Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-03
THE OPPOSING FORCES
Gen. Kuropatkin Has in the
Neighborhood 1885, 900 Men
RUSSIAN COMMANDERS
EXAGGERATED ESTIMATES OF
TROOPS IN MANCHURIA.
Gen. Kurod Must Be Largely Rein
RUSSIAN COMMANDERS
Gen. Kuroki Must Be Largely Rein
forced Before He Can Take
the Offensive.

expert today, ito calculate the strength Of
the Russian field army with some degree Of
accuracy. Official reports on both sides
are careful not to mention the names of
commanders or the designations of or
ganiZatfons because these would convey to
one familiar with the order Of battle of the
opposing force distinct idea of numbers.
However, facts do leak out from time to
time and from these pretty fair idea can
be obtained.
Shortly after the beginning of the war
a German writer estimated that on May @
the Russians would have $4,000 men in
Manchuria. His estimate was small COM
pared with most of the others. but probably
it is nearly correct.
"At the beginning of the war there were
in Manchuria six Siberian rife brigades Of
four regiments and eight batteries each.
These have now been increased to nine bri-
gades, and one battalion has been added to
each regiment. The whole has been formed
into three Siberian army corps, containing
108 battalions.
of the 21st and 35th Infantry Divisions of
the x and XVII Army Corps were sent to
Manchuria, in strength of sixteen bat
talions. The brigade of Siberian reserves
stationed in Manchuria had a strength of
four battalions and has now been increased
to four regiments of four battalions. These
three brigades have been formed into a
fourth Siberian army corps of thirty-two
battalions. Thus the infantry has been in
creased from 90 battaIions to 40 battalions.
THE corps commanders are Gems. Baron
Stalkenberg, Baron Keller, Stossel and
Larubaieff, Stalkenberg and Keller having
replaced Sakaron and SasSalitch. The rifle
brigades are in part commanded by Gems
Gerngross, Anisimoff, Kashtalinski, Fock
Alexieff, Trusof and Kondratovitch
THE cavalry consists of the Trans Bal
Of ION,
with Gems. Grekoff and Lubovine command
ing brigades; the Siberian Cossack division
commanded by Gen. SmirnofY. with Gems
Vorenti and Smonoff as brigade command
ers. and separate brigade under Gen.
Mischenko, with two Cossack regiments.
This gives about Ii, 900 cavalry in seventy
four squadrons.
''The field artillery consists of thirty bat
teries with 232 guns, including four Co.'S
sack horse batteries. There were three bat
teries of eight Maxim machine guns EACH
some of which have been lost.
Gen. Kuropatkin's Available Force.
One OF the rifle brigades is stationed at
Port Arthur and one at Vladivostok, so that
the available field force of General Kuro-
patkin between Haichen and Hardin can
not greatly exceed 125. 900 men. This is not
great host as armies go in our day, but
In the hands of a Grant or a Lee 1t was a
much smaller force which made some of the
worlds best history.
"Fanciful stories of Russian troops in
Manchurla have appeared, but if other or
CARNATIONS than those mentioned are there
iC is hard to Sc now or when they got there
When we get fair idea of the organiza-
tons which make up certain force we
can arrive at a pretty correct idea of it's
strength, based upon almost universal prac-
tice In such matters. The proportion of
cavalry and artillery is exceedingly small,
according to modern ideas, but this is
caused by the difficulty of Transporting a
greater number of horses.
To get the army up to the above fig
ures it would have been necessary to bring
out from Russia $4,000 infantry reserves
as reserves for the other arms, during the
first three months of the war, say 1900
men.
During the Boxer troubles four years
ago the number brought out in three months
was $4,000 men. The improvement since
tfen is not great. but probably has reached
ar average of 500 men day
I'm addition to the field army, there are
picked men,. The smallest estimate Of these
Is $1,000. divided between $3.50 cavalry.
I3. $50 infantry and 48 guns.
AT the fortresses of Port Arthur and
Vladivostok there are battalions of fortress
artillery and infantry. There are also en-
gineers. railroad troops and other special
troops. For some time the balance of the
10th and 18th Army Corps not already in
ders for Manchuria- Probably an addi-
| tional cavalry division is also intended.
| These appear to be all the reinforcements
| now in readiness or in movement for Gen.
| Kuropatkin. That additional notifications
are not mentioned seems to argue that they
are not moving rapidly. These troops
| might raise the Russian force to 100000
men IL 1t were not necessary to count casu-
aities in battle and from sickness, which
will greatly reduce that high figure.
at has been my opinion that the Rus
| SLAMS would not be able to maintain q
greater army than 10000 men in Man
| churia unless they are able to subsst in
| the country. 1t Is reported that Russians
are arranging for the planting of crops all
along the line of the railroad. This Is q
| simple matter apparently. as there Is a
| large population and a fertile country. The
bandits which have terrorized the country
have hindered Its development In former
| years, and must be suppressed now IL this
| plan is to succeed The result will be one
| Of the most interesting phases OF the war.
Gen. Kuroki's Troops.
| Opposed to this field army the army O
| Kuroki has not yet developed. The thre
divisions Of $4,000 men with which h
| crossed the Yalu are certainly too small
for his offensive campaign of which VI
| hear SO much. He will need a reinforce
| ment or at least double that number b
| make a safe advance against the arm,