The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-14
CHARLES e. MATTHEWS,
RUSSIAN GENERALS WEAK.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES OUTLOOK
HOPELESS, SAYS "RUSS."

Wv
HIS Task 10 Terribly Dimcult-kus'
patkin Mover Fitted Tor Commander.
-stsckelbers Physicaily weak.
ST. PErIRsBURo, July 2s.-The Russ, In
reviewing the military outlook. finds that
Russia's prospects offer no hope anywhere
because, as 1t says, however many army
corps she may place In the field nothing
apparently can be done to make good the
incapacity In generalship In q series OF
critical sketches Of the prominent Russian
commanders it expresses sympathy for
Kuropatkin. To school himself In the
lessons OF SkobelofY and to win popularity
as Q war minister he had sacrificed health,
happines Q and career At the crisis he
proved to be not master Of Skobeloh's
natural gifts and decision OF mind, but
remained always an excellent chief OF stan,
whose tragedy was to have been made
commander In chief. Linievitch, says the
writer, has field experience. freedom from
the habit Of academic routine, deep knowl-
edge OF the Russian soldier and right
understanding Of the enemy, the talent for
choosing good assistants, physical wiri-
ness and ounning-all these things making
q favorable portrait Of q General.
But concludes his critic. his army is I'm
instrument with broken chords. his task
10 difficult, terribly diff1oult. and may Ru ssia
not forget that.
The article describes Gen. .Grippenberg
a great enigma. At Sandepu on Jan.
ons fSs order ne to Tin
which hs did against his VIII. and in 90 doing
lost faith In himself. He Ia . Swede. an
upright. honorable Swede. 1t was hard
for BIN 70 carry out that order and he r.
turned from the oemp.isn. Even Y . his
hk energy and strength OF will. Gems.
Kaulben and Bilderling have shown no
special desire TO undertake advances, but
have FASTENED rather to make retreat more
OF The various corps commanders under
Baron Stakelberg. after the battle OF
Wa-fan gou and the unsuocessful attempt
Of his turning column At the Sha-ho, had
not the best renown. Even on his personal
courage doubts were expressed but but a s :.
calm and brave. But he has no love for
the Russian soldier. y siokly. physically
weak and nervous. Many things he could
not do. because his soldiers neither loved
him or believed In him. 80 He b sybar-
even a COW to b MIXED specially for him.
At Da -tchi- tchas he led exoellently, was
under fire all the time, and bis relations with
his men improved. He did the same at
Liaoyang UP to the retreat"
Il 10 Hight to say Of Gen. Stakelberg that
the foreign military attaches and other
competent observers who saw the land
campaign do not share the, view Of
the Russ. Most Of them hold that he was
the most scientific General-probsbly the
only sound one as judged BY European
test-on tho Russian side In MAnchuria.
They agreed that he was handicapped by
chronic i'll health and q temperament
that had nothing In common with the
Russian soldier.
OF the two cavalry Leaders, istchenko
and Rennenkampf-the Russ says:
"Mistchenko is an excellent artilleryman
and q good leader Of column equipped
with all three arms. He is q fearless,
cold blooded soldier. vino has brought
his mon with honor out OF the most dim
cult positions. But as q cavalry leader
he ia a man who is not In his right place.
He is given burden that he cannot carry.
He is the most loved and honored per-
sonality in the army. Rennenkampf Ia
an ideal cavalry leader in pursuit; lively
young, energetic, always eager to press
forward. but he has not maintained
the place that belongs to him. The two
St. George Crosses which he won in the
Chinese campaign have aroused 30 much
away.
The Russ concludes: This only ia clear:
really great personalities and talents are
wanting. or they are not brought to the