The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-03-16
General SkOheleR.

In connection with General Skobe-
left, the prominen Russian general
whose speech against Germany has cre-
ated such sensation in Europe,
the London Pail Mall Gazette repro
duces some interesting "reminiscences
of his career. The story OF his exploits
in the Bulgarian campaign includes all
that was most exciting in the war which
brought the Russian army within sight
of the minarets of Stamboul From
the day when. "to show the stuff he
was made Of" he swan his horse across
the Danube while General Dragominof
was forcing the passage at Simnitza to
the time when he could with difficulty
be restrained from marching into Con-
stantinople as soon as the British fleet
entered the Sea of Marmora, he was the
most prominent actor in the drama.
He became the Legendary hero of the
campaign, and in the minds of the COM
mon people he almost monopolized it's
glories. He was always in the fore
front OF the hottest battle; four horses
were shot under him in ten days, but
he was only wounded once, and after
being in constant expectation of death.
for months he returned home safe and
sound. His white uniform was to his
soldiers as the white plume of Henri
Quatre at the battle of Ivry. "I have
heard the soldiers speak of him." says
Lieutenant Greene, "ns general under
whom they would rather fight
and die, than fight and . live
under another. They had often to
die-sometimes fifty per cent. of his
command perished; but he spared no
exertion to minister to their wants and
to supply their needs. His division
was the best fed and best clothed and
best armed in the army. He was always
with them in the most exposed posi-
tions of the field, sleeping with them
in the trenches and looking after all
their necessities in the camp. In
Short" says Lieutenant Greene, "he
succeeded so thoroughly in making
himself one with his division that his
men responded to his thoughts as read
| lily as the muscles obey the will. l
doubt if more thoroughly ideal rela-
ton between general and his men has
existed since the days of Cromwell"
His custom OF wearing white, as if to
court the bullets of his enemies, his
reckless personal bravery and the
strange custom of his of always "going
into battle in his cleanest uniform and
fresh underclothing, covered with per-
fume and wearing q diamond. .hilted
sword, in order that, as he said, he
might die with his best clothes on"
gained him the reputation of wild
dare devil, which somewhat obscured
his real capacity as a general. In re-
ality they only showed how thoroughly
he had OWNED that secret of power
which lies in fascinating, the imagination
as we'll as of appealing to the reason
of men. When he was sent to take
Cock Tepe and subdue the Tekkes
many shook their heads and predicted
| that his impetuosity would be his ruin.
90 far from that being the case he dis
played the utmost caution, acted with
the greatest deliberation, refused to
move from July to December, until he
had made all his preparations, and after
he had carried on camels to the
trenches no fewer than l, ,575, 600 rounds
Of ammunition, to say nothing ofseverai
thousands of shot and shell, he laid
siege to Geek Tepe and captured that
hitherto impregnable stronghold.
He had 10000 troops against 10000
ASiatics, and he achieved the conquest
of the Akhal Tekke country with loss
of 937 men. Only once in that cam
pa gn did Skobeleff display his usual
rack essness. After the fortress had
fallen he was riding through the coun.
Try with his escort when lie met several
Tekkes. He asked who they were.
They answered, Friendly Tekkes."
How can l believe your word?" he
| asked again, "Tekkes never lie" was
their confident response. "Well," re.
piled Skobeleff, IF that is the case 1
will send my Escort homo and will
return accompanied by you" He was
as good as his word and his trust in the
word of the 'nomads was not misplaced.