Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-28

to avoid the Tekke bands with which
the desert swarmed. he joined head
quarters on December %. Well might
Skobeleff say: 'Kouropatkin is the only
man capable of performing SO danger
Gus a mission 1t was under his lead
ership that the southern column forced
the intrenchment of -Yangi Kaka on
January p, 1881, and he headed one of
the columns in the famous assault and
capture of Geek Teppe on January "a.
After a period of service on the staff
at ST. Petersburg. during which he was
entrusted with schemes of mobilization
and defense of the western frontier of
Russia ne became Governor and Com
mander-in-C Chief of TranscasDia when it
was made a government in 1890. In this
post he showed great capacity as a civil
administrator. and obtained a reputation
for firmness and sympathy. as well as
for thorough knowledge of the native
character. and he remained there till he
became Minister of War.
General kouropatkin has thus been
trained in many schools. He is a master
of the science of war on it's theoretical
perience in the field. He has conducted
diplomatic missions, and has made the
military politics of Asia his specially.
His opinions are therefore OF the utmost
value, and the expression he gave of
them in an address at Askabad on No
vember 25. 1897. in a speech to a party of
English tourists. was remarkably frank.
He laid special stress on the fact that
since the introduction of railways and
telegraphS Central Asia had been com
pletely within the control of the central
Government. so that whatever happens
there now is proceeding authorized by
the Car. The days when General could
take city and then report the fact to his
imperial master are over. The policy OF
the Governor General at TaShkent now is
directed from St Petersburg, and that
policy, according to General kouropat kin.
1.-The principles which govern the
policy of Russia, he said. are very simple.
They are the maintenance of peace. of
order and of prosperity in all classes of
the Dopula ton. On this account the
hasty annexation of new territory is dis
couraged. because of the responsibilities
ii involves. for the inhabitants of the
CONQUERED lands become Russian sub
iects. children of the Gar and are in
vested with every privilege enjoyed by
citizens OF the empire The utterancc is
the more noteworthy because it is coupled
with an explicit declaration that the
policy of the local Governor in Central
Asia is the policy of ST. Petersburg. With
ont this il might have passed for mere
expressicr of the principles which have
governed the line OF action of kOurCpat-
kin himself and of his master. General
SkObeleff.
ION this point Skobeleff spoke even
more emphatically, and cOntrasted the
action of Russia in this respect with thai
VI h'iN III III a tioS
to his troops after the victory at Cock
Tempe he said: a new era has opened
for the Tekkes-an era or ennality and of
guaranteed possession of property for
all without distinction. Our Central Asian
policy recognizes TO DariahS Herein lies
our superiority over the English In sup
port of his statement that Russia's policy
made for peace General Kourapatkin adj
duced the orderly condition Of Central
Asia. the growing attachment shown by
the inhabitants to their. new rulers and
the steady increase of wealth. The
ira ding classes are now the stanchest
supporters of our authority. next the cul-
tivators. lastly the women"