The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-20

AnnenkOI is one Ol ShODelelL . lIleIi,
like Kouropatkin. No general is
thought much of in the Russian army
unless he is able to say. I was with
Skobeleff at Plevna, or Il fought in
Turkestan under Skobelef. There Is
hardly a single prominent general in
the service who is not one OF Skobe- f"
leff's men.
That great commander showed I'M
erring judgment in picking his sub
ordinates. The unknown subalterns
whom he chose for his staff officers
and the captains and colonies to whom
he entrusted the command of small
armies have since become, almost
without exception, famous generals.
Michael AnnenkOf was born In
1888, and received his first commission
in the Russian army in 1868. He is
an older veteran than Kouropatkin,
for he served as staff captain during
the Polish Instruction, and rose to
the rank of colonel at the remarkably
early age of %.
He was with the Germans during
the Franco-Prussian war as Russian
alta che, and acted as one Of Skobelef's
chief staff officers in the Merv cam
paign.
General Annenkoff has played
leading part in the intrigues against
England on the Indian frontier, and IS
credited with having at@least fifty
SDoclllC SCnenlSS LII CollHoSA1ll6 tiAAieI
pigeonholed in his desk.
IT question whether there is a sim
gle British officer who has such a
good collection of English and foreign
books on India as I have pulled about
in the library of General Annenkoff,'
said an Englishman who became
friendly with him while travelling in
Central Asia.
Another well-known Russian sol
der is General Obrubcheff. He is the
hero of hundred desperate fights IN
the successive Central Asian cam
paigns, and enjoys a greater reputation
Cor personal courage than PROBABLY
any other Russian general.
During the siege of Cock Tepe OBJ
rubcheff was sent out by Skobeleff one
night to reconnoitre the position of the
enemy. He refused to take any SOL
7iers with him, as the other ofhcers
detailed for that duty used to do, put
went alone disguised in Turkoman cos
tune. He penetrated to one Of the
camp fires of the Turkomans, under
meath the walls of the fortress, and
sat down and calmly ate supper with
them, introducing himself as man
from another branch of the tribe who
had been separated from his COM
radeS.
From the talk around the camp fire
he learned all he wanted to know, and
he was about to retire unobtrusively,
when a Turkoman who had known
him as a Russian officer +before the
war. strolled up to the camp hre ana
recognized him.
Almost before the Turkoman could
denounce him Obrubcheff sprang to
his feet. drew his sword, rushed to the
nearest horse and cut it loose from
| it's heel rope. Several Turkomans
rushed up, but he cut his way thru
them and was swallowed up In the
darkness before most of them realized
| what was happening.
General Bobrikoff, governor general
of Finland, is another of Skobelens
men. He is an able commander put
he has a reputation for extreme harsh-
ness, and even cruelty. His recent ad-
ministration or flnlaru has .;I ~
| helied that reputation. He Is credited
with great influence in the council of
state and the committee of ministers.
the two bodies which formulate and
! execute Russian policy. He is warm
friend and ally Of his old comrade,
General Kouropatkin.s
The cars uncle, the Grand Duke
/ Michael. may be regarded as the Mes
! tor of the Russian army. He played
a leading part In the Russo-Turk1sh
war. commanding the Army OF the
Caucasus. He is now u, and is not
! likely to take the field again. But he
will certainly help to form Russia
/ man of campaign He has been a
Soldier for over fifty years, and his
military talents are held in high
esteem by Russian officers. He would
| have been "a greater general. one OF
/ them declared the other day, If he
/ had not had the misfortune to be born
| a grand duke.
/ This. veteran prince should not be
/ coniounded with the younger Grand
Duke Michael, the cars brother, md
heir to the Russian throne. The elder
i of thestwo Michaels is now presidents
1 Of the committee Of ministers.
JUST so.
l ~ Puck.
ssOnce-.s slowly said honest Farmer Horn
beak. in.the midst of the Sit and Argue club,
i assembled in the corner grocery.
1 ..Once-what: snapped Hi Spry. a bit irr
4 tated by the old mans deliberate way.
s Inl frcf Eor hor