'The Russians in Akhal' [‎40r] (31/68)

1878.
J The measures described were actually
carried out.
Abstract No. XV., May 1878.
The mission to Kabul; Oshanin to Hissar ;
Colonel Matveyef to Badakhshan, Kafiristan ;
Colonel Grodekof through Afghan Turkestan
and Maimena to Herat; a stall of officers to
Teheran.
connection with Afghanistan seem to have given
an impetus to the Russian proceedings in the trans*
Caspian region, upon which some light was thrown
by a Tiflis correspondent of a Hamburg journal in
the following statements quoted at the time by
the Russian papers, and which did not seem to be
unworthy of credence. $
That correspondent stated “ that General V on
“ Kaufmann had submitted a memorandum to the
“ Imperial Government on the subject of an expe-
“ dition to India, in which he had proposed, in the
“ first place, the augmentation of the Turkestan
“ forces, and in the second place, the organization
“ of a militia to be composed of Cossacks, Kirghiz,
“ and Yomuds, and other Turcomans numbering
“ 13,000 men, for the purpose of making up the
“ complements in the Russian cadres. Another
“ recommendation was the fortifying and enlarge-
“ ment of Krasnovodsk as a military and naval
“ station, making it the chief depot and base of a
“ Russian expeditionary force. The Russian Go-
u vernment acted at once on the above recommen-
“ dations. The garrisons in Turkestan were
“ strengthened. General Von Kaufmann was
“ provided with funds for the reorganization of the
“ militia, and Krasnovodsk was so changed in the
“ course of the year that travellers were surprised
<f to see the alterations that had been made. Rive
e( commissions composed of staff officers were
“ simultaneously despatched in various directions
“ between the Russian and Anglo-Indian dominions,
“ the results of which have been a better acquaint-
“ ance with many unknown parts of Central Asia,
“ and a circumstantial plan of military operations.
“ This plan was approved by the Russian Minister
“ for War in the autumn of the year 1877, and it
“ is on the strength of this plan that all those
“ movements are being made in Central Asia which.
“ have been noticeable of late.”
Abstract, No. XXIV., July 1878. Accordingly, preparations were made at Tiflis in
the spring (April) of 1878, for an “ expedition with
“ a purpose more serious than the curbing of
“ Turcomans and an advance on Merv.”
Abstract, No. XUII., October 1878, and The force, under cover “ partly of cavalry and
No. LVII., November 1878. “ partly of Cossacks, of Kirghiz, of local militia
“ and "even of several pieces of ordnance,” left
Krasnovodsk on the 22nd July for Chat. Passing
up the Chandyr and Sumbar tributaries of the
Attrek, the column advanced to Bend Essen, and
crossed the ridge of the Kopet Dagh to Bami,
looking down upon the oasis of Akhal. .
Abstract, No. LXX., December 1876. Lomakin’s force was estimated at SOOinen wither-
24 guns. The Kavkas stated that the force was a
“ rather large one,” and “it was concluded that the
“ object of the expedition was the long looked
“for occupation of the Akhal Tekd oasis. It
“ was also considered that the advance oi the
“ Krasnovodsk column was in connection with the
“ movements of General Kaufmaun’s Turkestan
“ troops.”
Having scanned the oasis from the top of the