The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-01-08

ALExEieFE
The Cars Mild hammered Autoerat o.
Manahuria.

M Manohuria.
London Mail: A pleasing personality.
with nothing in his appearance to strike
terror to the world. Is the man who holds
| the keys Of peace and war in the far east
today. Admiral Alexeien, q man whom
the car has many times been pleased to
honor. 10 still young enough to look for
word to great c%onquests. yet Just old
enough to impress US as a kindly. middle
aged man. with a patriarchal beard,
whose delight L. to dandle q child on his
knee.
He 10 the first Russian viceroy in the
far east, the man upon whom Nicholas
II. has imposed the momentous task Of
building up q new empire. Just what part
on the great chessboard OF Asia nobody
Outside the cars empire knows. He has
been In his time governor general of East
ern Siberia n governor Of Russian Man
churia; and he 10 today commander-in-
chief OF the Russian forces In the Pacific.
land. for Alsxeieff has power over The
forces on land and on sea.
II he has played his part in the strange
developments which have brought Russia
face to face with Japan. Alexeieft has
contributed his share also to the strength
OF the Russian navy. Time was when the
c5&rs navy was commanded and ofhcered
by Enslishmen. when the sea power Of
Russia was not such q thing as appalled,
Ito enemies. But Il 10 different now, and
Hussia's neet stands third among the ma
vies OF Europe. With ports 5000 miles
apart, Russia has a naval position which
Sir George Clarke declares absolutely
unique" and Its new sea power is due not
a little to tho foresight and skill Of its
greatest sailor.
So lately as 1900 Alexeien wa side by
slde with the forces Of Japan, against
which he may soon be engaged in war.
He was In charge Of the Russian troops in
China, and had under him when war be-
gda more troops than all the other pow
ers together. except Japan. The story is
TOLD that the Russian band played the
French "Marseillaise" as it marched Into
Peking and that It was only after some
minutes OF acutest agony that the general
was able to stop the army Of the autocrat
sounding the republican march. But 1t
was the simplest blunder and should not
% taken as in the least suggesting lack
OF discipline. Where Alexeieff rules, there
the soldier knows that obedience 10 the
only virtue in the world.
II Alexeien IL not the salve of a strict
eonvention-and we know that his soldiers
brellas-he knows how to At in freedom
with efficiency. It was he probably of
whom 9 traveller was thinking when he
wrote home that II have seen high Rus
sian Officers Joke and laugh with their
soldiers as II they had been chums." Yet
the same traveller wrote that on the try
Ing march to Picking. where soldiers Of
all other n~ationalities collapsed in hun
dreds along the road from sunstroke or
~dysentery, or oppressed by the great heat,
I never ray a single Russian fall out Of
the ranks" When the allies left China
the car sent Alexeieft a sword shining
with gold and diamonds and inscribed:
For victories at the seat OF war in Pc
chill, 1907
Since then the emperor has made him
lord OF Russia's far eastern empire, with
powers almost absolute under the czar
himself ana q special committee. The
admiral has become, as a Russian paper
said, the instrument Of the will and pur-
pose OF the car, and tina in the terri
tories where Russia's movements cause
the greatest uneasiness to the rest of the
world.
It is said thai when he frst received his
nag Alexeien had a consuming passion
for Russian bridge" and was the best
player on the Pacific station. Blu he has
no time for bridge today, especially if Il IL
correct that the car has telegraphed to
him that II give you full power to main
tain. II necessary. the prestige of Russia
by force Of arms" We shall hear more
OF Admiral Alexeien II that is true,