The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-12-03
KUROPATKIN
is THE MAN
Sven Hedin's Estimate OF the
Russian General.
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POPULAR WITH HIS TROOPS
They Look Upon the Commander in
Chief as Their FatheF-AModest
Millionaire Who Dislikes
Pomp and Ceremony.
POPULAR WITH HIS TROOPS

General AIexel Niehoiaevitch kuro-
pathin, the Russian commander in
chief, is the central figure in the great
and striking drama which Is now be-
ing enacted in the theater Of war in
Manchuria and which all the world is
watching in breathless expectation.
writes Or. sven Hedln in the London
Times.
As a young man he served ia the
French foreign legion in Algiers and
took part in several missions saba
riennes, and these lie has described
with the same admirable degree Of ae-
curaey and knowledge that be has dis
played in all the military experiences
of bis varied and remarkable life. It
was in AIgiers he learned to speak
French with such wonderful purity.
though he does not speak II with the
viyaeity and gesticulation Of d French
man. but speaks It slowly and quietly,
yet with perfect mastery. or other
books that he has written ! may men
ton d capital description Of the Russo
Turkish war and several handbools on
strategy and tile science Of war. 1t
was as chief OF the stan to Skobelen
that be learned the practical side OF
the art Of war. Yet how unlike is he
to SkobelefT! The latter loved war for
Its own sake and. like the Japanese.
greeted the stirring trumpet signal to-
charge ais the invitation to feast--a
man who, on his white horse and with
the breast Of bis white uniform glitter
ing with brilliants and decorations,
loved to gallop to the front with sub
lime contempt for the showers Of bull
let's falling all around him General
Kuropatkin regards war entirely from
Its serious side. as an unavoidable evil.
an art that must be studied with In.
dustry and thoroughness. leaving moth.
ing to chance or to the enthusiasm Of
the moment. In point Of popularity
with the army he even rivals his for
mer chief but whereas Skohelef by
his mere presence possessed the power
to eIectrify his men and kindie their
enthusiasm Kuropatkin inspires III his
troops feeling OF unrufiied calmness,
confidence and security. They look
upon him as their father and know
that be takes the same interest IN ey-
cry man that marches In the ranks that
be would In bis own SON
The first time | personally had the
honor To meet General Kuropatkin be
was yoyenniy natehalnik. or military
commander" of the new province Of
Transcaspia That was in October.
1890, and at Askabad, where he had
his headquarters. When ! called upon
him my overcoat was taken charge Of
BY Cossaclx, and | was ushered into
q large hall, where was received and
my visit announced by an aid-de-camp.
The walls Of the noble apartment were
adorned with AsiatIc weapons, ancient
ana modern, and with portraits Of the
imperial family. After | had waited a
little the general entered, dressed In
full uniform. for be was about to pre-
side cit d meeting Of some sort. He
il d short but strongly huilt man, with
black heard and small but kindly
and intelligent eyes ! was then Just
setting out on my first journey to
Kashgar. and Kuropatkin gave me d
good deal OF information about the
dangerous pass OF Terekdavan. Al
though | expected to find Il buried In
snow. be did not attempt to dissuade
me from the journey 4 northerner
would not permit himself to be deter
red by either snow or cold. When J
let faIi the remark that upon my re-
turn home intended to write book
about Turkestan Kuropatkin replied
humorousIy that there were no secrets
IN Agkabad. | was at perfect liberty
to 20 where liked; might freely visit
all the institutions In the town, might
count the soldiers IN the barracks. as
well as the big guns, the rifles and the
cartridges IN tie magazines, sketch
whatever ! thought fit, and. he added,
"You may even write articles about 1t
all to the Times # you like. Il met
with any difficulty | had only To re
port the matter to him and he would
see me righted.
1t was interesting to observe with
what energy aud vigor Kuropatkin
directed the military and even the civil
affairs Of his province Everything
worked like eloekwork. with the great
est regularity and punctuallty. Every
Tuesday he directed the maneuvers Of
his troops not seldom covering march
OF twenty miles. On the following
| day lie called hts officers together and
criticised the evolutions of the proceed
ing days march In bis Cossacks
their troubles, their wishes, their needs
he took d direct personal interest anA
always liked to see happy and content
ed faces about him. But, on the other
hand, he maintained rigid military
discipline ana would tolerate neither
Iaxity nor weakness
+ In November. 1890, saw Kuropat-
kin again IN samarkand Since then
have had several occasions Of meeting
him and when journeying TO and from
Asia have never failed 70 call upon
him. either at bis house In SC. Peters.
burg or at his datcha. Of villa, on one
Of the islands OF the gulf Of Finland