The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-13
RUssIA's GREAT LEADER
Talisman Presented Him by
 General Eggrestoff.
Reports Received at Tienstin Are That Great Damage Was Done by Japs in Latest Port
 Arthur Bombardment.

St. Petersburg March 12-Generai Ku- ropatkin, accompanied by his entire stan. left here at o'clock rhis evening in a special traln for the Far East where he will take command of the Manchurian army.
 The departure of the General was marked by demonstrations of patriotism and personal regard, Thousands of per- sons who lined the Nevsky prospect and the approaches to the Nicholas Railroad station. vied with the highest personaees in the empire in giving vent to express sions of confidence in the new comman- der. who is to lead the Emperor's armies.
 Just before the General arrived at the station, Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaie- witch, Grand Duke Peter Nicoiaievitcii and the Duke of Mechlinbur-Etrelitz drove up and aiighted.
 Modestiy and without the accompani- ment of music or escort the General drove to the station in an open carriage
 Cheered by the Multitude. <
 He was dressed in the fatigue uniform of his rank. but the short. unlmposing figure of Russia's great General was in stantly recognized by the populace and his passage down the broad boulevard was followed by storm of cheers, which grew louder as the crowd grew denser near the station,
 Here the entnuSlaSm OTOko out III mighty shouts and In spite of the cold, the air was filled with hats.
 The imperial waiting rooms inside the station were crowded with celebrities and the staircase leading from the courtyard was lined with a mass of uniforms There were cossack officers. bestarred Generals and distinguished naval men. .. ..
 As General KuropatkIn reached the head of the stairs, General Eggrestoff. white. haired and trembling with emotion. began to speak. Inside and out there was an in- stant hush. t
 sT have come to bid you God-speed." said General Eggrestoff. We all wish you a safe journey and with Gods bless ing we shall greet your victorious re- turn. Take this small image of Alexis. your patron saint. and wear 1t around tnur neck ana may the Almighty hold you tn Ills keeping" - ---.-' General Kuropatldn knelt reyerentiy and accepted the taiIsman. His few heartfeIt words of thanks were uttered in SO low a tone that they were barely heard ten feet away. Thunderous cheers burst forth when the two warriors ern- braced.
 Unaffected by Acclaim.
 General Kuropatkin then stepped for ward He was self possessed amid the surrounding excitement and walked unaf- fectedly, greeting all present, embracing and kissing old comrades and shaking hands with officers, He did not forget the naval and military attaches, and had a kind word for every member of the group representing. almost all the great armies and navies of the world.
 The Korean minister to Russia, who was present, was just as enthusiastic as any Russian and seemed to regard General KuropatlSin as the savior of his country. He pushed and struggled hard to get near enough to shake the gener- al'e hand and wish him every success.
 Several women could not refrain from kissing the hero of the hour. One pre- sented him with a large bouquet of roses.
 The general seemed not to know what to do with the flowers, so he handed them over to an army aide.
 As the bell rang flor the departure Of the train, General Kuropatkin stepped on the platform where the crush was worse. But the crowd parted. When he reached the car step every head was pared. The general did not at once enter the luxuri- ous car over which the inscription East ern Chinese Railway indicated a journey. of 1000 miles. He remained at the door and waved his last farewell. As the train slowly gathered headway every voice in the multitude bro..e out into a roar of cheers and blessings.
 Behind General Kuropatkin stood his sons in cadet uniform and through the dcor one caught a glimpse of the saloon filled with flowers. Amid the flowers stood the generals wife who, with his sons, will accompany him as far as Moscow.