The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-01

rock while he saluted Skobeleff. The
latter suggested that he had better go
to the hospital, but he CURLY replied:
No. general: there is work 10 be done
heard afterward that Skobeleff and
Kuropatkin had fought side by side
throughout that bloody day, and had
slain the Turks literally by the dozens.
Their exploits formed the theme of
many story told beside the campfires
Of both armies throughout the cam
paign."
In one OF the most splendid assaults
of the campaign. that of Shenovo. Ku-
ropatkin played prominent part. The
Russians advanced toward the redoubts
without firing a shot. with bands play
ing and colors flying. A murderous fire
greeted them. but still the advancing
iegions swept on. until they closed with
the enemy. They fought the Turks
hand to hand, with bayonet and rife butt
until the garrison of 1900 men surreud-
cred, and then marched on TO Adrian
oDle.
Unwavering in Purpose.
In one battle he was standing with a
group OF other officers in a redoubt
when Turkish shell struck the am
munition caisson il protected. and the
ammunition was exploded. The redoubt
itself was shattered, and every officer
near. with the exception Of Kuropatlin.
was thrown to the ground. He rallied
the defenders. fought OF the Turks. who
advanced TO the assault, and when the
enemy had been repulsed. tainted
from the shock Of the explosion. But
he would neither faint nor halt until
his purpose had been accomplished and
his duty done.
That is the sort of man the JAMS
must face, in command of the Cars
land forces in the East. His travels in
many lands. and his close study Of the
military systems Of all countries com
bined with his years Of work in the re-
organization of the Russian ar.IIy and rs
chief OF its general staff, have given him
grasp OF the situation no other officer
in the army possesses. He knows the
weaknesses and the strength of the
Russian soldier. individually and in
masses. and he understands how to use
his material.
He is idolized by the rank and file of
the army and 1t Is TO him the Rus
sian people are looking for victory. If
he wins he will be supreme in the af-
fections of the people; If he loses he will
be discredited-a shattered idol. So that
he will win If he can.
The Dead Makaroff.
In the death of Admiral Stepan Osipo-
vich Makaroff. the Russian arms sus-
tanned one of the most severe losses
possibly the most severe loss-of the
war. Even the destruction Of her bat
tleships, dreadful as was the carnage
produced and havoc wrought, failed 10
spread throughout the cities of Russia
such sweeping. CONSERVATION or so 10
weaken the Russian morale When
Makarof fell his countrymen believed a
pillar of the empire had crumbled.
Certainly, he was a brave and gallant
officer and naval authorities through
out the world have united in commend
ing him as one Of the most scholarly.
capable, and magnetic or mis- time As
fighter and artifex of navies, he had
gained an equal eninence. He was loved
and trusted implicitly by his men. That
he should have died as the result of the
explosion of a mine, when no enemy
in human form faced him, and he could
not give shot for shot in defense Of his
ship, is one of the tragedies men face
when they adopt the navy as a pro-
fession. Even HIS enemies united In
praise Of him. as officer, man, and gen
tleman. AS for his native land, it rang
with the lamentations of those who
mourned a departed hero.
Makarof participated in the only sea
fighting Russia has known since the
Crimean war. This was in the Russian
campaign against Turkey In 1877. in
which Russia's purpose was the preser-
walton OF the political integrity Of Servia
and Bulgaria His services then render
ed contributed largely and essentially to
the success Of the Russian land forces
in the engagements that followed.
Exploits on the Danube
Turkey had a number Of war vessels
in the Black Sea, while Russia was en-
tirely without floating defenses of this
character. At the time the Russian
army was advancing through Roumania
to the Turkish frontier. and il was the
plan OF the Turkish admiral TO sail
with his feet up the Danube and shell
the army on the banks Of the river, de-
stroying its line Of communications and
preventing in this way further progress
The plan gave good promise Of success
full contamination.
Then entered Makaroff and Skrydidf,
the latter the man who is TO succeed him
In command OF the feet in the Far East
At the time they were lieutenants in