THE RUSSIAN EXPEDITION IN CENTRAL ASIA.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1921, 21 April 1880, Page 3

THE RUSSIAN EXPEDITION IN CENTRAL ASIA.

The spoeial correspondent of the " Daily News " writing from Ak Kala Fort, on Giurgon River, on January 7th, says : ' Inactivity roigns supreme in the Russian camp. With the exception of Colonel Malamß, the chief of the staff, all the chief officers of the trans-Caspian army are away either at Tiflw, like Q-aneral Tergukasoff and Colonel Shelkovnikoff, or at home celebrating the festivities of the Russian Christmas and Now Year. Very probably tho folk assembled in the capital of the Caucasus manage to kill two birds with ono stone, and in the intervals of tho amusements of the season find leisure to consider the combinations of nex l spring's compaign. The proceedings of the expeditionary force have been from tho very commencement an utter puzzle to me. All last spring was allowed to slip by without a single step in advance having been made. Operations of an active nature were only commenced just as the most unfavorable eeuaon for a campaign in the dea-.-rt was setting in. I had always believed that it was with a view of having the entire winter available for the real telling work. On the contrary, no sooner did the bents begin to diminish und tho water supply become tolerably good and plentiful than everything like work was brought to an end, and the troops stagnated in winter quarters. Of course people will say that this was owing to the defeat at Dengli Tepe and the partial demoralisation of the troops. But, after all, what was the mere handful of men, not exceeding 2-1,000 of all arms, engaged in the operations, but a grain of sand in the desert compared to the militury resources of Russia ? With the Caspian naval and commercial flotilla at its disposal, Russia might have poured double tho number of soldiers into Tchikislar and Krisnavodsk in a very brief space after the repulse of the 9th September became known. Of course the transport animals, who had perished wholesale, were not so easily replaced. Still, if they are to be replaced, the authorities are Burely not waiting for a new general ion of animate to grow up, and could as easily call in tho camels required now as later on. To me it seems entirely incomprehensible that tho presont season should be let pasa by in complete inactivity."