Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-04
KUR0PATKIN IN GLOOM
REPORTED HE IS DISCOURAGED
AND WANTS TO RESIGN.

Special Dispatch TO The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, February A cablegram
from Paris says: St. Petersburg dis
patches declare that General Kuropatkin
is discouraged and wishes to resign his
command of the Russian army in the far
east His discoura cement is said to be due
TO the fact that his relations with generals
under him are not pleasant. 1t is reported
that General Linevietch will succeed him
If he resigns.
Rumors Current in ST. Petersburg.
ST. PETERSBURG, February 4, pm-
Rumors of General Kuropatkin handing
over his command to General Linevitch
Commander of the first army have been
current in st. Petersburg since the an
nouncemeut that General Gripenberg had
been relieved Of his command of the second
army The Associated Press is unable TO
obtain any confirmation of the reports and
the war Office declares they are improbable,
but is unable 10 deny them.
distinguished general told the Asso-
ciated Press that evidently there had been
friction between General Kuropatkiu and
General Gripenberg, and added:
Il have heard great deal of talk about
kuropdtkin's asking to be relieved. but
nothing positive can be said on the subject
at present"
There are two conflicting versions of the
incident According to one of them Cen
eral Gripenberg complained TO the emperor
that General kuropatkin had refused to
support his thanking movement in view of
which Grpenberg asked to be relieved The
emperor ii is added, then telegraphed to
Kuropatkin asking for an explanation. in
reply TO which Kuropatkin wired that his
health was shattered and requested permis
sion 10 turn over his command to General
IineVitch.
n Il
monty credited version of the affair Kuro
patkin complained to the emperor that
Gripenberg undertook the thanking move
hehI w dShance OF orders and demanded
The generals dismissal.
The hope Is generally expressed that the
incident Will be satisfactorily adjusted. as
II Is realized ON all sides that Kuropa tkin' 8
departure from the front would prove a
severe blow 70 hopes of victory in the near
future. '
GripoHbere's withdrawal has not changed
Ihe situation The Russians continue TO
Mold their positions around Sandepas
An Opinion of Kuropatkin.
BERLIN. February 4.-Col. Gaedke for
the first time since his return from the far
east where he was war correspondent for
the TaEehlatt, writes his opinion of Gen.
KuropatkiE.
Although a through and through honor
able man, benevolent. personally brave. ad-
al 1itG NtAitL OI MS WORK room. SIM
pie IN his last, and excellent administrat ton.
kuropatkn lacks Col. Ciaedke SAYS ''that
glance that penetrates the darkness of a
situation, quick decision, immediate CORE
htlon or means. and before all the unsvm-
pathetic VIII that alone triumphs I'm war.
that without compassion uses the bodies
and souls of his men in taking their last
and best 10 compass victory.
such men as Kuropatkin are not few In
the Russian army and their qualities at.
tach the soldier to.his flag, but they do not
win victories Kuropatkin at Liaoyans
burdencd his mind with placing individual
regiments, bdttalions and batteries an6
lost thereby the conception of the whole"
Col G3cGkC regards kurOpatkin as over
cautious and concludes:
No leader is so bad as he who will moi
take a risk
Charges of Mistreatment Denied.
TOKYO, February 4-The war depart.
ment today issued an extended statement
denying the charges OF mistreatment con.
tained in letters from alleged survivors OF
the Russian armored cruiser Rurik. sunk
by the japanese in the strait Of Korea in
August last. which letters are said to have
heen smugglcd out of Japan in bamboo
canes.
The department denies that any prsone,
has been struck, declares the Russian
wounded receive the same treatment a:
the japanese, and asserts that the foot
or the prisoners is more expensive ther
the japanese soldiers fare. The depart
ment adds that the prisoners are being
treated IN accordance with the most strict
1y humane and traditional usage and say,