Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1905-05-24
RUSSIAN WAR BODY
Establishment Of a permanent Council
Of Direction
CAR TAXES IMPORTANT STEP.
Existing Counsel Of War Has Proved
Unsatisfactory and Will Be Super
seded by New Body, with Grand
Duke Nicholas AIphabetovitch at Its
Head.

st. Petersburg, By Cable.-The first
step towards the institution of the
long contemplated council of national
defense, to coordinate the activities
Of the military and naval administra-
tions, has been taken in an imperial
manifesto creating special prelimin-
ary commission under the presidency
of Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholaie-
witch.
The manifesto is preceded by a re-
script which Emperor Nicholas has
addressed to the Grand Duke, in which
his majesty says:
"In order to insure the development
of the empires fighting force in a
manner corresponding to the needs
and resources of the State. and uni
formity in the duties of the Supreme
naval and military administration, and
also to harmonic them with those Of
other government institutions in ques-
tions affecting the safety of the state,
have deemed it necessary to estab-
lish permanent State Defense Coun-
Gil. I charge the special commission,
consisting Of members appointed by
me under the presidency of your i'm
perial highness, to draw up according
to my direct suggestion law relating
to this institution"
The rescript concludes with the ex-
preston of the conviction that the
commission will carry out the task
confded to it without delay, and with
the care and undivided attention
which the high Importance of the new
institution demands.
The formation of the council and
the assumption by it of contrc. of the
war is expected to .ensue shortly, as
the main details have already been
worked out. The dispatch of Grand
Duke Nicholas Nicholaievitch, who is
designated as the president of the per
manent State Defense Council, to Man
churia, to assume direct command of
the imperial forces there, has been
several times seriously considered,
and he has served repeatedly of late
as representative of the Emperor on
commissions dealing with vital ques-
tions of the war.
The existing council Of war. which
has proved unsatisfactory, will be SUI
perseded by the new body. The step
is an extremely important one, for
which the events Of the war in the
Far East have shown the necessity,
the two departments failing to work
together to the best advantage, even
when actuated by the most harmoni-
Gus feelings and friction has often
been manifested. Many opportunities
for helpful cooperation between the
two arms of the service are constantly
arising, and if Admiral Rojestvensky
succeeds in reaching Vladivostock and
shaking the Japanese mastery of the
sea. the council will play very
weighty role. At the same time the
council is created, not for the present
war, but as a permanent organiza-
ton of the state, subordinating the
War and Navy Departments, and even
overshadowing the other ministries.
# is understood the formation of
the new council means the definite
abandonment Of the plan of sending
Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholaievitch
to the Far East to assume supreme
command on land and sea. General
Linevitch and Vice Admiral Birelieff
will be left unhampered except as to
the grand outlines of strategy.