Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-22
A NEW LEADER.
Gen. kuropat;<in to Command in the
Far East.

st. Petersburg. Feb. 21.-The APP
pointment of Gen. kuropatkin, who was
relieved Of his function as minister OF
war, to the chief command of the Rus
sian army in the Far East, was gaZet-
ted. TODAY.
With the possible exception of Cen
eral DragOmirol', formerly governor
general of Kien AM: later member of
the council Of state. Gen. Kuropatkin
is the most popular man in the Russian
army. AS Il bluff old soldier who has
fought his way up from the bottom to
the minister OF war. ne is the ideal OF
the enlisted man. No one in the car S
army has seen more fighting. 70 find
Il deserving subaltera and to give him
IL chance for promotion has always
been his care.
The appointment of Gen. Kuropatki1
to direct command in the field has
been received with enthusiasm and his
leadership inspires confidence.
Cent Kuroratkin Will be accompa-
MED to the front by the Grand Dukes
Boris. Alexis Nicholas and Michael
Nikolaievicvh. TIL" emperor and en-
press gave Il farewell luncheon. today.
to Gen. Europatkin and the grand
dukes at the Alexandra Palace.
The exact mission Of Grand Duke
Alexis is unknown. but it is undoubted-
~ an important one, as he has been III
supreme command of the Russian navy
as president OF the board of admiralty,
taking an active part i'll the negotia =
lions preceding hoStilitieS. He pre-
sided at the special council which pre-
Jared Russias unGeli;ered reply to
Japan. Alexis paid a meinOrably pleas
ant visit to the United States when Il
young man. His career as high add
miral is well known and brilliant.
The grand duke is now in very bad
! health, but if his health permits he may
exercise general of the general direc-
ton of the naval Operations in the Far
East.
Grand Duke Boris is n lieutenant of
l1uSSHrS ANA is considered an excellent
soldier. lie is likely to distinguish
himself in battle ana probably will be
one the staff of Grand Duke Nicholas.
After Holis returned from the United
States he bought the palace formerly
occupied by Ambassador Mccormick.
The Grand Duke Nicholas is Il years
of age and is considered the foremost
cavalry expert in the Russian army.
AS inspector general of cavalry. he
VIII be able 20 advise Gen. kuroDatkink,
who is an infantry specialist. Nicho-
las is che of the few grand dukes WI,
married a commoner. and though his
marriage has not been recorded it is
none the less IL happy one.
with General Kuropatkin's appoint
ment Is commandments chief of the
army and the presence of Grand Duke
Alexis in the Far East the opinion is
strengthened that while Admiral Alex
Jeff may remain as vic"roy. the active
direction of operations will pass out of
his hands
1t is said that Niceroy Alexinff has
asked the ministry of marine to send
Phim officers who are not too Young
and admira!s who are not too old Of
whom he already has too many. The
viceroy has issued proclamations to
the Chinese throughout Manchrria
seeking to enlist their sympathy in be
half of Russia and their assistance in
maintaining the railway infect by rep
resenting to them .Tapan's treacherOus
methods in beginning the war.
A Port Arthur dispatch received at
st. Petersburg reports the Russian
cruiser Bovick had been repaired and
left her dock.
The Standcrds Kieff correspondent
hears that the Caususus and Turkes-
tan armies are to be modified. He
adds that the rumor is not confirmed
officially. but says il it is true it can
only be interpreted as yelled threat
against India in certain emergencies
The correspondent ut Tien Tsin of the
Standard reports the attack by five