Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1912-04-18

IOus 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 lakes to the gulf, but after
all Uncle Sam has only a little more
than 100000 square miles in one
block, while Russia has 8,647,657
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 Gear Is esti-
mated at 160.0O0.0O0, 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 rate which puts our
vaunted 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
60 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 defied for years the over
towering forces of the great white
Gear. 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. a Hungarian,
who was attached to the embassy at
Constantinople. This was In 1854.
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
form the western boundary Of China
and on the extreme west she has
taken OF 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
comparative peace and order without
any great smell Of blood.
The news of the day shows a far
more startling annexation than any
Of her previous feats in this direction.
It is believed that she will soon have
under her control the great country
Of Mongolia and q large part, II not
all. Of the ancient empire Of Persia.
It seems conceded that Mongolia.
which Is believed to be the home Of
the Monaghan race. embracing near
~ one-third Of humanity. is an i'm
mense stretch of country estimated
at about 100000 square miles. or
much more than the entire United
States east of the Mississippi. It
stretches through Central Asia from
Eastern Turkestan to Sungaria and
the Altai mountains on the west to
Manchuria on the east. and from the
empire Of China proper on the south
to Russian Siberia on the north.
The people are supposed to be the
original Mongols. and are described
as a cheerful. good-natured and hos
pitable people. They live in tents
lined with felt. with hole in tie
roof to serve as a chimney. Their
ordinary food consists Of preparations
Of milk and millet. buckwheat flour
and oatmeal. Their number is esti-
mated all the way from 100000 to
100000 They are divided into tribes
governed each by its own chieftain.
and in the northern part of these are
gathered into four Khanates, each
governed by a prince claiming de-
scent from Genghis Kahn, the great
conqueror. Women are not secluded
as in China, and marriage consists IN
a ceremony which Is based upon the
old fashion Of marriage by. capture.
A far deeper sentimental interest
IL connected with Russia's acquisition
Of the ancient kingdom Of Persia.
which for time immemorial has played
q greater part in the civilization of
the world than that of Mongolia,
Persia Is a country 100000 square
miles in extent, or about one-fifth of
that Of the United States. excluding
Alaska. II Joins the Russian province
Of Transcaucasia on that part Of Asia
Minor lying between. the Black and
the Caspian Seas and the Russian
province Of Transcaspia still farther
to the east On its eastern boundary