白彦虎退往新疆原因初探

An Analysis on the Reason why Bai Yanhu retreated into Xinjiang

白彦虎率陕西回族起义军由陕至甘再退往新疆，是左宗棠千里追杀的结果。为使起义军免遭覆灭之灾，在打回故土毫无希望的条件下，向西作战略退却，这是保护自身陷入绝境的最佳选择。

Bai Yanhu led Shanxi Muslim insurrectionary army retreated from Shanxi to Gansu and thenfrom Gansu to Xinjiang because Zuo Zongtang's troops pursued them closely for thousands ofmiles. In order not to be wiped out, they had to withdraw strategically to the west under thecondition that they had no hope and possibility to fight back to their hometown. The withdrawwas the best choice at that moment for them to protect themselves from falling^in a hopless situation.