The Evening critic., 1882-07-08
The Late General SkobeIer.


Michael Dimitrievltch skoboler, whose death
at Moscow, from beast disease, was announced
by cable, yesterday, was born about the year
1914. He Is first heard OF at tho university,
where he took such prominent part In cor
tain disturbances that his attendance there was
summarily dispensed with, but not before the
young fellow had acquired several languages
and an isatianble fondness for reading. After
his dismissal from the university he was lin
1868 sent with n regiment to assist in sup
pressing the Polish instruction. He soon
tired OF the Idle and luxurious life which GU
sued upon the return OF his regiment 10 st.
Petersburg, and addicting himself to study, lie,
at the age of twenty-four, obtained captains
commission, and was sent on to the Caucasus
to take part for several years In n guerilla war;
fare then prevailing In that region.
His upward career, however, cannot BIO prop
erly said to have begun until 1873, whom ho
was transferred TO Turkestan, and as llsuten-
ant.cClonel took part In the famous expedition
10 Khiva. His gallantry hero gained him hiS
promotion too colonelcy. In 1875 he gained
his ma1or.gcneralship In the first expedition
against Khokand, and In tho following year,
at the head OF 1000 men, conquered tho prov
incc. He was made Governor OF the newly.
acquired territory, which embraces about 3d.
600 square miles, His fame first became
worldwide in the bulgarian campaign, of
which he is the legendary hero.
His custom OF wearing white, as II to court
the bullets OF his enemies, his reckless per-
sonal bravery, and the strange custom OF his
always "going into battle in his cleanest
uniform and fresh underclothng covered with
perfume, and wearing diamond-hilted sword,
in order that, as he said, he might die with his
best clothes on gained him the reputation OF
q wild daredevil, which somewhat obscured
his real capacity rs a general. In reality they
only showed how thoroughly he had OWNED
that secret OF power which lios In fascinating
the imagination as well as OF appealing to the
reason OF men.
A detailed account OF his exploits In tho
Bulgarian campaign would necessarily ON
brace n complete narrative Of the Russo-Turk-
ish war. He was the first to cross the Danube
at SimnitZa. In one OF the engagements be-.
fore Plevna, the safety OF the russian retreat
was due to him. His capture of Lovatz was
the first Russian victory after long series OF
reverses, and again, before Plevna, he led for.
lorn hopes as gayly and rs confidently as
though defeat was Impossible. These scr:
Vices won him the rank of Acknowledgement
in September, 1877. Ho was then placed In
command of division around tho
,hn nnno stronghold of PiSyns, In
render Of that place in December, General
Skobelon continued to take a prominent part.
About the middle of November he was twice
wounded, but not seriously, and up TO that
time seven horses had been shot to death while
he was on their backs, without his receiving
scratch. After the fall OF Plevnn he took part
In the capture of tho Shipka Pass, and then
started In pursuit of Suleiman Pasha and the
retreatlng Turks, and after the active cam
paign was over directed tho movements OF n
largo portion OF the Russian army In Its
gradual withdrawal from Turkish territory.
He was sent, in 1880, to command the OK
petition against the Tekko Turkomans in
Central Asia, which resulted In the capture OF
the stronghold Cock Tope. He achieved his
success with force OF 10000 men pitted
against 10000 Asiatics, with a loss of but 937
men. Cock Tepe was invested early In Jan.
uary, 1881, and succumbed on the 9th. after
u desperate sortie made by 10000 Turko-
mans on the 18th. His reward was the
decoration of tho Order OF St. George.
General Skobelon was n Russian OF
tho Russians. His utterances In this
sense in February last at Paris before some
Servian students created, II will be remem-
bered, great sensation by their frank an
lists to tho Germans. General skobelofr was
only thirty.nine years old at the time OF his
death, and looked fairly ten years younger.
tokened the warrior Injured to hardships, Nor
yet did he give the impression of carpet
knight, although no was tho best.yaletod man
| In Europe.