The San Francisco call., 1904-09-26
GRAND DUKE TO COMMAND.
Nicholas MichaeIOvitch Probably Will
Direct the Russian Armies.

Direct the Russian Armies.
ST. PETERSBURG, Sept. 26.-The
Second Army. which General Grippen-
berg viii command. is now being
mobilized for immediate dispatch to
the Far East The Emperor is person.
ally convinced that the political as
well as the military prestige of the
empire is At stake and that every
other consideration must give way be-
fore the exigencies Of war. The re-
sources of the empire in men and
money must be drained, if necessary.
IN order 10 turn the scale and vindi-
cate the power Of Russia The reor-
ganization amounts TO formal notice
10 the world, as the Emperor frankly
explains In his rescript, that he in
tends 10 vastly increase the number Of
troops at the theater of war, in
order 10 force the struggle TO a sue
Cessful issue in the shortest possible
time II is intended to silence def
initely all talk Of foreign Intervention
10y The announcement that Russia
means TO night out the issue with ia
q pan on the field Of battle.
Probably 100000 additional men
viii be placed in the field. Five
corps-the Third. Fourth, Fifth.
Eighth and Sixteenth-are already
destined for the front, and the talk
is that five more corps viii be sent
, forward.
Eventually the creation of this sec
ODd army involves the selection Of
COmmander-in-chief. Not only is there
10 intimation i'm the rescript that Cen
eral kuropatkin viii have command
Of both armies, but he is distinctly
placed upon the same footing as Cen
eral Grippenberg. In the best in
formed circles there is little idea that
NlcerOy Alexieh, the present nominal
cOmmander-in-chief. viii exercise the
actual functions Of commander of the
100000 or 100000 men that Russia
has resolved 70 put in the field.
II is the best opinion that Grand
Duke Nicholas Alichaeiovitch, inspec-
tor general Of cavalry, will attain the
high command, occupying in the war
with Japan the position held by his
father in the war with Turkey
There are various reports regarding
Niceroy Alexieff's ultimate destiny. 1t
is declared in some quarters that he
VIII be recalled and Grand Duke Mich
olas become Viceroy as well as com
q mander in chief II is also said upon
apparent equal authority that Alexieff
VIII return as Chancellor of the En-
pire, succeeding Count Lamsdorff.
None Of these reports are definitely
confirmed.
Grand Duke Nicholas is still young
man-not yet 45-with much Of his
fathers dash, energy and resolution.
There is reason 10 believe that. even
with the memory Of the horrors Of the
Shipka winter campaign against the
Turks. Of which he was the witness as
a young captain Of cavalry, he would
favor winter campaign against the
japanese.
The dispatch Of the Grand Duke as
commander Of both armies would ac-
cord with the traditions of the Roman
on dynasty, a member of which I'm
perial family has always been in com
mand in all OF Russia's great wars
IL is agreed by the ablest military
men here that, should Nicholas be ap-
pointed. despite the fact that his ex-
perience has been as a cavalry COM
mander. the selection of his chief of
stan viii become a matter OF supreme
Importance. A counselor with wide
actual experience in general command
win become an imperative necessity.
Generals Dragomiroff. Vorentzoff and
SOugarefsky, veterans and heroes OF
the Turkish war, are mentioned for the
post.
General Grippenberg will leave for
the front the middle Of October It is
now evident that General Linevitch will