Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-06
RUSSIAN ON THE WAR.
Stan Ofacer's Remarkable Letter to I a Journalist.

of Russian staff officer at the front, addressed to a journalist on St. Pe- tersburg paper, appeared In recent number of the Stuttgart Osvobozhde- nie, and requires no comment, says the London Times:
 If our official sources of information are occasionally compelled, for political reasons, to observe silence, we can all understand the reason. We can all un- derstand why silence was maintained as to the loss of nearly 5000 men at Va fangow (Telissu), and also as to the loss by one regiment of its colors, that sacred object of military honor. We can all understand why nothing was said as to our nasty retreat before an enemy only equal in numbers. But what we cannot understand is the effort made by journalists to keep the public in an optimistic frame of mind, to distort facts as much as possible and to write of that of which they know nothing. If you will read attentively the official report you will see that on June 14 the enemy had only two incomplete divi- sions. while we had two and a half Moreover, with us q regiment consists of four hattalions, save in the east Siberian units, which have three. We had also two brigades Of artillery that is, ninety-six guns-besides a Cos sack horse battery with nine guns, the Primorsky dragons and two regiments of Cossacks.
 Our force, as you see, was not small one. To the assistance of the Japa- nese came u division--the staff report says brigade of infantry with two or three batteries, while three regi- ments were sent to us by rail. But you talk of this as our heroic battle with an antagonist three times our strength! We have always known how to die with some exceptional, but this does not mean that an enemy so rare from a military point of view as the Japanese is not to be feared or deserves the contempt which our cus- tom, is to shower upon this civilized nation. have a right to speak, for I have spent a considerable time in Japan. and tell you frankly that I often blushed for my country when I compared many things there and here.
 An enemy so dangerous, whether as regards persistence, readiness for war or moral strength, Russia has never met. Japan is dangerous enemy for this reason: Our soldier, unfortunately, despite valor and resignation, is in- ferior to the Japanese soldier in dis cipline, and, what is still more impor- tant fights with indifference, under compulsion. For the Japanese this is d war for an idea, which penetrates all without exception, from the minister to the husbandman. Here you have the reason for such incidents as occurred at Chongchu-you are probably un- aware of this-where the Cossacks refused to charge, and as a result we lost three officers. It is from this fact and not from the color of the uniforms, which, ever since Kuropatkin's arrival have been undistinguishable from those of the men, that the true reason is to be found for the large percent age of losses among the officers.
 Our Transbaikal and Siberian Cos sacks are our weak point. In conse- quence of their loose behavior and want of preparation for active service
 
 they are of little use to us.
 Our officers as q whole, especially those trained in the Junker schools, are undoubtedly inferior to the Japanese as regards professional training. The majority, it is needless to say, go un- der fire not for tl1e sake of an idea (the only idea that could have any force with us would be self interest,", but for the sake of tradition or for distinctiqn4 But they do not consciously die Tor their country's sake, for it's good, be- cause it Is evident upon anything like an attentive consideration of the mat ter, that we are in the wrong. If you only knew what we did during the Chinese campaign! Ones heart bleeds It is not without reason that the Chi nese stand openly on the side of the Japanese, their ancient enemies.
 We have the greater chances of vic tory but the guarantee Of these chaEcoss lies i'll the Buitic squadron alone, for we cannot secure victor ROW by mere weight of numbers (on land) and still less in the future. Do you really as- sume that the Japanese have only thirteen divisions in their army, be- sides reserves? Are they really so naive as not to have increased this force during the last few years7
 Given equal numbers on either side, there is, qs1 our parton the staff at any rate-no hope of absolute and in- disputable victory after the refusal of the Twenty second regiment to at tack at Tuirencheng and after the ter rible havoc wrought by the Japanese artillery at Vafankow.
 Russia considers herself great na- ton. Every great nation, i'll the per son of it's representativ the organs of the press, should comport itself with dignity, should feel respect for a worthy foe, should not conceal it's own mistakes and should not indulge in barefaced self laudation.