New-York tribune., 1904-09-26
CAR ALIVE TO DANGER.
SECOND ARMY ORDERED.
Gippenberg to Command = NezC
Force May Number 800 900 Hen.

winch there have been rumors since the
battle Of Liao-Yang, officially announced to-
day in an imperial rescript appointing General
Grippenberg. commander Of the Third Army
Corps in the province OF wilma. commander OF
the second army now being modified for i'm
mediate dispatch TO the Far East leaving Cen
eral kuropatkin in command of the first army.
The Emperor is personally convinced that the
political as well the military prestige Of the
empire is at stake and that every other con-
sideration must give way before the exigencies
or war. The resources Of the empire in men and
money must be drained, If necessary in order to
turn the scale and vindIcate the power Of Rus
sia- The reorganization amounts to formal no.
tice TO the world, as the Emperor frankly ex-
plains in his rescrpt, that he intends TO increase
vastly the number of troops at the theatre of
war in order To force the struggle TO a success
full issue in the shortest possible time 1t is in
tended TO silence definitely all talk Of foreign in
tervention by the announcement that Russia
means TO fight out the issue
Probably three hundred thousand additional
men will be placed IN the field. Five corps-the
Third. Fourth. Fifth Eighth and sixteenth-are
already destined for the front. and there are re-
ports that five more corps will be sent forward.
The Emperor has sent the following autograph
letter to General Grippenberg
The intense energy with which Japan is con-
Quoting the war and the stubbornness and
high warlike qualities displayed by the Japan
ese impel me to strengthen considerably the
forces at the front in order TO attain decisive
success In the shortest possible time.
Since by this increase the units will reach a
figure making their continuance in one army
impossible without prejudice to the proper di-
rection, maneuvring and mobility OF the troops.
nave round II necessary 10 divide the active
FORCES in ManchUria into two armies leaving
one in the hands Of General Kuropatkln. / ap-
point you TO command the second. Your many
In wa ri <e TOIQ nd x1Sa
experience in training troops assure me that
you, following the general directions Of the
attainment OF the objects OF the the army
intrusted to you.
God bless you for your great and glorious
services TO me and TO Russia
Ever your affectionate NICHOLAS.
The creation Of this second army involves the
selection OF a comma .nder in chief Not only is
there no intimation in the rescript that General
Kuropatkin viii have command of both armies
but he is distinctly placed on the same footing
as General Grippenberg.
In the best informed circles there is little idea
that Viceroy AlexiefI the present nominal COM
mander in chief, will exercise the actual func-
tions of commander Of the 100000 or 100000
men whom Russia has resolved to put IN the
field It IS the best opinion that Grand Duke
Nicholas Michaelovitch, inspector general of
cavalry will attain the high command. occupy
father in the with Turkey.
There various reports regarding Alexien.
It is declared in some quarters that he will be
recalled, and Grand Duke Nicholas become vice
roy as We'll commander in chief 1t is also
said, upon apparently equal authority, that
Alexief viii return Chancellor Of the Empire.
succeeding Count Lamsdorr
GRAND DUKE WHO MAY LEAD ARMIES.
Grand Duke Nicholas is not yet forty-fve
years old, with much of his fathers energy and
resolution. There is reason 10 believe that even
with the memories Of the horrors of the shipka
winter campaign against the Turks OF which
he was the witness as a young captain OF cav
airy, he would favor winter campaign against
the japanese. The dispatch OF the grand duke
as commander OF both armies would accord
with the traditions of the Romanoff dynasty. a
member of this imperial family having always
been in command in Russia's great wars
II is agreed by the ablest military men here
that should Nicholas be appointed despite the
fact that his experience has been as cavalry
commander. the selection Of his chief OF stan
will become a matter Of supreme importance
counsellor of wide actual experience IN gen.
eral command will become an imperative neces-
sity Generals Dragoniroff. Vorontzon and
Sougareffsky. veterans and heroes of the Turk
ish war. are mentioned for the post.
General Grippenberg. commander Of the Sec
ond Army was born OF January l. 1888. He IS
ten years older than General Kuropatkin. but
ranks three numbers lower in the list of gem
erals General Grfppenberg is a Lutheran. He
is married and has three children. One son, q
captain OF artillery. wounded IN the battle
of Liao-Yang. General Grippenberg was edu-
Gated at home and passed through no military
school. He won his first commission while
fighting In defence OF Sebastopol. and then came
into prominence in the campaigns in Turkestan
IN 1868 and 1868 where he the st. Georges
cross and was promoted to be q captain He
was severely wounded In this campaign. He
vent into the Turkish war as a colonel and as
a reward for his services was appointed aide-de-
carnn TO the Emperor. He again won the ST.
Gaorke's Cross and promoted to the rank oc
major general He became a lieutenant general
,n 1890 general of infantry in 1901, and re-
Gently was appointed general aide de camp to
the Emperor
while General Grippenberg's distinguished
war record IS sufficient to explain the appoint
,oent. it is believed Prince Sviatopoik- iirslSy's
recommendation did great deal in that direc-
tion The prince and Grippenberg served sew
eral years in Wilma, the former as Governor Cen
eral and the latter commander IN chief Of
the troops there. The appointment is none the
less surprise. The first rumor that II was I'M
pending reached The Associated Press on sat
! ,,rday. Until then II was geperahy oeIeved
that General Linevtch would be selected 10
command the Second Army. Generai Stippen-
| berg will start for the Far East the middle OF