The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-06

St. Petersburg, Oct. b.--t@.Vo a. m.l--i A great deal of uncertainty exists con cerning momentous changes with Wnlcn the tongues of everybody have been busy in St Petersburg ever since the formal announcement of the formation of a second Manchurian army.
 The delay in the announcement of commanders -chief of the Manchurian armies, which is has been daily ex- pected Is now said to be due to the Emperor's intention to wait until Vice roy Alexieff shall have started for St. Petersburg.
 The viceroy's return in a very short time Is everywhere taken for granted and receives credence In the highest circles, but concerning the exact status he will occupy there is great diverg- ence of opinion. In the best infoTm- ed quarters the belief Is expressed that Alexieff's return does not mean his eff facement, but that on the contrary the Emperor will take occasion to bestow upon him unmistakable marks of his royal favor. His friends assert that he will become the Emperor's adviser not only on far eastern affairs, but on all questions of foreign policy.
 LamsdOFfK Criticized.
 Count Lamsdorffs administration of Russian foreign affairs was the subject of persistent criticism by certain party called the war party before the war and his recent successful efforts to secure concessions in the matter of the recognition of the rights of neutral commerce were obtained against some obstinately hostile and powerful in- huences Consequently Count Lams- dorffs enemies freely predict that Alexieff will control the foreign ofiice, actually if not nominally
 Count Lamsdorff's friends. however, treat these reports as inventions of his i'll wishes Nevertheless the re- turn to St. Petersburg of M. Bezobra- Eoff, who was secretary of the Far Eastern Commission before the war, simultaneous with Alexieff's return may be fraught with great significance and may foreshadow the complete return to imperial favor of the influences in control before the war.
 No AuthoratlVe Information.
 As matter of fact, however. those usually best informed admit that they are at sea as to what is actually inn pending and fin the absence of real au- thoritative information much of this talk may be merely Irresponsible gos- sip.
 As for the post of commander -in-chief of the Manchurian armies. General Kuropatkin's friends seem more en- couraged by the outlook. The Novoe Vremya, the Sviet and Viedomosti and other papers are conducting a regular and outspoken campaign in his favor, on the general ground that he has acquitted himself splendidly with the forces at his command and therefore deserves well of the emperor and country and that his supercession would shake the confidence of the army and be virtual rebuke if not disgrace.
 This argument, 1t is known, has been placed before his majesty and those who pretend to know say the Emperor was impressed and may possibly re- consider his determination to appoint Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaivitch.
 Way Out of Dilemma.
 It is suggested that a way out of the dilemma may be found by nominat- ing General Kuropatkin as commander in-chief as soon as Alexiehf departs from the Far East, postponinE the sending of Grand Duke Nicholas until the second army Is actually on the ground.
 Among many stories afioat, it ia stated that the formation of a third army is now contemplated; that General Linevitch has been offered and declined the command and that it would be given to General Iudovitski, now com mander of the ninth corps. It need hardly be pointed out that while the mobilization of the second army Is nro- ceeding rapidly, its despatch to the Fla r East will occupy considerable time and that the question of a third army could hardly be a matter of immediate future.