New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-08
RUSSIA.S GENERALS.
1NFIRM IN BODY AND IN MIND.

read with considerable astonishnent by all those
who possess any acquaintance with men and affairs
in Russia. According to the most authe ntic ac-
counts contained in newspapers OF st. Petersburg
London, Paris, Vienna and Berlin, the EmEeros
is reported to have announced that in the eveuS
Of its becoming necessary to mobilize the army
the latter would be divided into three huge corpA
The army of the North would be entrusted to tho
direction of the Grand Duke Vladimir. that Of tho
West to General Gourko, now military Governor
General of Poland. and that Of the South to Gen.
eral Dragomirof The supreme command Of the
entire combined forces would be vested in tho
hands of General Obrutcheff, at >resent chief Of
the general staff.
The surprise created by the Cars remarks y
due to the fact that Of these four generals three
are VIGOROUSLY afflicted with bodily infrmities
which will prevent their retaining for any length
of time the command Of troops on active service.
Gourko is a perfect martyr to asthma. Drago-
miroff suffers so much from wound in the lee
which he received during the war with Turkey
that he experiences the greatest difficulty In
mounting q horse, and is unable TO remain for
any length OF time in the saddle. This, by the by,
is fortunate for his steed, since he Is enormously
fat, his superabundance of flesh. which it would
be hattery to describe as embonpoint, being the
result of an excessive indulgence in the pleasures
or The taDlc. lnuccu, ne Is ldIucu do ouc VI
the heaviest drinkers in Russia.
General Obrutchef, who has been designated
by the Gar for the commander-in-chief OF tho
combined forces of the Empire, is so unwieldy
that he finds the utmost difficulty even in walk
ing. let alone riding on horseback, which is alto
gether beyond his power In his case
the abnormal development Of flesh and
the species of physical helplessness that
distinguish him, attributable not 80
much to high living as to lack of exercise This
however, has not in any way affected his intellect,
which as far as military matters are concerned
remains prominent among his fellow generals for
its clearness soundness and brilliancy. Married 70
very charming French woman, 1t is only natural
that he should display exceedingly strong prediec-
tons for the to which his wife belongs. lie ID
one of the most enthusiastic advocates Of Franco
Russian alliance in the event Of war. ana tho
members of the French embassy the banks OF
the Neva may almost be said TO have established
their headquarters under his hospitable roof
Judging by his appearance, should say that he
was a man of about siXty-four or sixty-hve years
of age. lie has typically Russian face with
high cheekbones short. fiat nose. and very small
but piercing black eyes, peering forth from ne
meath shaggy gray eyebrows. HIS face Is ihiramea
by short cropped beard Needless 10 add 'nas
he is an ardent Pan-Slavst. and pltter Zoe OF
everything German
His sentiments with regard TO the latter aIs
manifested in an even still more intense degree
br General Gourko. The latter, although most
successful general, bears the aspect of thoroughly
cmbittered man. Indeed, have seldom seen any
ono who looked more sonred, and lacking In amia-
biItv He is renowned throughout Russia Tor
his horshncss and for his cruelty, WHICH
be vents in the most remorseless manner
mon the Polish ard Hebrew popuiauou
Of bis vicc ROYALTY He is disikei even by his own
oeicors for his arrogance and dscourtesy, deiects
which are equally conspicuous in his wlie, anu .ne
oa. ;rorodible stories are current both ut 81.
po,ershurg and at Paris concerning their pehoVios
at Warsaw.
Gourko's harshness and severity are que prov"
obly in part at any rate, to the fact that inc os
disgrace which he ever suffered in his life was IN
oomsocn.nce If an act of leniency OF which
no rendered himself guilty. 1t was during
,h. Iotter mart of the reign OF Alex
ouder IT, while he occupied tne posi-
- military governor of ST. Petersburg. Nihiis'
had attempted to assassinate the chiei oi Ponoe'
General Drenteln, and was condemheu ~ .e"
for tho crime. Gourko moved by some sentlmens
-, humanity which even his warmest admirers
ara unable to this day 10 explain Oh 10 acoou"S
for committed the sentence to one oil hie-'ons
Punishment to Siberia. The late Gar was grea"S
;ucensed by this display OF "seh'imeh''i "e1
moss, "A he described it, and removed "outs"
sror, his office. and from the active list OF 'he
oH Nor did the general succeed in recover
ING his military rank untiI al'er 'he ae'e'''A
the throne OF Alexander Ill
S;pce then he has been particularly careiu' !"
avoid subiecting himself TO any further lmpu'a'os
:, iodine leniency l may add that he mas no
~,c..rd for human life During the last lurko'
D,,Ssior War he issued two general orders whic"
h, reason of their nhumanty 90 far 10 S'a''
10 r.cord as a successful commander lhe one
was when he prohibited his troops iroui 'a"ins
INV prisoners alive and from giving any
nrorter. and the other was an order 70 Tue eneos
,h,. all wounded Russian soldiers should pe N''
=, their fate and abandoned during his miawihe'
retreat across the Balkans. his WAS Piao"'
colIv equivalent TO CONCENTRATION Vi e'e's
wounded soldier to death, either from coiu anu
.,s,r. or else at the hands Of the baroarous
p,.hi- Bazouk cavalry, who invarlaoy 'or'uieu
,ho;r captivcs before killing them
Gourlxo is devoted to his sovereign But lie
r,.kos no secret of his hatred Of the latters
hro,her the Grand Duke Vladimir. who has peeA
1o.;,,n,t.d for the command of the Northern army.
rb.se unfrlendly sentiments. which may, IN inc
ovcnt of warfare, seriously interfere with any
nroects of cooperation between Northern and
Western army corps, mainly attributed 70
the TACT that one occasion. some SIX yeary
AGO. the Grand Duke recommended the REMOVAL
OF 'Gonrko's only son from the army. The
young man, who held the rank OF captain, llad
violated his word Ct honor pledged to the oihcers
~ his regiment. They thereupvn refused TO have
anything further to do with him. and sent him
TO Coventry. whereupoh General Gourko assumed
his sons defence ana threatened to courtmartlal
item The matter was referred to the Grand Duke
Vladimir, and as soon as the latter found
that the antagonism 10 young Gonrko
,ra. bv no means limited TO the officers
Of his regiment, but extended throughout the en-
lire division stationed in and around Warsaw, 10
recommended the removal OF the captain from the
army. Young Gourko, after spending scvcrai
wears in Paris, has recently been rehablitated by
The Car. who, as token of favor 10 the old
general, has appointed him to the post OF Vice
Governor of the city of Warsaw,