THE RUSSIANS AND THE TEKKE TURCOMANS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2157, 24 January 1881, Page 4

THE RUSSIANS AND THE TEKKE TURCOMANS.

Tho ipeoial correspondent of the "Daily News " writes from Kuohon towards the end of Ootober:—

The inaccuracy and exaggeration to whioh □own is subject in the East, even when travelling over a very small space of ground, are truly marvellous. The news whioh I mentioned in my last letter as having been brought by a courier from Askabad, to the affeot that the Bussian troops, in great force, had attacked Geok Tepe, and been repulsed with heavy loss, whioh I oorreoted in a despatch dated the same evening, turns out to bo based only on a brisk skirmish between a reconnoitring party of Bussian cavalry and a Turcoman patrol of the same arm. The Russians, it seems, tried to seize some herds, but were forced to retire with the loss of ten. Into what this intelligence had swelled while traversing about forty miles I have already stated. As I said in my last, I should have been a good deal surprised if the Bussian expeditionary force, said to number over 40,000 men, and under tho command of General Skobeleff, had undergone a seoond reverse like that of this time last year at the asme spot. So far I wrote yesterday. I have to-day had a most interesting interview with a Tekke Turcoman come direct from Geok Tepe, and who took part in the late cavalry skirmish.

The engagement took place a few miles to the north-west of Geok Tepe, near a place called Kiariz. The Bussian force consisted of 'IOOO cavalry with four light guns, and was said to be under the immediate command of Skobelofi? himself. The Tekkes, who were of equal strength, all cavalry, but had no guns, were taken partly by surprise, but after a brisk fight suooeeded in driving off their assailants, who, my informant averred, lost twenty men between killed and wounded. He spoke in such a modest, unassuming way of tho whole matter that I am inclined to attach every faith to what he said. According to him, his friends lost but ten men. Whether the Bussian foroe were a reoonnoitring party, a foraging one, or both combined, he could not say. It was probably what would be called in military parlance a minor reconnaissance in force,. made with a viow of getting a dose look at the enemy's works, and, if possible, of getting him to deploy all or a greater portion of his strength, by leading him to imagine that the attack was a real one. Since the last battle, nearly twelve months ago, the entire district population, even including women and children, have been engaged incessantly at the fortifications of Geok Tepe, completing and strengthening them. My informant says that the works are now thoroughly finished, and that all parties are sanguine of success in resisting the impending assault. The Tekke messenger informed me that I had overrated the strength of the reinforcements from Merv. They are but 4000. That all attempts at a compromise, if indeed any suoh were made, have broken down, is evident from the attitude of the Turoomons. They have abandoned the entire valley up to their first stronghold. Geok Tepe, And have there concentrated tho bulk of their fighting men. The women and valuables have been all sent off in the direction of Merv, so as to leave the combatants entirely free. Largo reinforcements of Merv Turcomans have oome up, some say exceeding 10,000 in number. The entire population of Askabad have either gone on to Geok Tepe or retired eastward. In the town, the principal, almost the only one which can be so called, belonging to the Akkal Tekkes, there are, I am informed, literally no inhabitants. The force at Geok Tepe is estimated at considerably over 30,000 men. Unless some totally unforeseen circumstances oocur, the combat there oannot fail to be a terrific one. There is no knowing, however, but some unaccountable panic on the part of the Turcomans, some olever flank movement on that of the .Russians, or the arrival of the Oxus columns at or near Merv may change the entire situation and render the defences of Geok Tepe useless. In fact, some of those contingencies whioh in war so often set all calculations at naught may give an almost undisputed victory to Skobeleff. That the Turcomans must ere long yield or come to terms is a thing few can doubt of.