The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-04-13
Skobele&.
The Reckless and Brilliant Military Exploits Of the
Russian General.


Russian General.
Though two Austrian detectives had
been ordered to watch General Skobeleff
until he left Vienna for St. Peters
burg, it is given out with special stress
that his recent fiery speech was not de-
livered seriously, but was born of too
much champagne.
In connection with General Skobelef
the London Pail Mall Gazette reproduces
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 Dragominoff was
forcing the passage at Simnitza. to the
time when he could with difficulty be
restrained from marching into Constan-
| tinople as soon as the British fleet enter
ed the Sea of Marmora, he was the
most prominent actor in the drama. He
became the legendary hero of the cam
paign, and in the minds of the common
people he almost monopolized its glories.
He was always in the fore front of the
hottest battles; four horses were shot
under him in ten days, but he was only
wounded once, and after being in con-
stant 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 bat
tie of Ivry. Il have heard the soldiers
speak of him." says Lieutenant Green,
''as a General under whom they had
rather fight and die than fight and live
under another, They had often to die
sometimes so per cent. of his COM
mand perished; but he spared no exer-
ton 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 positions in the
fight, sleeping with them in the trenches,
and looking after all their necessities in
the camp. In short" says Lieutenant
Green, che succeeded so thoroughly
in making himself one with his division
that his men responded to his thoughts
as readily rs the muscles obey the will.
doubt if more thoroughly ideal rela-
ton between a 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 reck-
less personal bravery and the strange
custom of his of always 'tgoing into bat
tie in his cleanest uniform and fresh un-
derclothing, covered with perfume and
wearing diamond-hilted sword, in or
der that, us he said, he might die with
his best clothes on" gained him the
reputation of wild daredevil, which
somewhat obscured his real capacity as
general. In reality they only showed
how thoroughly he had OWNED that Sc
cret of power which lies in fascinating
the imagination as well 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 pre-
dicted that his impetuosity would be his
ruin. So far from that being the case
he displayed 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 1876, 900 rounds
of ammunition, to say nothing of several
thousands of heavy shot and shell, he
laid siege to Cock 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 a loss
of 937 men. Only once in the campaign
did Skobeleff display his usual reckless
ness. After the fortress had fallen he
was riding through the country with his
escort when he met several Tekkes. He
asked who they were. They answered:
Friendly Tekkes." ''How can believe
your word?" he asked again. ''Tekkes
never lie," was their confident response.
"Wen," replied Skobeleff, ''if that is
the case 1 will send my escort home, 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.