HANDBOOK OF RUSSIAN TROOPS IN ASIA 1890

Extensive portrait of Russian military presence in Asia at the height of its ‘Great Game’ rivalry with Britain in 1890. The state of Russian military preparedness was of consuming interest to Britain in 1890 when this report was drawn up for the Intelligence Department of the War Office. Britain and Russia were bitter rivals in the ‘Great Game’ being played out around Afghanistan for control of the approaches to India; and reports of the strength of the Russian forces in Asia were much valued. This book covers the Russian military presence in Transcaspia, Turkestan; Omsk and Irkutsk in Siberia and Pri-amur. There are chapters on Russian infantry, cavalry and artillery; and tactical notes on marches, bivouacs and outposts; as well as appendices on the Russian alphabet, vocabulary; Morse code and its Asian order of battle. Reprint of the 1890 original edition.