Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1912-03-08

lous expansion OF Russia
Americans speak with we'll
based pride of the immense ex-
tent of our contiguous territory,
stretching from ocean to ocean and
from the takes to the gulf, but after
all Uncle Sam has only little more
than 100000 square miles in one
block, while Russia has S647, 657
square miles, or almost three times
as much. The empire comprises one
seventh Of the land surface of the
globe, and the population which pro-
fesses allegiance to the Gar is esti-
mated at 100000 900, or approximately
twice as many as the men and wom-
en- under the Star Spangled Banner.
The population of the empire has in
creased at a rate which puts our
Wanted increase clear into the
shade. In 1922 Russia was supposed
to have only 100000 people, and as
late as 1879 she had 130,000,000
When the men who fought in the
war of the rebellion were studying
geography Russia's boundaries did not
go as far south as the eastern end of
the Black Sea, and thrilling were the
stories of her war with the Circas-
slams and the feats of Schamyl, the
leader who def1ed for years the over
towering forces of the great white
Gar The Caucasus has long been a
peaceable part of the Russian en-
pire. Years later the whole interior
of Asia was occupied by wandering
tribes of Tartars and Turkomans,
among whom no civilized man ven
tured except at the imminent peril of
his life. The first civilized man since |
Marco Polo to traverse this region !
was Arminius Vambery, Hungarian, |
who was attached to the embassy at |
Constantinople. This WAS in 1864 |
Since that time Russia has acquired |
Samarkand, Bokhara, Khiva. Turke-
stan and the Transcaucasian country,
and extended her borders southwark
until the little country of Afghanis-
tan is all that interposes between her
and British India. On the southeast
she reaches to the mountains which
and on the extreme west she has
taken off large slice of Armenia ly-
ing between the Black Sea and the
Caspian until she touches the border
Of Persia. All this annexation has
been accomplished with comparative
ly little trouble, and the murderous
robber tribes have been reduced to
peace and order without
any great smell of blood
The news of the day shows a far
more startling annexation than any
IF her previous feats In this direction
It is believed that she will soon have
1nder her control the great country
If Mongolia and large part, If not ,
LII. of the ancient empire OF Persia {
1t seems conceded that Mongolia, {
which is believed to be the home of
he Monaghan race, embracing near !
y one-third OF humanity, is an i'm !
nense stretch of country estimated :
t about 100000 square miles, or 9
much more than the entire United n
'tates east of the Mississippi. 1t 6
tretches through Central Asia from v
'astern Turkestan to Sungaria and
he Altai mountains on the west to
lanchuria on the east, and from the
mpire Of China proper on the south :,
, Russian Siberia on the north =,
The people are supposed to be the :,
rigipal Mongols. and are described >,
) a cheerful, good-nstured and hos :,
table people. They live In tents ~
ned with felt, with hole in the
,of to serve as a chimney. Their !.
binary food consists OF preparations =,
milk and millet. buckwheat -four =.
Id oatmeal. Their number Is esti- -
ated all the way from 1000. 900 to =,
100000. They are divided into tribes "
'verned each by its own chieftain.
Id in the northern part OF these are
thersd into four Khanates. each
verned by a prince claiming de- WI
ent from Genghis Kahn, the great &C
nqueror. Women are not secluded SD
In China, and marriage consists in lol
ceremony which is based upon the di
fashion of marriage by capture. de
A far deeper sentimental interest aft
connected with Russias acquisition an
the ancient kingdom OF Persia, Pc
itch for time immemorial has played ha
greater part. in the civilization of Br
} world than that of Mongolia thu
rsia Is country 600 900 square a
les in extent. or about one-f1fth OF tor
It of the United States. excluding en-
iska. 1t joins the Russian province air
Transcaucasia on that part of Asia hei
nor lying between the Black and fro
Caspian Seas and the Russian gle
vince of Transcaspia stfll farther in
the east. On its eastern boundary ma