Page:England & Russia in Central Asia,Vol-I.djvu/110

90 90 ENGLAND AND EUSSIA IN CENTRAL ASIA. to construct a permanent bridge across the river at any of the principal passages. But the means of crossing for an army of large dimensions are ready to hand. The Aral fleet of six steamers, and as many transports, supplies the nucleus of the force, and the native Oxus fleet the bulk. General Kaufmann's whole army once on the right bank of the river would experience no difficulty in crossing over to the left, and would leave behind it the ready means for the transport of reinforcements, or for the retreat of an army which had failed in its attack. The Russians would leave in their rear when advancing on the Hindoo Koosh no such formidable river as the Indus ; and the difficulties that they have to encounter in crossing the Oxus would be almost entirely removed by the strongly-built vessels which are to be found in considerable numbers on that river. A little examina- tion is therefore only required to show that one of the supposed obstacles of nature vanishes the moment it is boldly grappled with or considered. The Oxus is the only river of any importance which intervenes between the Russian frontier and the Indus, except the Helmund on the road to Candahar. During ten months of the year this is easily passable at Girishk. In the next chapter a description of the principal roads or routes leading from the Russian frontier to the British will be given. The government of General Kaufmann is essentially a military government. Strictly speaking, as we have before pointed out, Central Asia is the military district of Turkestan; and military ree^ulations predominate in