Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-02
RULES AN AUTOCRAT
Russian Viceroy of Turkestan
Has Absolute Powers.
CAR HIS ONLY MASTER
Independent Of Ministry and I'm
mune From Criticism.
TASHKEND IS AN OLD CITY
Its Origin Lost in Mist Of the Ages.
Captured by Russians After
Short Campaign.
CAR HIS ONLY MASTER
TASHKEND IS AN OLD CITY
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

| BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.
| Special Correspondence OF The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
| TASHKEND, Turkestan, June 80, 1910.
| The capital of Turkestan, the residence
of the Russian viceroy or Yarim Pads
hah (Which means half king and the
headquarters Of the military forces OF
+ Central Asia, is the city of Tashkend
situated upon the river Jarhik, branch
! Of the Syr Daria (Which was known to
the ancients as the Jaxartes). 1t stands
on the edge of the western foothills OF
the mountains which form a natura
boundary between Russian possessions in
Asia and the Chinese province of Tien
Shan.
| These mountains consist of successive
ranges and are known by various names
the kharli Tau, the Alai Tau, the Urtak
| Tau and the Alexandrian mountains
| and they eliminate in great range
known as the KILL Yari, whose peaks rise
to the height of 5000 feet and are Sec
ond only to those Of the Himalayas, which
| form the boundary between Tibet and
| India. The KILL Yari are really con-
| tinuation of the Himalaya range and ex-
tend northward into Siberia.
Tashkent is an ancient city, It's origin
| Is lost in the mist of the ages. Geograph-
| ically it is on the same parallel Of longi-
tude as Bombay and is directly north OF
Kabul the capital of Afghanistan. Its
| latitude is about the same as that of Con-
| stantinOple and Rome.
Russian Siege a Brief One.
| Tashkent was captured by the Russians
| in October, 1864. after a brief siege by
only 1850 troops, and, according to the
| Russian policy, Gen. Alexander Tcher-
! naief, who was in command, called to-
| gether the 'elder statesmen" and after
| persuading them to his benevolent inten-
| tons issued a proclamation which is a
model of diplomacy:
by order of the great white tsar, his
| lieutenant, Gen. Islander Tchernaief the
use OF the Uzbeb term for Alexander be-
| ing intended as compliment to Alex
ander the GreaD. hereby enjoins upon the
| inhabitants of Tashkent that they must
! in everything act according to the COM
| mands of Almighty God and the teachings
of the orthodox religion of Mohammed.
on whose descendants be the blessings of
| God. Let them say their prayers five
| times day, not passing by the appointed
| time an hour or even minute. Let the
mullahs go to their schools and teach
the Mohammedan faith and not waste the
| time of their pupils by an hour or a
minute. Let the inhabitants of the coun-
| try occupy themselves with their work.
| their trade with profit. Let nothing be
thrown into the street and let them be
kept clean. The Koran forbids you to
i drink buza and whisky, to play games
OF chance or to be licentious; therefore;
beware and avoid everything that ii
contrary to your religion. The soldiers
will take nothing from you. Houses.
gardens, fields, lands. water. mills ana
everything else you have will remain your
property and no soldier will come into
your courtyard. If he does let us know
at once and he will be severely punished.
, III any one kills or robs neighbor ne
VIII be judged by your laws, and the tenth
part of what is taken from the proouc.s
of your lands I remit to you In accord
ance with the will of the great wnite tsar
to show you his disposition Of kindness.
Appointed First viceroy.
| Shortly after Gen. Kaufman, who was
the chief in command Of the campaign,
organized a provincial government and
was appointed the first viceroy of Turkes-
tan. His administration was peaceful,
progressive and remarkably successful.
! His assistant and successor was Gen.
/ Kuropatkin, the real hero or the recent
| war between Russia and Japan. Although
| Kaufman is entitled to the credit OF
| planning the city and defining the policy
of the government, Kuropatkfn did most
of the work, and to his energy, ability
! and tact, more than to any other cause,
! is due the satisfactory conditlon that now
exists in this part of the Russian empire.
! Kaufman and Kuropatkin both knew
| how to deal with the natives and the
policy they inaugurated and the regula-
| lions they framed are still In force.
Tn the center of the city Of Tashkend.
in a beautiful public square which is com.
nosed Of four large blocks densely planted
with many varieties of trees, Is a tall
| shaft of granite with an inscription that
Samarkand in 1868 and of the khanate
of Khva In 1873 Kaufman was