The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-04-29
TINES EXPERT
ON THE WAR IN THE FAR
EAST
ALExIEFF RESIGNATION
SpecuIations on Gen
kuropatkin's Force.

N0s Ok|UtNuI . W &c.
London. April 2s-Uondon Times)
The Times military expert, discuss
ing the reported resignation of Vice.
roy Alexieff, says It is probable that
the viceroy offered to resign but fail
ed to receive the imperial permission.
The correspondent goes on to say:
"The viceroy appointed with such a
flourish Of trumpets some nine
months ago, has been recently shorn
of the chief part Of his powers and
has lost command of both the army
and the fleet, while the civil admins
tration is still in his foreign territory.
In the Russian military occupation,
the sphere of civil administration es-
capes accurate delimitation, and If
Viceroy Alexieff is not on the best Of
terms with the general commanding
the army In Manchuria, and is, more
over hostile to Admiral Skrydloff, we
can sympathize with his desire to ter
inmate an almost intolerable situa-
tion.
"On the other hand, the czar prob
ably feels that 1t would be a sign of
vacillation IL his lieutenant were re-
called in the hour of stress and such
open acknowledgment of the failure
of the whole policy underlying the
case last July would injuriously af-
feet the prestige of Russia and throw
a stronger light upon the misfortunes
of the first weeks war.
''In view of the epredominance assum-
ed by the land operations, the second
ary role devolving upon the civil ad,
ministration, II is difficult to deny
that the concentration of all the pow
ers in the hands of the general in com
mand, seems to be natural course
dictated by the situation. The alter
native is the departure of the czar
for the seat Of war, to which rumor
continually recurs. The Russian
czars have generally accompanied
presence has often proved Of great ad-
vantage. During the war with Tur-
key in 1S28-29, the reigning czar cross
ed the Danube with his army and was
accompanied by the British ambas-
sador at st. Petersburg, who has left
an interesting account of the events
of that time. The mobilization of the
corps diplomatique at st. Petersburg
in the event of another imperial prog
ress to the seat of war is not perhaps
to be anticipated, and would cause
some CONSERVATION IN that amiable
circle.
But It is not altogether impossible
that the chiefs Of the two states now at
war may encourage the armies In op.
Grafton by their presence at the post
of danger"
''The military correspondent ridi-
cules story of Russian origin that
General Kuropatkin will have half a
million men I'M the field in a few days,
and that the Russian steam roller will
then begin its entirely inevitable pro-
gress.
IT." says the correspondent, I'VE
divide the latest Russian figures by
two and we will remain on the safe
side. SO far as can be ascertained,
General Kuropatkin has not more than
two hundred and fifty thousand men
at his command at the present mo-
ment. From these considerable de-
ductions have to be made before we
arrive at the strength OF the field
army. Not less than thirty thousand
men are at Port Arthur and VAdi-
vostok, thirty thousand more are
the railway and ten thousand
are occupied in other duties on the
line. There is probably ten per cent
of the force in the hospitals and con-
and garrison towns and for
titled points other than those on the
railway absorb another twenty thous-
and. Thus there remain no more than
a hundred and. thirty-five thousand
extent of the territory this army. has
to occupy or cover against the at
tack Of the enemy is great. AS was
In these advices some
weeks ago the Russian field army
might be expected to reach one hun
dred and fifty thousand men by the
middle of May, and there is no sign
that these limits will be exceeded. 1t
will always be possible to bring up
more men If all the horses, wagons and
which are the concomitants
Of a mobile force are omitted, but it
Is useless for Russian purposes to
amass horde Of infantry in Manchu-
ria without transportation facilities,
and tied to the railway.
"As things stand, we are without
Information as to the mobility of the
field army, and some acute observers
on the continent declare that not half
the necessary number of wagons and
animals were assembled when hostil-
A