Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-23

OF a great statesman as we'll as those or a
great general His political influence was
becoming positively embarrass to the
cars ministers when he died. Kouropat-
kin has never sought to form party in
RuSSia-he is quite content to be great
general. and nothing more.
This Judgment was pronounced away
back in 1885. 1t does not hold good dotay.
General kouropatlsn is now the unehal-
lenged head of the party in Russia.
He believes in pushing Russian troops to
the uttermost ends OF Asia. In the move
mentS toward the Indian frontiers, which
have alarmed England in recent years; in
the absorption of Manchuria, and in the
threatened attacks on Korea. his hand is
plainly to be seen by anyone familiar with
Russian politics.
Before becoming minister of war Kour-
opatkin commanded the Russian army. He
would probably command it again in the
field in any campaign that amounted to
national emergency. for he is unquestion-
ably Russia 5 greatest general He is the
idol of the army. for Skobeleff is a name
to conjure with in the Russian service, and
he was Skobeleffs right-hand man in four
campaigns-the Russo-Turkish war the
khiVan expedition and the KhokandeSe
and Merry campaigns.
General Annenkoff.
One of Kouropatkin's strongest support
ers today is the same General Annenkoff
who admired his march through the desert
to join Skobeleff before Cock Tere General
Annenkoff made great reputation by
building strategic railways in central Asia.
and his was the vast scheme for a trans
Siberian line to the Pacific. He first out
lined that plan in detail during a visit to
Paris in 1891. Many socalled practical
mem laughed at him then, but his ideas
have since produced the greatest railroad in
the world. at an admitted cost of $4,000, 900,
and perhaps a great deal more.
Annenkoff is one of ''Skobeleff's men,"
nVTr ENr..lf FIT, t. ~
much of In the Russian army unless he is
able to say. Il was with SkobelefY at Plev-
na," or. Il fought in Turkestan under Sko-
belief There is hardly a single prominent
general in the service who is not one of
''Skobefeh's men,. That great commander
showed unerring judgment In picking his
Subordina ties. The unknown SubalternS
whom he chose for his staff officers and the
captains ard colonies to whom he intrusted
the command of small armies have since
become, almost without an exception, ia
nous generals.
Michael AnnenkoT was born in 1893. and
received his first commission in the Russian
army in 1858. He Is older veteran than
kouropatkin, for he served as a staff cap
tain during the Polish instruction and
rose to the rank of colonel at the remark
ably early age of twenty-eight. He was
with the Germans during the Franco-Prns-
sian war as Russian attache, and acted
one of Skobeleffs chief of staff officers in
the Merry campaign.
Gen. Annenkoff has played leading part
in the intrigues against England on the In
dian frontier and is credited with having at
least fifty specific schemes for conquering
India pigeon-holed in his desk
Il question whether there is single Brit
ish officer who has such good collection of
English and foreign hooks on India as I
have pulled about in the library of Gen.
Annenkoff. said an Englishman who be-
came friendly with him while travelling in
central Asia.
General Obrubcheff.
Another well-known Russian soldier, who
might be expected to play a leading part
in time of war. is Gen. Obrubcheff. He is
the hero of a hundred desperate fights in
the successive central Asian campaigns,
and enjoys a greater reputation for per-
sonal courage than probably any other Rus
sian general
During the siege of Cock Tepe Obrubchef