The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-02-26
PARIS EXPECTED
JAPAN WOULD SCORE
Knew in Advance That Russia
Really Was Poorly Prepared
for the War.
lAPs IN FINE CONDITION
Their Army and Navy Are Both Mag.
~nificently Organized and Every
Unit is Brought to Highest
Efficiency.

Paris special: In military circles here
1t was feared that when war broke
out between Russia and Japan the armies
Of the car would be badly beaten, at
least in the beginning.
A very prominent French general who
is thoroughly familiar with the Japanese
soldier writes in the Armee and Marine:
1.-The Japanese soldier is an excellent
fighter, but his great value is his endur-
ance and q%ujckness of movement. He is
fully able to march forty to fifty miles a
day and get up next morning quite ready
for more work. There is the stuff in them
to make good soldiers, for, as the great
| Napoleon said, it is with good feet that
battles are won.
LAS to their shoes q la guerre omme q
Ia guerre. During the first campaign in
China the Japenses soldiers did not hesi-
tate to put on their ordinary footgear
when their military shoes were worn out
or hurt their fet.
They can get a handful of straw any
where and with a turn Of the hand 1t is
transformed into a pair of sandals.
THE Japanese, whose enthusiasm is
easily excited, is capable at any moment
OF an astonishing amount Of energy.
Stimulated by an ardent patriotism, a
fanatical pride, he is capable of prolonged
effort without getting discouraged.
III his profound contempt for death
prompted by oriental fatalism be taken
into consideration, the power Of an army
Of such men will be understood"
Letters from Russia, on the other side,
state that the car is very much dis
tressed at the reports of mortality among
the Russian troops sent to the east.
which has been caused by the general
lack Of sanitary arrangements.
lie Poorly Prepared.
Though 1t has been the boast OF Rus
STA that its military organization is as
perfect as that Of Germany, 1t is evident
that the country is no more prepared for
a distant war than was france in 1870
when Napoleon declared war against
Prussia.
Dispatches received here from French
men residing in Korea describe the miser-
able condition Of all the Russian troops
with the exception of the Cossacks, who
take care of themselves.
The regular troops are in need of every
thing and live upon coarse black bread
and cabbage.
The car is said to regret deeply the
loss of NJ. Whites services, as he thinks
that the former minister of finance would
nave been able to raise q Russian war
loan while Russia now is in great need
Of money.
The mission Of NJ. Bezobrazor, the
cars personal friend, to the far east is
thought to be the cars last attempt to
thwart the plan of the strong war party
at court.
NJ. B~ezobrazon. who today is the most
talked about person in Russia, was at
one time ar officer in the imperial guards,
but had to resign on account Of eXtraya-
gance. Then he disappeared and nothing
was heard Of him for ears. but six
months ago his name came up in connec-
ton with forestry concessions on the
Yalu river.
It is said that Admiral Alexief was
made viceroy owing to Bezobrazofr's in
fluence.
The latter suddenly returned to ST. Pc.
tersburg a few months ago. and had
many conferences with the car before
starting upon his secret mission.
On the Gay Riviera.
The Riviera is unusually gay this sea.
son. The report that the kaiser might
spend the winter there caused a great in.
flux of nobl and wealthy people from al
parts of Europe, who still live in the hope
of seeing the kaiser there next month.
The number of Russian princes is great.
er than ever before, and man. Of these
live In unequaled If semi-barbaric splen.
dor, being even more reckless in theil
expenditures of money than the American
millionaire. whose number is quite small
this year.
Foremost among all the exalted exotic
personages ranks Princess Schahowsko
strechnefr, a dashing Russian beauty
whose wealth seems to be boundless.
She arrived at Nice about two weeks
ago in more than royal style, accompanied
by an enormous suite Of Circassian at.
tendants, secretaries and servants. who
all Wear national Circassian costumes re.
%splendent with gold lace and preciou.
stones.
Her private car ia the most luxuriou.
ever seen here. 1t possesses nine differen,
systems of safety brakes, is heated b,
electricity, and owing to a wonderful ar
rangement Of the wheels and axles car
be adjusted in a few minutes to run OF
any gauge of rails In Europe or Asia.
TIE princess will embark at Yillefrauch,