New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-23
WAR VIEWS OF EXPERTS.
Ticeroy Alerief's Report Read 7cith
Interest portant assignments.
[FRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

Washington, April 22-The complete report OF
Viceroy Alexieff of the conflict which preceded
the destruction of the battleship PetropavlOvsk
has been read with the keenest interest by
United States naval officers. They do not Snd
that it contains anything especially any
thing which had not been already anticipated
from the rneagre newspaper accounts. 1t still
leaves to conjecture the causes of the disaster.
The impressive passage in the report is that de-
voted to an account Of the fight of the destroyer
Strsshni and the subsequent engagement of the
enemy by the Bayan, which was obliged to
Withstand and return the fire of six japanese
cruisers which came up on her starboard side
The sentiment created by the incident is one
of admiration for the quality of persistent cour-
age shown by the Russians in the face of what
seems to have been appreciated defeat 1t Is
taken as indicating the determination of the bat
tie which the Russians propose to wage against
their enemy They evidently intend 10 retreat
when the occasion offers and the opposition re-
quires but they appear to have no such course
as ordinary and discreet surrender in circum-
stances which to justify that self-preserv-
ing proceeding. OF course. there is a difference
of expert opinion the merit of surrender
some officers declaring that 1t contributes TO the
cause to fight il out to the finish and others
holding that when the odds are hopelessly
against it is better to give in and save hu-
man llLe, especially as It's StClitlCt - VI lp
vantage.
Military people here are expressing some
curiosity regarding the policy Of General Kuro-
patkin. who in to-day's dispatches is quoted as
assuming an aggressive spirit. 1t has been ar
gued by some of the experts that 1t would be
Russia's plan TO invite the attack Of the Japan
csc and lure them from their stronghold in
Corea. The skirmishes along the Yalu are not
accounted of much value in the way Of STRAIT
egg for either side at this time.
Important assignments have been made to
duty abroad this week in the detail Of Major
NJ. NJ Macomb. Of the artillery corps. a menu
Der Of the general staff, to succeed Captain q.
c. Galley. also Of the artillery corps, and Lieu
tenant Colonel w s. Schuyler. I'd Cavalry, in
place of Colonel ]. B. Kerr, 18th Cavalry, as
military attaches with the Russian forces
Major MacOmb left Washington on Thursday,
and leaves New-York to-day for Europe. He
Will proceed at once to St. Petersburg and
thence will go to Hardin. Colonel Kerr and Cap
tain Galley. who are on duty in the Philippines,
still the sick list. and could not go to
ManchuTia, much to their regret. 1t has also
been decided TO send Captain T. Bentley Mott.
Of the artillery corps, the efficient American at
tache at Paris. to st. Petersburg for temporary
duty. This assignment does not take him away
from Paris. but gives him the additional duty
at the Russian capital during the period of hos
tilities. The consent Of the Russian government
was obtained Of course, TO the details of the
three officers named before the orders were IS
sued by the War Department.