RUSSIA'S MARCH
TOWARDS
INDIA
BY
'AN INDIAN OFFICER'
VOLUME I. WITH A !"P
LONDON.1894
PREFACE
THE following pages contain an account of Russia's advance towards India from the earliest
times up to the present day. <...> During the past thirty years a very large number of books has been written
on this subject; but while each of the various episodes of this great movement have been separately
described, and although the political and strategical aspects of the question have been frequently
discussed, no recent work has, to my knowledge, been published which gives a clear historical account
of Russia's March through Central Asia in all its stages. <...> This want I have endeavoured to supply; but it is with many misgivings that I place before my
countrymen the result of several years' close study of a question which is of the greatest importance to
all who are concerned in the safety and welfare of our great Eastern dependency. <...> In former years it used frequently to be said that a Russian attack on India was, if not
impossible, at all events, highly improbable, and some politicians even went so far as to scoff at the
danger and declare that it was nothing but the phantasy of a disordered mind. <...> I have no desire to pose as an alarmist, for I confidently believe that Russia will never
successfully invade India if the English people make up their minds to keep the Cossacks behind the
limitary line agreed upon in 1873. <...> But if they fail to do this, and permit the Russians to consolidate
themselves at Herat or in Afghan-Turkestan, then England's real troubles will commence. <...> The existing military situation has not been dealt with, and all questions of strategy have been
carefully avoided, for I consider it to be highly injudicious — even for irresponsible writers — to
discuss these matters. <...> The War Office and Army Headquarters at Simla are fully competent to
determine what action should be taken in certain eventualities, and the discussion of the strategical
situation can only tend to draw attention to the weak points which may exist in our armour without
affording any assistance to those who are responsible for the defence of India. <...> The Eastern Question, from the Treaty of Paris, 1856 <...>
Russia's_March_towards_India._Vol._1.pdf
RUSSIA'S MARCH
TOWARDS
INDIA
BY
'AN INDIAN OFFICER'
VOLUME I. WITH A !"P
LONDON.1894
Стр.1
PREFACE
THE following pages contain an account of Russia's advance towards India from the earliest
times up to the present day. During the past thirty years a very large number of books has been written
on this subject; but while each of the various episodes of this great movement have been separately
described, and although the political and strategical aspects of the question have been frequently
discussed, no recent work has, to my knowledge, been published which gives a clear historical account
of Russia's March through Central Asia in all its stages.
This want I have endeavoured to supply; but it is with many misgivings that I place before my
countrymen the result of several years' close study of a question which is of the greatest importance to
all who are concerned in the safety and welfare of our great Eastern dependency.
In former years it used frequently to be said that a Russian attack on India was, if not
impossible, at all events, highly improbable, and some politicians even went so far as to scoff at the
danger and declare that it was nothing but the phantasy of a disordered mind. I know not if any
Englishmen still adhere to these optimistic opinions; but, if there be any, I trust that the following
unvarnished statement of Russian aggression will go far to convince them that a real danger does exist,
and that the time has come when England can no longer place any reliance on Muscovite assurances,
but must be prepared to resolutely oppose any further encroachments on the part of Russia.
I have no desire to pose as an alarmist, for I confidently believe that Russia will never
successfully invade India if the English people make up their minds to keep the Cossacks behind the
limitary line agreed upon in 1873. But if they fail to do this, and permit the Russians to consolidate
themselves at Herat or in Afghan-Turkestan, then England's real troubles will commence. I believe that
a war fought under existing conditions would undoubtedly result in a triumph for Great Britain; but if
the Muscovites be allowed to establish themselves on the frontiers of India, our political and financial
difficulties would be increased a hundredfold, and the result would be by no means so well assured.
The existing military situation has not been dealt with, and all questions of strategy have been
carefully avoided, for I consider it to be highly injudicious — even for irresponsible writers — to
discuss these matters. The War Office and Army Headquarters at Simla are fully competent to
determine what action should be taken in certain eventualities, and the discussion of the strategical
situation can only tend to draw attention to the weak points which may exist in our armour without
affording any assistance to those who are responsible for the defence of India. But one thing I will say,
and that is, that, in spite of the recent attempts which have been made to revive tine antiquated theory
that the Indus is the true first line of defence for India, I believe that it would be nothing less than an
act of political suicide to permit the tide of invasion to reach the Indus Valley without employing all
the resources of the Empire to avert such a catastrophe, and that no British commander will ever be
found who would be willing to stake all on the result of a great battle fought on Indian soil.
The most important publications which have been consulted by me in the preparation of this
work are given in the following list of references.
LONDON: October #, #893.
THE AUTHOR.
2
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LIST OF REFERENCES
The History of Russia from the Earliest Times to 1882. By Alfred Rambaud. Translated by L.B.
Lang, and edited and enlarged by N.H. Dole.
Russia. By Sir D.M. Wallace.
The History of Russia. By H. Tyrrell and Henry A. Haukeil.
The Eastern Question, from the Treaty of Paris, 1856, to the Treaty of Berlin, 1878, and to the
Second Afghan War. By the Duke of Argyll
History of Bokhara. By A. Vambéry.
Collection of Treaties, Engagements, and Sunnuds relating to India and the Neighbouring
Countries. By Sir C.U. Aitchison.
History of Afghanistan, from the Earliest Period to the Outbreak of the War of 1878. By
Colonel G.B. Malleson.
History of the War in Afghanistan. By Sir J.W. Kaye.
The Afghan War of 1879-80. By H. Hensman.
The Afghan Campaigns of 1878-80. By S.H. Shadbolt.
Kandahar in 1879. By Major A. Le Messurier.
Herat, the Granary and Garden of Central Asia. By Colonel G.B. Malleson.
The History of Persia. By Sir J. Malcolm.
A History of Persia, from the beginning of the #9th Century to the Year 1858. By R.G. Watson.
The Annual Register (1758 to 1892).
The Russians in Central Asia. By M. Veniukoff and Captain Valikhanoff. Translated by J. and
R. Michell.
Various other translations from the Russian by J. and R. Michell.
Narrative of a Mission to Bokhara. By Joseph Wolff.
Journey from Heraut to Khiva, Moscow, and St. Petersburgh.
By Colonel James Abbott.
Progress and Present Position of Russia in the East. By Sir J. McNeill.
England and Russia in the East. By Sir H.C. Rawlinson.
England and Russia in Central Asia. By M.F. Martens.
Travels into Bokhara. By Sir A. Burnes.
The Life of Peter the Great. By Eugène Schuyler.
Turkistan. By Eugène Schuyler.
The Russians in Central Asia. By F. von Hellwald.
Mémoires du Chevalier d'Eon. Par Frédéric Gaillardet.
Des Progrès, de la Puissance Russe. Par M.L. …(Lesur).
Journey to the Source of the River Oxus. By J. Wood. With an Essay on the Geography of the
Valley of the Oxus by Colonel Henry Yule.
Cathay and the Way thither. By Colonel Henry Yule.
The Travels of Marco Polo. Translated and edited, with notes, by Colonel Henry Yule.
Report of a Mission to Yarkand in 1873, under command of Sir T.D. Forsyth.
The Roof of the World. By Lieutenant-Colonel T.E. Gordon.
The Shores of Lake Aral. By Major Herbert Wood.
Russian Projects against India. By H.S. Edwards.
Caravan Journeys and Wanderings in Persia, Afghanistan, Turkestan, and Beluchistan; with
Historical Notices of the Countries lying between Russia and India. By J.P. Ferrier.
Russia and England in the Struggle for Markets in Central Asia. By Captain M.A. Terentieff.
(English translation.)
From Kulja, across the Thian-Shan, to Lob-Nor. By N.M. Prjevalsky. Translated by E.D.
Morgan. With Notices of the Lakes of Central Asia.
Russia's Advance Eastward. By C.E.H. Vincent.
Russia in Central Asia. By H. Stumm.
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A Ride to Khiva. By Colonel F. Burnaby.
Campaigning on the Oxus. By J.A. MacGahan.
The Merv Oasis. By E. O'Donovan.
Narrative of a Journey through the Province of Khorassan, and on the North-west Frontier of
Afghanistan. By Sir C.M. MacGregor.
Wanderings in Baloochistan. By Sir C.M. MacGregor.
Travels in Central Asia. By A. Vambéry.
Clouds in the East. By Colonel Valentine Baker.
A Short History of China. By D.C. Boulger.
Central Asian Questions. By D.C. Boulger.
England and Russia in Central Asia. By D.C. Boulger.
Central Asian Portraits. By D.C. Boulger.
Life of Yakoob Beg. By D.C. Boulger.
Russian Central Asia. By Rev. H. Lansdell, D.D.
The Eye-witnesses' Account of the disastrous Russian Campaign against the Akhal Tekké
Turkomans. By C. Marvin.
Merv, the Queen of the World. By C. Marvin.
The Russians at Merv and Herat. By C. Marvin.
The Russian Advance towards India. By C. Marvin.
Grodekoff's Ride from Samarkand to Herat. By C. Marvin.
The Russian Railway to Herat. By C. Marvin.
The Russian Annexation of Merv. By C. Marvin.
Reconnoitring Central Asia. By C. Marvin.
The Russians at the Gates of Herat. By C. Marvin..
Russia's Power of attacking India. By C. Marvin.
England and Russia face to face in Asia; Travels with the Afghan Boundary Commission. By
Lieutenant A.C. Yate.
Northern Afghanistan, or Letters from the Afghan Boundary Commission. By Major C.E. Yate.
'La Campagne des Russes dans le Khanat de Khokand (1875-76).' Published in Le Journal des
Sciences Militaires.
Official Report on the Siege and Assault of Denghil Tepé. By General Skobeleff. (English
translation.)
Through the Heart of Asia: Over the Pamirs to India. By G. Bonvalot.
Russia in Central Asia. By Hon. G.N. Curzon.
Persia, and the Persian Question. By Hon. G.N. Curzon.
Hansard's Parliamentary Debates.
Haydn's Dictionary of Dates.
Markham's Geographical Magazine.
Proceedings and Journals of the Royal Geographical Society.
Parliamentary Reports regarding Central Asia, Afghanistan, Persia, and Beluchistan.
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
1220 — 1689. EARLY HISTORY OF RUSSIA...............................................................................................8
CHAPTER II
1689 — 1800. 'THE KEY AND GATE' ..........................................................................................................15
CHAPTER III
1800 — 1828. COLLAPSE OF PROJECTED INVASIONS OF INDIA.....................................................23
CHAPTER IV
1829 — 1840. ATTACKS ON HERAT AND KHIVA...................................................................................35
CHAPTER V
1840 — 1845. TROUBLES IN AFGHANISTAN...........................................................................................46
CHAPTER VI
1846 — 1858. RUSSIAN ADVANCE ACROSS THE KIRGHIZ STEPPES...............................................52
CHAPTER VII
1859 — 1868. ATTACKS ON KHOKAND AND BOKHARA.....................................................................64
CHAPTER VIII
THE ANGLO-RUSSIAN AGREEMENT OF 1873.......................................................................................75
CHAPTER IX
1868 — 1883. KULJA AND KASHGAR........................................................................................................80
CHAPTER X
1869—1873. CONQUEST OF KHIVA...........................................................................................................91
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