Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-02

second and ~ third rounds i fftop u
Turk0mans dashed through tho ~ COM
pany and killed fouf sQldieye, but this uid
not prevent the regularity IL The 61tnT.
The company was there. standing lrmy
rs If IL had not even remarked this
little episode, waiting, all sttention, TOR
another command to frc. When the
East. rose on tho horizon our troop
was found 10 be drawn up In d semicircle.
one company by the side OF the other, IN an
order as exact AS IL the man0uvre had
been executed in broad daylight and by
special word of command. Ii was the regu-
lar volley-fring which had shown the bat
falious their places. II the firing had been
confused and irregular the troops would
not have been able to discover their where
abouts in the general chaos. In the camp
lay pell-mell the dead aud the wounded
Iurkomans and Russians. The chief ct
the detachment, General Galowatschec.
and the chief Of his staff were both wound
ed with sabre cuts. In front OF our com.
panies was piled up compact mass OF
fallen enemies, and in the distance the
horizon was literally covered by the tall
caps Of the fleeing Turkomnns.
The Russian army officer ishardly known
in Europe, and IL is quite possible that the
first impression he produces Is untayorabie
on account OF his timdity and his igno..
rance of the usages of society. But the real
time TO see him IL when be is campaigning
Then this obscure, modest. and insignin.,
cant officer is suddenly metamorphosed
into giant, before whose courage, strength,
and energy one must bow. All his. tinid-
ity has disappeared, and his whole out
ward appearance assumes a new ASPECT
He always advances at the head OF his
men. and forms the first target for the
enemy's bullets. The enormous losses IN
officers which the Russians experienced
during the last Turkish war are evident
testimonies TO their courage. Thus, Tor in.
stance, the Orlof regiment of infantry and
the Fourth brigade of rihemen lost during
the war more than 100 per cent. OF their
officers. Here is mathematical problem
to solvel At the beginning OF an engage
ment near Shipka had in the ranks of my
troop only twelve officers who had survived
past combats. and amongst this number
five had come out of hospital with wounds
not yet healed.
The Russian officer never thinks Of rest
inc himself until he has made all the ar
rangements for his soldiers, for whom ne
feels fatherly solicitude. For this care
the soldier requites him with sincere anec-
ton.
In speaking of the Russian officers | have
still few words to say about the staff:
Formerly there was much TO be criticised
in this organization, but the rich field of
instruction an exercise that it has found
in Central Asia. the great experience that
II ACQUIRED in the last Turkish war, and
the practical tendency which has been
given TO it of late place it on level with
the renowned German staff.
As able military theorists the Russian
staff officers have always been known, and
many OF the best works on modern mill
tary science have been written by them.
The topographic and geodetic corps are
algo perfect. and their innumerable
achievements in photography and topogra.
phy are familiar TO all the advents of the
universe. The explorations and scientific
observations of the staff officer Pezewalsky
in Mongolia and Ihibet are ut the present
time being followed by all geographers
with the liveliest interest.