New-York tribune., 1904-09-18
CONDEMNED TO BE SHOT.
Reported Fate of Russian Prince
Recalls Other Courts Martial

dsobedience in returning to the doomed strong
hold. it is extremely probable that the story is
true and that he has already suffered death.
probably on the quarterback of his own flagship,
for his failure to comply with the peremptory
instructions which he had received Disregard
OF commands is extremely serious fault on
the part of naval and military men, even In
times Of peace since II tends to impair that
fundamental principle Of discipline without
which no army fleet is of any material value.
But in dsobedience becomes a capital Of
fence since the neglect to execute directions Is
calculated to result, not only in great loss OF
Iife but in defeats that bring shame and disaster
upon the nation to which the insubOrdinate off,
Ger or private belongs In fact. disobediencs
may be classed with treachery and with coward
ice in the Importance OF its Nervousness In war
and while, OF course. II Is less shameful than
either OF the two other offences. yet 1t Is calcu-
lated to prove more disastrous In its Interior
effect
If Prince ouktomsly has really been shot
Port Arthur II Will merely go show
more that in all countries the standard OF dis
ciplIne IS higher In the navy than in the army.
The Muscovite generaIissino. Kuropatk1n. has
repeatedly complained since the beginning Of the
present campaign that his plans have been frus-
trated by the failure Of the divisional and
brigade commanders OF his army carry out
his Instructions In fact II Is known. not mere
y from his own complaints. but from other and
more independent sources as well that he has
been sadly hampered In all bis operations by
his being unable to depend the implicit obedi-
ence OF his subordinate generaIs General Sas-
sultch and General Stakelberg having been
among the chief offenders In this respect They
used their own Judgment about the ruIhlment
| OF the orders which they received from KurO-
patkin. and thus the latte's projects have been
repeatedly set at naught Yet We have heard OF
no general being punished for INSTRUMENTATION,
any more than English held officers were court
martalled for refusal to obey Instructions IN the
war In South Africa while even IN the German
army where the discipline Is so strict neglect
ca The part OF commanders to carry out direc-
fio2s In the war OF 1870 merely resulted In their
being superseded
In the navy II Is different The Gar. knowing
rnai Port Arthur In spite OF It's heroic defence.
xas destined 70 caI had issued an imperative
, order. communicated through Admiral wIttsoeft,
to the effect thai al the ships In the harbor
should go forth. run the ganlet Of the block
ading deet. and endeavOr 70 cut their way
through safety. but under circumstances
whatsoever to return In spite Of these d,rec-
lions. the prince steamed back into port with his
ships rather than engage the superior force OF
the enemy. being Of the opinion that II would %
preferable 70 blow up his remaining vessels II
the harbor Just prior 20 the cau OF the fortress
and 70 participate In its inevitable surrender
rather than 70 face the danger OF being sunk by
Admiral Togo That he might possibly have
escaped had he obeyed orders is shown by the
fact that some OF the cruisers IN Port Arthur
dId manage TO elude the japanese fleet and 20
get away. Under the circumstances the princes
conduct may well be regarded merttng severe
punishment since Il constitutes the only sombre
| note and discreditable feature Of OF the most
brilliant defences in military and naval history.
In order to find any parallel for the case OF
this Russian prince II Is necessary 70 go back 20
the eighteenth century. when the British al
miraL the Hon George Byng. son OF Lord Tor
rtngton. received peremptory orders to relieve
Mlnorca, which being besieged by the
French feet. The squadron cOnfded to him for
the execution OF this mission had been sent TO
sea poorly and inadequately manned and armed,
while the stormy weather which IL encountered
In the Bay OF Biscay reduced Il to such cOndi-
ton that the admiral reaching the Mediter-
ranean decided that 1t was hopeless to dream OF
engaging the powerful French naval force of
AInorca- The latter shortly afterward surren-
dered to the French and In Difference to popular
cIamOr Admiral Byng was brought home under
arrest on his own flagship and tried by court
martial at Portsmouth The court which was
composed OF flag officers acquitted him OF the
charges Of cowardIce which had been brought
against him, but issued verdict to the effect