The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-23
THE HUMBLING OF KUROPATKIN
RUSSIA NOW WAITING FOR THE
FALL or HER GREAT GENERAL.
Thc Grand Dukes Have II In for Him
because He Disciplined the Princeliny
I boris. and the Gar Is Too Weak to
Resist-Rule OF Spite and Intrigue.

Boris, and the Gar Is Too Weak to
Resist-Rule OF Spite and Intrigue.
ST. PETERSBURG, Oct. 9.-In the maze Of
conjecture and contradiction surrounding
the question of the ultimate chief command
of the Russian Army in Manchuria, people
have forgotten to ask themselves why 1t
ever was raised.
Kuropatkin was supposed, month ago,
to be undisputed, in absolute command Of
the land forces-so far as any commander
can be independent, who has to listen over
the telegraph wire to weakling imperial
master in all his changing moods. But
the saving of his army in the withdrawal
to Mukden was counted so capable feat,
even by hostile critics, that the Russians
concluded they had got a man, tested and
proved fit, who could be left to see the
var through. Yet those were the very
days in which the commanding Generals
personal position and authority were being
undermined here. 1t was a revenge OF
the Grand Duke Boris for being practically
drummcd out of Kuropatkin's headquar-
tiers; and, as can lie shown, it is evident
that Boris has been able to strike an effec-
tive blow, though foul one.
When Boris arrived here for the Care
vitch's christening, on the nominal mission
Of bearing the Manchurian army's con-
gratulations on the birth of an heir he
was intrusted with no report to the Car
on the situation nor could he show solitary
new decoration, or step in promotion, His
brother Cyril had received a medal for
valor because he jumped overheard when
the Petropavlovsk sank and saved himself
and he was made full naval Captain.
Boriss personal record was made up of
charges of INSTRUMENTATION, drunkenness
and rioting with low characters.
Kuropatkin did not go out Of his way to
whitewash the young man. who arrived
home in a mood of black, brooding rage.
In the close family ring which is absolute
here, his grievances were listened to with
anger and sympathy Who was this Kuro-
patkin who dared to treat young Imperial
Grand Duke as if he we're of the same stuff
that mere officers were made of?
Boris's father the Grand Duke Vladimir,
who is commander-in-chief of the whole
Russian Army took up his case, and the
whole troop of sycophant Generals OF the
St. Petersburg staff echoed the cry that
Kuropatkin was an ill-tempered, incompe-
tent martinez and that he must be turned
closing that when the Car at the beginning
of the campaign asked his War Minister
to give a list of Generals from whom to
choose a commander-in-chief, Kuropatkin
who was Minister, placed his own name
at the foot Of it.
To most people that may seem patriotic
and dutiful proceeding; but all Boris e
friends have proclaimed 1t criminal egotism
to prevent the selection of a better man.
They suooeeded finally I'm getting the Car
to sign the letter containing Grippenoerg' g
appointment with its deliberate, expressed
detraction of Kuropatkins work and the
limiting of his scope Of authority by the
direction to him. equally with Grippen-
berg, to act in obedience TO the G ,neral-in-
Chief
A word regarding Grippenberg's s, and all
similar appointments of army corps Cen
erals The process is almost the exact
replica of state political caucus in America,
There are candidates and part sans and
bargainings to protect the interests OF
the partisans; then at the eleventh hour
they settle on G. aneral-often a man who
has been very little mentioned His quail
fcation almost invariably is that least Is
known against him. that he has fewest
personal enemies.
In the case Of the second army the stronge It
lacking was for Kaulbars, the CONN ander
of the Odessa district, man of proved
energy: but when 1t came to getting the
nomination ali the hackers of all the other
names. who did not like the masterful
ways Of the Odessa man, united on neutral
tinted candidate and got him the appoint
ment.
~ ~ out fcir ri
satisfactorily in the campaigns Of everyday
roitics; but ass redly it is an astonishing
way to select strategists and tacticians to
lead hundreds Of thousands Of men in n
life and death struggle against skilful,
relentless enemy.
What is foreseen to be the worst for Kuro-
ratkin in this Peterhof intrigue is that his
enemies have succeeded in shaking his
authority when it was better established
than at any time since the war began IL
his next retreat is less successfully effected
or if he suffer serious defeat with loss OF
men and guns. his position as commando
of the Russian forces in Manchuria will
not he worth a months purchase. The
slightly greater latitude allowed to the press
under the new Mi lister of the Interior has
been devoted to asking respectfully that
kuropatHin he left IN cnlet command
As the Gar is at present eager to be popular
and, more important, as his own favorite
candidate for the supreme post his second
cousin, Nicholas Nicholaieyitch. harper {
to be one OF the many people who have
had personal fight with VlaGi.nir, kuro-
rat.in, for the time being, is eft alone
But no one who has watched at close quarters
the ups and downs Of the governing men
in Russia can mistake the significance OF
the letter to Gutenberg and the councils
that led up TO it.
As Witte and mary other once powerful
ministers have learned no man whom this
close bound. INSCRIPTIONS coterie has once
shaken in his position can stand there fol
long They may make It intolerable by
molesting him with daily instructions
telegraphed from st. Petersburg to act
contrary 10 his own Judgment, or they
may manage only to superscde him In
the chief command; whichever 1t he. they
know that the Car has bowed under Their
pressure once again and that man who
has affrontcd one Of their number is marked