The Savannah morning news., 1904-08-08
RUSSIANS ANn JAPANEsE.

Mr.. G.. NJ. Hutton of Baltimore was
for twelve years in the American con-
sular service in Russia. He came into
contact with the official and educated
classes of the people. and was in a po-
stion to make a study of them. A
few days ago he gave an interview to
certain newspapers in which he ex-
pressed the opinion that Russia would
not win in the Far East, and stated his
reasons for that opinion. Mr. Hutton
is friendly disposed towards the Rus
SLAMS, and thinks the Car one of the
most amiable and gentle of all the
earth's rulers; a lovabIe character.
whose burden at the time must be
fearful.
There is no more obedient and faith
full soldier. Mr.. Hutton says, than the
Russian private. He does not know
what fear is, and he never complains
of fatigue. He is the kind of soldier
that a competent commander would
undertake to march to hell" with,
feeling sure that the soldier in the
ranks would do his full duty nobly
and Incapable of acting on his own in
itiative. 1t is a rare instance when a
private soldier can write his name. He
will take orders and obey them willing
ly and faithfully. but thrown on his
own resources he is as helpless as
child. The reason the Russians have
not been winning against the Japan
csc. Mr.. Hutton says, is that the Rus
sian officers are incompetent. They
are mostly ball room knights" who
think more of dancing or holding tete-
a-tetes with ladies than paying atten-
ton to the details of army equipment
and n.aneuvers. They decline to study
war as a science. depending on the
dash and bravery of their men to
carry them through any engagement
that they may get into. Then there
are cliques among the officers, and the
headquarters and camps are filed with
spies more intent upon working up
evidence against certain officers than
in prosecuting the campaign against
the enemy. The intrigues are said TO
be innumerable, involving even the
officers in highest command. More
over, there is grating" and corrup-
ton in the departments of equipments
and supplies. Mr.. Hutton mentions
instances in which sand was mixed
with gunpowder, and half the number
of blankets that were paid for were de-
llvered. 1t will be recalled that at the
first attack of the japanese on Port
Arthur the officers of the Russian
ships were ashore attending a circus.
And at other times they have been ia
attendance on balls or other social
functions at the time they should have
been on duty. In short. It seems to be
Mr.. Hutton's opinion that Russia is
so handicapped by the weakness and
incapacity of her officers that the
bravery and numbers Of her soldiers
will count for little in the struggle
with Japan.
BY way Of contrast, the average
Japanese soldier is a man of fair edu-
cation and a hard student The ON
GERS are especially devoted students.
absorbing everything that has bearing
on military affairs and putting 10 good
Use the Information they acquire.
While the Russian officers are dancing.
the japanese officers are porting over
books and maps. and putting the fin
ishing touches on plans of campaign
The Russians are devoting themselves
TO pleasure and getting what pleasure
they can out OF the war situation. The
japanese are devoting themselves TO
the War as an immensely serious BUSH
ness.