
variety OF ways.