"ملخص لمراسلات، إلخ، تتعلق بشؤون آسيا الوسطى، بلوشستان، بلاد فارس، إلخ، ١٨٧٥-١٨٧٧. مع ملاحق." [ظ‎‎١‎٦‎٠] (٥٦٢/٣٢٥)

the merciless shot told on the van.
by four guns and 100 Cossacks, in
the enemy had concentrated/^
[Times’ Prussian
On the 24th of August four Russian companies, supported
all about 1,100 men, attacked the village of Kastakos, where
correspondent, Berlin) September 1875.]
147. The Russians assume tlie offensive. Capture of
Makhram —After their successful defence of Khojend the Russians assumed
the offensive. Under the command of General von Kauffmann, who had hastened
to the scene of action from Tashkend, they marched against Makhram, a
fortress on the direct road to Kokand. The enemy, with Abdur Rahman
at their head, numbered 30,000 men, and occupied a strong position. The
fortress itself was protected by an intrenched camp, surrounded by a m 0 a t full
of water. On the 22nd August (O.S.) the position was first she led by he
artillery under General Golovacheff and then taken by assault. As the
Russian battalions entered the fort the enemy fled and were pursued by
General Skobeleff and his Cossacks for some ten miles to the banks of the
Svr Darva. The Russian losses were slight, but they included Colonel Khorosh-
kin of the Ural Cossacks. The enemy’s^loss is not mentioned, the Russians
captured 39 cannon and an immense quantity of munitions of war, standards, &c.
{Journal de St. Petersbourg, dated mh August=m September]
|- ^ „ 21^ Sepiember=Srd October]
r 28^ September—October]
148. General von Kauffmann’s proclamation; occupation
of Kokand. —This victory produced a great effect. The neighbouring villages
hastened to furnish supplies, and tendered their submission. General von Kauff-
mann adopted a conciliatory attitude and issued the following proclamation,
dated 22nd August 1875 :—
“ People of Kokand, Sarts, Kipebaks, Kara-Kirgbiz, all late subjects of His Highness
Kbudayar Khan.
“ Certain ambitious persons amongst you, whose names I will not mention, have incited
you to undertake a ‘holy war’ against Russia. This war is a senseless one. Any war
against the Great White Czar, who grants peace and prosperity to all his subjects, is unjust,
and God will never aid those who draw the sword against the Russians.
“ Ask the Sarts, ask the Kirghiz, who are subject to the Great Czar, do they not live in
comfort and quiet under his gracious protection, or does anybody hinder them from praying
accordino- to the Mahomedan rites ? I, the authorized representative of the Great Czar and by
his august will Regent of the Turkestan provinces, tell you that the Sarts and Kirghiz are happy
under our rule, they grow rich and enjoy peace and quiet. The Great Czar does not infringe
the Shariat. The administration of all his subjects is based on righteousness and law.
“ The ambitious persons who involved you in war with Russia did not do it for the sake
of your weal, but for their own selfish purposes and to gain power. They have behaved ill
towards you, and in order to punish them you must capture them, and deliver them to me. i
have purposely come with an army to punish the horse-stealers, who have instigated you to
make war against the Russians. With the unarmed the Russian soldiers do not fight; but
whosoever will be caught with arms upon him, shall not escape the deserved chastisement.
“ Therefore lay down your arms, disperse to your homes, and go about your own business,
nobody shall touch your property, and anything that the Russian army may require, and takes
from you, you shall be paid for. This is the law of the Russians; any other manner of proceed
ing is foreign to the soldiers of the Great Czar.
“ Your former Lord, Khudayar Khan, I have sent to St. Petersburg. He shall no longer
remain Khan over you, for it is known to me that the people of Kokand did not like him.
The march of the Russians from Makhram to Kokand was unopposed.
On arrival there on the 3rd September the inhabitants, with the new Khan
1\ azir-udin at their head, tendered their submission and restored all Russian
prisoners, who appeared to have been well treated. The town was then occupied
and a camp formed under its walls. The Beg of Marghilan, Sultan Murad,
followed suit. Even the Aftahchi is said to have written a letter offering to
yield, and complete tranquillity was believed to have been restored. On the
29th September General von Kauffmann entertained at a banquet and Thirbai
Tashkandi Chiefs who had come to congratulate him on the conquest o