The Irish standard., 1905-03-18

the means of carrying that war ON to
them also, and then give absolute
power to Russia's most competent
general in the field there is hardly
doubt but that Russia would event
ually wear out Japan. But, with the
people dissatisfied at home, disinter-
ested in the war, in fact largely op-
posed to it because they think it car
ried on solely in the interests of dis
credited leaders, Japan seems certain
of winning further victories, temper
airy though they may be. Ever since
the war commenced the Russian gen.
erals in the field have been handi-
capped by interference from st. Peters
burg. 1t is the same old story Of try
ing to carry on war from q center
located thousands of miles from the
battle field. 1t is said that General
kuropatkin did not want to fight the
battle that has just ended. That he
felt that he was not able to cope with
the forces opposed to him, but the de-
mand was SO imperative from st.
Petersburg that something be done
that he fought the battle when his
judgment told him not to. The conse-
quence is now apparent. Some of the
older readers of this paper we'll re-
member the clamor that was carried
on in the early months of the Civil war
when the popular slogan was con to
Richmond" General Mcdowell had
crossed the Potomac into Virginia with
a large but unframed army CON-
posed Of men from the farms, the
shops and the counters. Men without
any military experience. Men who
did not even know how to shoot or to
ride. Those who We're directing the
war at Washington took no account of
these things, but forced Mcdowell and
his troops into battle. Bull Run was
the result and it amounted to q rout.
General Mcclellan took command of
the army and good soldier that he was
he realized that time was necessary to
pound his army into shape. He took
the time and succeeded in creating a
magnificent army, but the time neces-
sary to do it made the people impa-
tient and General Mcclellan was
forced from the command just at a
time when the army was fitted to do
some work. Not until General Grant
was placed in command of the army
with absolute power almost to do as
lie pleased did we commence to win
victories. Prior to his command one
commander after another came to
grief with the great army Of the Poto-
mae because he was hindered and
hampered from Washington. 1t seems
that General Kuropatkin is the victim
of the same kind of military tactics.
The Grand Dukes at home whose ac
lions have led to acts of violence on the
part of the people have been crying
to Kuropatkin to do something to save
the present regime. Kuropatkin has
been answering that his troops We're
insufficient to cope with the superior
numbers and superior troops of the
Japanese. He has been eventually
overruled and forced to fight He has
done the best he could although at the
sacrifice of one hundred thousand
brave lives. He has been defeated.
but not annihiliated. He has asked to
be relieved and that some other man
be sent to take his place. giving as Il
reason that he is tired of mind and
body 1t is the same old story that
we had in our Civil war One after
another II the able leaders were
forced to resign because Of divided
authority. We learned after three
years that IL change would have to be
made. The change was made and
Grant won victories where Mcdowell,
Mcclellan, Burnside and Meade We're
defeated.