RUSSIAN CONQUEST IN CENTRAL ASIA.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1062, 21 December 1871, Page 3

RUSSIAN CONQUEST IN CENTRAL ASIA.

After keeping quiet in Central Asia this sp miner, Russia has resumed her career of cpnjjuest, and again annexed an extensile territory. This time Dzoungaria has been subdued by her arms. Dzoungaria, or, as the Chinese call it, Thian-Shan-pe-bo,is situate on the northern slopes of the Thian-Shan Mountains: Till 1364, it belonged to China. Tn that year the Mongols, who are the indigenous population of the country, being infected with $je spirit p| mutiny rife ampng their eou^urymen iarjtier south,' rose against the Chinese authorities, massacred the garrisons, and achieved independence. The Chinese Government made no attempt to re-assert their sway over the outlying province. Having to quench rebellion in so many other parts of the empire, they could not afford to pay any very particular > attention to the Mongols. The Chinese thus disposed of, the Dzoungaria Dungens proceeded to elect a native ruler. Abel Oghlan, the new sovereign, has since resided in the town of Kuldsha, in the Valley of the Hi, and being universally acknowledged by his subjects, seems to have had a pleasant time of it for a pretty long spel). Quite recently, he took it into his head to fall out with the Russians, and came to grief. The Dungens had interropted the Bußßian trade with China, and destroyed a Russian factory ; but the immediate cause of quarrel was the refusal of AbelOghlan to surrender Khirgese, who had fled into Dzoungaria to escape paying tithe to the Russians. On this account, Russia declared war. Hostilities began in last June, and after a series of successful encounters, the Russian forces, under general; £oipakovs|a, advanced to the fartrefcs of T-cbin-na^tcho-dsi, which they took by Btorm'i Soon < after this the ttangeh sovereign surrendered. The expensive territory which haß thus been added to the Russian possessions is a mountainous region, with' fertile valleys flanking the wild declivity of the hills, it is about twice as large as Ireland, thp native inhabitants being estimated at l,sPP,ppp, and the Chinese and other Bfiudaiat settlers at 600,000 more. The country abounds in coal, cattle, and hones, has gold, silver, and copper, and is ; capable of producing large quantities of corn and fruit. Its mineral wealth is Relieved to be yeiy great.