Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-07-08
Death of Gen. Skobeleff.

The sudden death of General Michael
Skobeleit, the famous Russian general, at the
HotelDussaux, was announced in yesterdays
GAZETTE His death is attributed to heart
disease. The remains will be inferred at
Spask
With the death of General Skobeletf the
Panslavist has lost its most brilliant and EN-
ergetic supporter and the Car his bravcst
and ablcst general. Skobeletf combined in
his person the chivalry and generosity ola
Richard Cpur de Lion and the dash and
bnlliancy OF Murat AS such he was the
idol OF his soldiers, and wherever his daz
cling white forage cap and uniform were Wis.
ible amid the din and roar of the battle,
there would the greatest deeds ofheroism be
performed. His soldiers followed him
through thick and thin, vying with each
her TO earn his commentator, and when
laid low by the enemy's bullets thew died
with exalted satisfaction at having sacrificed
themselves for such leader. The son of a
renowned general, he was born in 1913 and
in his sixteenth year he was sent to the mil
itary school at st. Petersburg. He grad
uated in 1865, and went toTurkestan to COM
mand company of Cossacks In 1871 he
served III the Caucasus On the staff of the
Grand Duke Michael. He commanded the
advanced guard in the expedition against
khlVa, and received the cross of st. George
as q reward for his services. He figured in
two attacks on Plevna and in his first AS
sault penetrated the position, but was forced
to retreat by the failure of Prince Shakovski
to storm the heights in front. In the second
attack he captured two strong redoubts, but
after holding them for twenty-four hours
against vastly superior force beat a retreat
losing 5000 men out of 10000.
Skobeletf's first great military feat during
the war, or at Leaf the first which had some
effect Oh the course of hostilities. was his
defeat of the Turks at the battle of Loytscha
He stormed the village at the head of 20. 600
men, ana thus won an Important stratcgi-
Cal position in the rear Of Osman Pacha's
army. The victory, coming after so MANY
defeats, inspired the Russians with new
hope and courage and proved turning
point to the war. He became the idol of the
army, and from his always escaping I'M
wounded was believed to bear charmed life
Before the war was half near its close Sko-
beletl was made acknowledgement and
commander of the Sixteenth division. At
the passage Of the Balkans while Gen. RAJ
detzky attacked the Turks in front, Skobe-
left turned the Turkish left flank, and. at
lacking Vessel Pacha at the village of She
nova, carried the position and made the enc
my surrender. This exploit was all the
more brilliant, rs Radetzky's and Prince
Mersky's attacks on the Shipka Pass had
been repulsed. Having temporarily COM
handed the Fourth Corps from the passage
OF the Balkans he was for some time in com
mand of the famous Sixteenth Division in
front ofConstantinople and was then placed
in charge of the Russian forces retiring
from Turkey.
Since peace was concluded until within the last
SIX months belefs name has been less heard
outside than inside of Russia in which country
nc mas been Jealous worker in the cause of Pan.
Slavsm. Whatever his faultand foiblcs may have
been 1t can be said that of all the Cars servants
Skoneeii was the most generous, noble and brave.
His first notOrcty in time of peace occurred in
February last when the revolt in Herzegovina
was in full progress and Austria was making
every effort to suppress it. General Skobrlrff was
III Paris and was invited to attend a banuuct of
Scrvian students. The General was called ON tn
respond to toast, and he claimed that when heat
ed with champagne he gave utterancc to the anti
German sentiments which were ascribcd to him
IN an exaggerated form. He declared that the
struggle between the Slavs and the Teutons WAS
inevitable and that ii would be long and sanpui-
nary, but the Savs would conquer The speech
was 1uliS reported by Paris newspaper, and i'm
medately the cry of Panslavism was raised. The
General disavowcd any malevolent sentiments TO-
wards Germany and Austria but his high favor at
the Russian court made the belief general that his
words had been inspired For several weeks the
relations of these nations with Austria we're
strained, but on the Emperor Williams birthday
the Ear sent Il very warm letter Of congratuation
TO hlm and received an atfectionate replv
SkobeleH was summoned to the palace and severe
~ rcbuked for his indiscreton He expressed
contrtiOn, and said that he did not intend to nose
rs political agitator He was assigned to some
duty IN Turkestan for a time, which put him out
of the reach of European politics.