The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-02-22
KUR0PATKiN is
THE ARMYS IDOL
RuSsia'S Greatest General Sent
to the Far Fest.
-4
GRAND DUKES ALSO GOING
CONTROL MAY PASS OUT OF
ALExIEFF'S HANDS.
GRAND DUKES ALSO GOING


ment OF General Kuropatkin. who was
yesterday relieved Of his functions as
minister Of war, TO the chief command
o. the Russian army in the far east,
was gazetted this morning.
With the pOssiele exception OF Gen
eral DragomirOff, formerly governor
general of Kien and later m9mber of
the council Of state, General Kuropat-
Kin is the most popular man in the
Russian army. As a bluff old soldier
who has fought his way up from the
bottom TO be minister of war, he is the
ideal of the enlisted men. Net one in
the cars army has seen more fighting,
and no one can tell story better
There is never a dull moment in his
company, for he iEtermingles the hui
morous incidents of his campaign with
tales of the self-sacrifices Of the men
whom he led with SkObelen over the
parched wastes. Of Ge0k-Tepe or over
the icy slopes Of Pleyna.
Army AdOres Him.
No one meeting the short, grizzled
warrior in his charming home on the
sunny side of the MOika would guess
the extent of his power or the burden
o. responsibility Weighing on his
shoulders AS minister of war he was
considered just chief who gave re-
wards and administered punishments
without fear or favor. II is small Won
der, therefore, that the Russian army
adores him.
The appointment Of General Kuro-
patkin to direct command in the field
has been received with enthusiasm. and
his leadership inspires complete con-
1idence that there Will be no mistake
and that Russian arms viii be carried
TO success ON land.
Grand Dukes Going.
General Kuropatkin VIII be accom-
panied 20 the front by the Grand
Dukes Boris, Alexis, Nicholas and
Michael Nikolaiyitch. The emperor and
empress gave a luncheon today ia
General Kuropatkin and the grand
dukes at the Alexandra palace, Tsars-
koe-Selo, and babe them farewell
The exact mission of Grand Duke
Alexis is unknown. but it is undoubt-
eddy an important one. as he has been
in supreme command OF the Russian
navy as president OF the board Of ad- !
miralty, taking active part in the ne
gouations preceding hostilities. He
presided at the special council which
prepared Russia's undelivered reply TO
Japan.
Alexis Well Known Here.
Alexis paid a memorably pleasant
visit 10 the United States when a young
man. His career as high admiral Is
we'll known and brilliant, and he has
always surrounded himself with
notable staff. The grand duke has
been a prominent figure in two capitals.
During the busy months Of winter he
is often seen here walking on the
Grand OUskaja to and from his state
" palace. and in front Of the new ad-
miraIty dock yard. His favOTite resort
is the Yacht club. He spends his sum
nners in Paris.
Grand Duke Alexis is now in veTyFI
bad health, but his desire to go to the
front could not be resisted. If his
health permits he may exercise gem
eral direction Of the naval movements
in the far east.
Grand Duke Boris is a lieutenant Of
Hussars, and is considered a daredevil
of the soldier sort. He is likely to dis
tinguish himself in battle, and prob
ably viii be on the staff of Grand
Duke Nicholas. After Boris returned
from the United States he bought The
palace formerly occupied by Ambassa-
dor Mccormick.
Grand Duke Nicholas is s. years Of
age and is considered the foremost cav
airy expert in the Russian army.
he is tan and fair, with a pleasant
sible post Of inspector general Of cav
airy he viii be able 10 advise General
Kouropatkin. who is an infantry sRe-
cialist. Nicholas is one of the few
grand dukes who married a common
eT. and though his marriage has not
been recorded, it IS none the less q
happy one. His wife was the widow of
"a wealthy merchant named Bourenin-
FcIfuse Of alexieff.
With General Kuropatkin's appoint
ment as commander in chief of the
army, and the presence OF Grand Duke
Alexis i'm the far east, the opinion is
strengthened that while Admiral Alex
iefI may remain as ViceToy. the active
direction OF operations viii pass out OF
his hands.
The action of the commander OF the
United States gunboat Nicksburg in
declining to join the commanders of
other foreign warships in a protest
against the attack Of the Japanese fleet
at ChemUlpO which resulted I'm the
sinking OF the Russian cruisers Nariag
and Korietz promises to cause much
discussion here.
The UovOe Eremyas London CORE
spondent cables that the protest Of the
British captain against the japanese
attack on the ground that it was a
breach of neutrality proved Intellectual
because the American commander
would not assent.
Newspapers here are laying great
stress on the personal note Of Mr.. Ku-
rinO, the Japanese minister at St.
Petersburg, to Count Lamsdorff the
Russian foreign minister, on the eve
of the notification OF the severance Of
diplomatic relations. in which Mr.. Ku-
rino expressed the hope that the rup-
ture would be of brief duration They
point 10 this incident as a proof that
Russia had no reason 10 believe that
Japan intended to follow up the rup-
ture with actual hOstilities.
Official news received here confirms
the report that none Of the crew Of the
KOrietz was lost.
An immense congregation attended
the requiem today for Count Neirod,
the only officer killed aboard the Va
RAG. The count was a great favOrite
in St. Petersburg society.
ABSOLUTE COMMAND.