Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-04-13
A RUSSIAN HERO.
Dare Devil Skobeler the Idol Of His Troops and
Austria's Terror.

dustris IefFOFs
Though two Austrian detectives have
been ordered to watch General Skobe-
left until he leaves 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 Skobeleff
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 Dragominog was
forcing the passage of Simnitza, to the
time when he could with difficulty be
restrained from marching into Constan-
tinople as soon as the British fleet en-
tered 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 CON-
mon people he almost monopolized its
glories. He was always in the fore
front of the hottest battle; four horses
were shot under him in ten days, but ne
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 II have
heard the soldiers speak of him." says
Lieutenant Green, las General under
whom they had rather fight and die
than fight and live under another They
had often to die sometimes fifty per
cent. of his command persisted; but he
spared no exertion TO minister to their
wants, and to supply their needs. His
division was the best fed and best cloth
ed and best armed in the army. He
was always with them in the most ex-
posed positions in the fight. sleeping
with them in the trenches, and looking
after NIL their necessities in the camp.
In short says Lieutenant Green, she
succeeded SO thoroughly in making him.
self one with his division that his men
responded to his thoughts as readily as
the muscles obey the will. | doubt if
more thoroughly ideal relation between
Il 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 going into bat
tie in his cleanest uniform and fresh
Undertaking, covered with perfume
and wearing diamond-hilted sword, in
order that AS he said, he might die with
his best clothes,h gained him the repu-
tation of wild dare devil, which some
what obscured his real capacity as a
general. In reality they only showed
how thoroughly he had OWNED that
secret of power which lies in fascinating
the imagination as well as of appealing
to the reason of men, When he was
sent to take Geek Tepe and subdue tho
Tekkes many shook their heads and
predicted that his impetuosity would be
his ruin. SO far from that being the
case he displayed the utmost caution,
acted with the greatest elaboration, re-
fused 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 1,575,0 200
rounds of ammunition, 10 say nothing
of several thousands of heavy 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 coun-
try with loss of 937 men. Only once
in the campaign did Skobeleff display
his usual recklessness. After the fort
ress 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.
well, replied Skobeleff, .'if that is
the case 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.