Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-21

genial. familiar manner toward the en-
listed men which IL characteristic of most
prominent officers in a country where q
grand duke will call a common soldier
little brother" and offer him q nip of
vodka from his flask
A story Is told of Dragomiroff which Illus
trates this familiarity. and also gives
good idea Of the endurance of the Russian
soldier.
When marching one morning. In midwin-
ter, to attack the Turks in force near the
Shipka Pass, his division was halted by
broad river. which was only covered by
thin skin Of ice, and had to be crossed by
fording. As the men had to march and
Tight all day in the snow, it was important
that they should not get their clothes wet;
and Dragomiron accordingly ordered them
to strip and wade naked through the Icy
river, carrying their clothing on Their
heads. One of Lis stan officers found q
small boat tied to the river bank and
wanted him to take it. but he refused to do
wounded men. while he crossed in the same
condition as the rest of the division.
The men joked and laughed about the
experience. although they were chilled to
the bone by a cutting wind as they put on
their clothes upon the opposite bank. After
the division had reformed, the general
rode up to them and said:
well. little brothers. how do you feel
Very well, thank you. your highness!''
they replied-that title being usually APP
piled by Russian troops to general Of
ficers.
I'VE didn't burn our feet coming over.
did weT
mo, indeed, your highnessw they grin
ned. And no doubt they fought much bet
ter that day than they would have done
instead of waiting a moment to joke with
them.
Reproves an Officer.
A few years ago, Dragomiroff had occa-
sion. as governor Of Kieff to inspect an in
fantry battalion. Riding down the line,
he heard the captain of one of the COM
panies abusing a sergeant for not acting
smartly as marker" He was calling
him dog, pig and all the other unpleas-
ant names which Russian officers are far
too apt to apply to their men when they
lose their tempers.
Dragomiroff refined up his horse in front
of the captain and swore at him steadily
for two minutes, calling him everything
he had called the sergeant and a great deal
more besides, in the hearing of his COM
pany
The captain listened quietly for while,
too amazed to speak, and then drew the
general aside and protested that he ought
not to speak to him in that manner before
his men. as it would destroy his authority
over them.
You should have thought of that before
you abused the sergeant said the general
Il am only giving you a dose of the
medicine you gave him. You were doing
your best to destroy the discipline Of your
own company, for he has to WELD authority
In 1t as well as you. Now you will per-
haps understand how he must have felt"
1t is said that General Dragomiroff, when
summoned TO st. Petersburg by the car
and ordered to state his views regarding
the campaign in the far east, found fault
with the entire scheme of operations, and
criticised most searchingly all the naval
and military dispositions. He even dared,
according to the rumors In court circles
In St. Petersburg, to argue with the car
himself in the war council and convince
him that some of his ideas regarding the
conduct of the war were entirely wrong.
This Is the more credible because Nicholas
II, when holding subordinate rank as care
witch in the famous Preobrajensky regi-
ment, was under the command of General
ORA gomiroff, who largely supervised his
military education.