The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1905-03-18
DISMISSED IN DISGRACE
GENERAL kUROPATKIN'S DEGREE
CATlON PUBLICLY GAZETTED
AT ST. PETERSBURG.
l'AEWTCH NAMED TO SUCCEED HIM
TASK OF NEW COMMANDER-lN
CHIEF OF RUSSIAN FORCES
A DESPERATE ONE.

st. Petersburg, March 1S.-With
the Japanese hanging on the heels and
fianks of the remnants of the broken,
defeated Russian army, General Kuro-
patlxin, the old idol of the private sol
dier, has been dismissed and disgraced
and General Iinevitch, commander OF
the First army, is appointed to sue
ceed him In command of all the RUS
sian land and sea forces operating
against Japan. The word disgrace is
written in large letters in the laconic
imperial order gazetted, which con-
tains not single word of praise, ana
also disposes of the rumor that kuro-
patkin had asked to be relleVeo. Inc
Russian military annals contain no
more bitter imperial rebuke. Whiie
IT was known that the war council hau
already decided to supplant huropaE
kin after the Mukden disaster the ae-
cision to confer the task of saving the
remainder of the army on LlneVltch
in the very midst of its flight although
bruited the previous night, came as
snrprise. 1t transpires that emperor
Nicholas, upon the advice OF ueheia'
Dragomiroff and War Minister SAX
harof1, determined that the step was
necessary when it became apparent
that Kuropatkin, while concentrating
for a stand at Tie pass, seemed uh
aware that the Japanese had "ofheu
around westward again and practicaiis
Allowed Himself to Be Surprised.
Old reports brought by General Grip
enberg regarding Kuropatkin's falilhs
mentality also had influence. ohuei
the circumstances, therefore, II was
considered imperative, In view Oh lhe
exceedingly perilous position OF the
army, to turn over its command "
Iineyitch. who alone had been aple
to bring off his army in order after the
battle of Mukden. His record During
the Chinese war had also demon
strated his capacity as a commander
Kuropatkin will return to 81. felers
burg forthwith. , :,
The task confided TO LlneVllch VI
Withdrawing what is left OF the grea'
army of $4,000 men to Harbln Is
desnerate one. He is hemmed In OF
nil sides. General Kawamura presun
ably is pressing northward thfousi
the mountains eastward ready
swoop down, Generals Nogi ana ok
are on the west of the Russian forces
the whole line of the railroad is threat
ened If not already cut and Chimes
bandits are even reported to be In IN
rear of Harbin. A consummatlon Q
the Mukden disaster is feared. Nt
poleon's plight in the retreat 1roi
Moscow, with Kutusoff's Cossacks hal
RAISING the starving, freezing Frencf
men, was hardly as bad or dangerous
Nothing further has arrived froi
the front, but it is feared that IN
decimated battalions which had mare
lv recovered from the demorailzatlo
of the Mukden retreat have again pee
thrown into confusion by Field Ma
shat Oyama's
Relentless, Merciless Pursuit.
The war Office greatly fears that MOI
of the siege and field guns when n
ropatkin managed to save at Muhus
have been sacrificed In the hurris
fight from Tie pass. The question
ammunition and food is also vital,
ii is known that the Russians we
compelled to burn further stores
Tie pass, where the commissariat w
only beginning to feed the hail la
ished troops when the new retreat W
ordered. >,
But even in the face of the possin
ity of the complete loss OF the arr
and the admitted fact that Viadivost
Ia already possibly lost the empe'
still shows no signs Of yieldinS. Pr'