New-York tribune., 1904-09-26
VAR VIEWS OF EXPERTS
Credit GiUen KuropqtAin for
1chieUement Since Crossing Yalu.
LTRoM IL TRInuNE RuRrAr.l

lFRoN TIE TRIBUNE BUREAU.I
washington, Sept 2J.-The expert review Of
the situation still gives the Russian commander
large share OF the credit attaching 70 the IN
dividual achievements OF the opposing leaders
since the activities began with the crossing OF
the Yalu, 1t is estimated that the Russian had
all the disadvantage OF an inferior force and the
difficulty of the transportation OF materials as
factors against him.
He made a good showing. say the experts
especially in his retreat from Liao-Yang where
he showed himself a strategIst rather than
tighter. He is believed to compare with Cen
eral Mcclellan In contrast with General Grant
although the Russo-Japanese War is not far
enough advanced 10 warrant any final estimate
Of relative merits
1t is pointed out that General Kuropatl,in
might have done something disastrous to the
japanese at Liao-Yang, but he refused to en-
ploy the power which is supposed to have been
his on that occasion and embarrass the Japan
ese. One explanation is that the Russians are
holding consistently TO the policy which insists
on retreat until in possession of the numerical
strength waTranting attack with no chance Of
surrender or thought Of wavering. 1t is be-
heVed that General Kuropatkin has been seri-
ously hampered in his plans by the inexperi-
enced force he found awaiting him when he
went TO Manchuria
American army officers say that the men bear
some relation to the militia force in this coun-
try-that is to say, they are without much prac-
tical knowledge Of their duties in the field, and
do not compare with the European troops. This
condition has suggested TO officers the thought
that the Russians will postpone their important
operations of an offensive sort until the more
seasoned troops arrive from the home stations.
Many army officers believe that the strengthen
| ing OF the Russian command from that source
will be the occasion of hard lighting which will
have in it none of the policy OF retreat which
has marked the plans of General Kuropatkin
up to this time. Those officers who are OF dis
tinct Russian sentiment believe that the
Russians will arrange this campaign OF aggres-
slveness so as to take advantage of the inabi-
ity Of the Japanese 10 strengthen themselves.
calamity which is prophesied in anticipation
of the japanese failure to obtain funds to con-
tinue the
Naval officers take much interest in the possi-
! bity in the direction Of Port Arthur, mainly on
| account Of the mystery which has surrounded
the ships of the rival forces. The Russians
would have a decided advantage now if their
| Baltic fleet could be engaged In the neighbor-
| hood although no one knows the exact
| strength of that command It's fighting value
| must be the subject of conjecture but il Is i'm
agined that ships fresh from the dock yards
and Quitting plant would be superior to the
vessels which have been long and almost con-
stantiy the firing line The Russian ships
which have been at Port Arthur including those
which eluded the Japanese and those which re-
main In Russian waters, are evidently in fairly
good condition despite the punishment some OF
them have received AS one expert remarked
to-day: 'It takes a good deal of attack we'll
directed TO put a warship out of service en-
tfrely and permanently
II has been of the wise precautions or the
Russians that they were in a condition TO re-
pair the damages visited on their ships and
keen them in the of activity The Japan
ese ships must be in great need of repairs also.
and il is certain that all of them require dock
ing It is probable that some of them have now
been Withdrawn from the blockade for that
purpose especially as the Russian naval force
at Port Arthur has bSen Weakened.