The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-26
GEN. GRIPPENBERG WILL
 COMMAND SECOND CORPS
Emperor Will Drain the Empire in Or der to Force Struggle to Suc- cescfri Issue-Will Appoint
 a Commander-in-Chief

St Petersburg, September 26, 2:o0 a. n-- The division and reorganization of the Manchurian army, regarding which there have been rumors ever since the battle of Liao Yang. was officially announced to- day in an imperial rescript appointing General Grippenberg commander of the third army corps. in the province of Vil- ma, as commander of the second army now being mobilzed for immediate dis patch to the far east, leaving General Kuropatkin in command of the first army.
 The emperor is personally convinced that the political as well as the mili- tary prestige of the empire. is at stake. and that every other consideration must give way before the exigencies of war. The resources of the empire in men and money must be drained if necessary in or der to turn the scale and vindicate the power of Russia.
 Vii. Fight it Out.
 The reorganization amounts to formal notice to the world, as the emperor frank ly explains in his rescript that he in- tends to vastly increase the number of troops at the theatre of war; in order to force the struggle to a successful issue in the shortest possible time. It is intended to silence definitely all talk of foreign in- tervention by the announcement that Russia means to fight out the issue with Japan on the field of battle.
 Probably 10000 additional men will be placed in the field. Eventually the crea- tion oe this second army involves the selection of commander in chief. Not f,, nt that General Kuropatlxin win have com mand of oeth armies, but he is distinctly placed upon the same footing as General Grppenberg In the best informed cir cles there Is little idea that Viceroy Alex jeff, the present nominal commander in chief, will exercise the actual functions of commander of the 600,000 men that Russia has resolved to put in the field. It Is the best opinion that Grand Duke Nicholas Michaelovitch, inspector gem eral of cavalry, will attain the high con- mand occupying in the war with Japan the position held by his father in the war with Turkey. There are various re- ports regarding Viceroy Alexieff's ulti- mate destiny It is declared in some quar- ters he will be recalled ana Grand Duke Nicholas become viceroy, as well as com mander in chief. It is also said upon apparently equal authority that Alexieff will return as chancellor of the empire succeeding Count Lamsdorff. None of these reports are definitely confirmable. Grand DulSs Nicholas is still young man not yet 45, with much of his fathers dash and energy and resolution.
 There $ reason to believe with the memories of the horrors ot the Shipka winter campaign against the Turks of which he vas witness as young cap- tain of cavalry, he would favor the win ter campaign against the Japanese.
 In Accord With Traditions.
 The dispatch of the grand duke as com mander of both arm.es were in accord with the tra, -.-ons of the Romanoff dyn- asty. member of which imperial family has always been in command in all of Russlas great wars It is agreed by the greatest ilitary men here that if Nicholas be appointed despite the fact that his experience has been as a caval- ry commander the selection as his chief of-staff will become a matter of supreme Importance.
 4 counsellor of wide actual experience in general command will become an im- perative necessity. Generals Dragomroff, Vorontzoff and Sougareffsky. veterans an heroes of the Turkish war are men, toned for the post.
 Older Than .,uropatkln.
 
 Second army was born january 1, 1888. He is ten years older -Aan General Kuro- patkin, but rankr three numbers lower on the list of generals. He is a Lutheran in religion He is married and has three children. One son, a captain of artillery was wounded in the battle of Liao Yang General Grippenberg was educated at home, and passed through no military scnool. He won his first commission while fighting in defense of Sevastopol and then came prominence in the campaigns in Turkestan in 1863 and 1868 when he won the St. George cross, and was promoted to be a captain He was severely wounded in this campaign. He went into the TurKlsh was as colonel and as reward of his services was ap- pointed aide-de-camp to the emperor. He again won the St. Georges cross and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant gener- al l.e became a lieutenant general in 1890, a general of infantry in 1891 and re- gently was appointed aide-de-camp to the emperor
 While General Grippenbergs dstin- gushed war record is sufficient to ex- plain the appointment. it is believed Prince Sviatopolk-Mirsky's recommends ton did great deal in that direction. The appointment is none the less a sur- prise The first rumor that it was im- pending reached the Associated Press on Saturday Until then it was generally believed that General Linevitch would be selected to command the second army. General Grippenberg will leave for the far east the middle of October.
 It is now evident that General Line witch will remain in charge of the Amur district, including the defences of Vladi- vostok
 Russia Realizes Inferiority.
 Russas recognition of the fact that the forces now in the far east cannot successfully prosecute the war against the men Japan is able to put in the field, and the knowledge that the latter power. Is now mobilzing 100000 more men for the front. and the decision to reorganize the Russian army on a gigantic scale in or
 
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