New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-31
An EXPLORER IN TIBET.
Oscar T. Crosby Tells Of Ne1c
DANGER to Chinese Empire

Paris Ian 3O-Oscar r. Crosby. an American
explorer has returned to Paris from "trip to Cen
trail Asia. where he visited parts OF Turkestan ana
Tibet never before entered by n white man. On
his way to Tibet Mr. Crosby skrted Afghanistan,
visited Chinese Turkestan, and traversed Cashmere
and the difficult Karakorum caravan route to India
His investigation made IL appear that China was
threatened from the rear ard that advance by
Russia and Great Britain in this direction may
become as important in its possible results to the
United States as a move OF the European powers
from the
Mr.. Crosby said:
left the United State. last May stopping az
Russian Iurkestan took the TraHsSasplaa , Toaa
na hngn s or thc Freneh Army who Joined
me in my Journey. From Andijan we went ~
point the caravan was reorganiEed and started FOR
Tibet passing through rarkan6 ana 10 Aseend the
Tbetan plateau, which ranges from 800 TO ~ 10
from the rarened air and cold.
AS we could carry supplies for only twenty days
we intended to strike toward HASA Unfortuii
almanac. and was unable TO take observations
We consequently took a more southeTy course
mistake because the country was trackess and
unnhahlted for hundreds OF miles We could t ma
but we crossed an unexplcred region known as the
Our horses died rapidly. and we had but a few
days supplies left when two OF our most trusted.
in search OF aid They rode one hundred miles be-
fore they found any one. At the end OF eleven
visions. The nomads. who are like our Indians.
refused to go Into Iieet so mere Wa n0ts n
known as Little Tibet. which forms part of British
My purpose in visiting Central Asla was TO study
the past political and racial questions connected
reach Ihassa. except by force in disguise. and
The RThsR expedition under colonei Younshus-
band will be able 10 enter Lhassa The, T1betan5
people. governed by priests, who. SO far as we
know. do not ineulcate them with ne miiitary
spirit. which Is contrary TO me precspts OF bud-
dhsm and Lamaism. The result OF the expedition
will be some form OF British control Russia Ia do
ing nothing 20 prevent its success. and do not
think anything be done. do not believe Rus-
for II natural frontier ever existed TO their em
pre IT certainly lies north OF the yast deserts ana
fore inhabited Tibet can be reached; ,,,
cause she viii take Chinese Turkestan. The In
habited part OF this territory is rich and populous
by irrigation. The Russians can and will control
the commercial situation OF all this region because
tan is still Chinese 20 outward appearance, having
consul general at Kashgar who is guarded by sixty
CSSsachs is the real power over to the natives and
doubt. they would be pOwerless 70 resist the
Consul General Petroysiy. while courteous 20 us.
seemed to discourage the appearance or any other
the ground that the question OF Chinese Turkestan
is Of no great Importance to the world at large
The importance Of the question lies rib IN the fat
is under Chinese suzerainty will II. Remembering
China. The object OF the British.1s to make IL
impossible the Russians to establish themselves
IN Tibet. and TO do this effectively they will have
to institute kind OF control Nevertheless,
the United States which IS Interested in the in
tegrity OF China, must turn her attention to the
back OF the empire and keep eye there while
watching the coast
With respect to Afghanstan. both the Russians
and British recognize its value buffer state.
and do not desire disturb this situation. though
each fears the other may gain the ascendency over
the Ameer.
Mr. Crosby has been invited to deliver lectures be
fore the London and French Geogra phica societies
He will not return 20 New-York before the last of
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