Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-26

division entered Bulgaria and Occupied
the town of Sophia. He gave stricr
orders that there was to be no looting
under penalty of death, as the
Bulgarians were allies of the Russians
and it would be bad policy to antagon-
ize them. LOOting had been winked
at in Turkish territory, and one I'M
fortunate Cossack did not appreciate
the force of the change Of policy. He
wanted chicken, and he took it. as
he had been accustomed to do. He was
brought before Dragomiroff, who
ordered drum-head court-martinl
and had him hanged inside Of half an
hour.
The Cossack officers were furious.
They protested that the enemy and the
enemy's property had been reckoned
fair game by them from the earliest
times when they fought under the Rus
sian flag, and that. in any case. the
theft of a chicken was n trivial offense.
"That is So" replied Dragomiroff.
II don't care if the men steal all the
chickens in Bulgaria, provided they
have my leave to do so. But disobedi
ence of my orders at the present time
is a capital offenSe, and you had bet
ter let your men understand that"
They did understand it, and there
was no more lOoting.
Although he is a stern disciplinarian
General Dragomiroff is very popular with
the rank and life of the Russian army be-
cause ne looks personally after their COM
tort. will never allow them to be unjustlv
oppressed 10y their officers, and bears the
reputation Of never having thrown away
mans life nepuItSSly in M nf
Then, too. he has, in Il marked degree
that genial. familiar manner toward the
enlisted men which is characteristic OF
most prominent officers in Il country
where grand duke will call Il common
soldier little BROTHER" and offer him a
nip Of vodka from his flask
\ story is told of Dragomiroff which H.
illustrates this familiarity. and also gives
Il good idea of the endurance of the
Russian soldier.
When marching one morning, in mid
winter, to attack the Turks in force near
the Shipka Pass, his division was halted
by broad river. which was only COW
crossed by fordinS. As the men had to
march and fight all day in the snow it
was important that they should not get
their clothes wet; and Dr;,somrOff ac-
cordingly ordered them to strip and wade
naked beneath the icy river, carrying
their clothing on their heads. One of the
stan officers found II small boat tied To
the river bank ana wanted him to take it,
but he refused to do So. and ordered that
ii he used for the wounded men, while he
crossed in the same condition as the rest
of the division.
The men joked and laughed about the
experience although they were entitled to
the bone by the cutting wind as they put
ON their clothes upon the opposite bank
After the division had reformed, the gen
er;u rode up to them and said:
We'll. little brothers, how do you feel
Very well, thank you. your hghness.'
they replie.i-that title being usually ap-
piled by Russian troops to general Of
We didn't burn our feet coming over,
No, in deed your highness." they grin
ned. And no doubt they fought much bet
ter that day than they would hav, dome
il he had simply given the order to march
instead of waiting moment to joke with
them.
a few years ago, Dragomroff had occa-
sion as governor of I\ieif, to inspect an in
fantry battalion. Riding down the line
liinieS abusing Il sergeant for not acting
snartly as Il marker" lie was calling
him dog, pig ana all the other I'M
, pleasant names which Russian officers are
lar too apt to apply to their men when
| they lose their tempers.
Drasomirotf refined up his horse in front
Tor two minutes. calling him everything
he had called the sergeant and great
deal more besides, in the hearing of his
company.
The captain listened quietly for n while,
too amazed to speak, and then drew the
general aside and protested that he ought
not to speak to him in that manner before
his men as it would destroy his authority
| over them.
You should have thought of that he
| fore YOU abused the sergeant said the
general Il am only giving you a dose Of
the medicine you gave him. You were
doing your best TO destroy the discipline
| Of your own company, Tor he has Ia
WELD authority III it as well as you. Now
you will perhaps understand how he must
have felt"
| 1t is said that General Dragomiroff.
| when summoned to st. Petersburg by the
| car and ordered to state his views re-
SardnS the campaign in the far east
| 1ound fault with the entire scheme of
| operations, and criticised most searching
! ~ all the naval ana military dispositions
| lie even dared according to the rumorS in
| court circles in st. Petersburg, to argue
| with the car himself in the war council
and convince him that some of his treas
] regarding the conduct OF the war were
! entirely wrong. This is the more credible
because Nicholas III. when holding subor-
| dinatc rank as czarevitCh m the famous
| PrcobraJcnSky regiment. was under the
command of General Dragomirof. who
| largely supervised his military education
Nv ashinston Star.