The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-02-25
is GREAT WARRIOR
RUSSIA'S MINISTER OF WAR SAID
TO BE HEP FOREMOST
FIGHTER.
Has Worked His Way Up From Sub
Lieutenant to High Position

LONDON. Feb. 25.-Gen. Alexei
Nichola;rtch Kouropatkin, the Russian
minister of war, who is directing the
operations against the Japanese. is
easily Russia's foremost fighter. The
best authorities of Europe concede that
no one in the entire world is better
equipped in every branch of military
knowledge.
Educated in the theory of arms at
schools trained to practice under the
greatest of modern Russian warriors
Gen. Mikhael Skobeef he made a
glorious record in every important
Russian war since 1866. and worked
his way up from sub-lieutenant in that
year to the command of the army in
1897.
He has received more decorations
than any one breast could wear at any
1S4S, and obtained a commission as
ub-lieutenant in the Tukrestan rifles
when he was only IS. After the bril-
liant Turkestan campaign Which added
to RuSsiaS Asiatic possessions kOur
opatkin returned to st. Petersburg
lieutenant. to continue his military
! II, Q
graduate of the academy of the geneT
al staff, he was sent abroad to study
military conditions in various Euro
pean countries. In France. President
McNIahon invited him to take part in
the nlaneuVerS at Metz Here he dis
played such strategic ability that he
vas decorated with the cross or the
Legion of Honor being the first Rus
sian to win that distinction.
When war with Turkey broke out in
1877. kOurpatkin was summoned back
to Russia. Constantinople was 20 pe
taken. Between Russia and COnstantf-
noble lay three great barriers.-the
river Danube, the Turkish strongholds
in Bulgaria and the Balkan noun
tains. The first barrier was passed
hurying from Widdn with 10000
| trained soldiers. Reading that he was
| too late to defend the river he threw
his entire force into Plevna, thus
menacng the line the Russians must
! follow from the Danube to the Balkans.
| 1t was Il brilliant strategic move. for
lntil Osman was dislodged no forward
move could be made by the main army
| Of the Russians. Twice they hurled
| themselves against Plevna. and twice
! were they repulsed with great slaugh
| .er.
| Between Plevna ond Shipka Pass
| ay Lochvt, held by 200 Turks. This
stronghold must fall before both wings
Of the Russian army could close III
| lpon Plevna. Skobeleff was captured.
| md the third attack on Plevna was
| begun. 1t ragged fuliously for five
| lays but ended in another repulse of
the Russians.
| SkobaIen and Kouropatkin fought
side by side during thase bloody days
md were frequently precipitated into
| land-to- hand conflicts with the en-
my. Their most terrible experiences
we're on Sept. II and II. Skobeleff as
;aulted enc Of three Turkish redoubts
III Green Hill and carried it within an
lorr. but with q cost of three thousand
men. The redoubt was imperfectly
constructed. and left Skobeleff exposed
TO fire on three sides. The Turks saw
he opportunity and made Il sortie.
Thereupon Col. Kouropa tkin. the only
,fticer on SkObeeff's staff who had
lot fallen, rushed to meet them in the
,pen with 800 men. 4 desperate fight
t short range enSued. kourpatkin's
title band was almost entirely cut to
pieces, but not until it had driven the
Turks back into their redoubt. During
he day KOurpatkin received three
Wounds, but he never ceased fighting
until the victory was assured.
Such is the man against whom the
Taps will have to contend when the
cal land fighting between the bellig-
arents begins in earnest. \ consum-
nate strategiSt and with determine
ion to meet and overcome every OBJ
he opinion of British military authOr-
les. can be counted upon to contest
very inch of Manchuria against the
Japanese forces.