Evening star., 1905-03-17
RETIRED IN DISGRACE
Kuropatkin Relieved of Com
mand at the Front.
A MOST BITTER REBUKE
SUCCEEDED IN THE FAR EAST BY
GEN. LINEVITCH.
Kuropatkin to Return to st. Petersburg
at Once-Another Big Army
to Be Raised.
A MOST BITTER REBUKE

ST. PETERSBURG, March II. 05 pm
With the Japanese hanging on the heels
and fianks of the remnants of the broken,
defeated Russian army, General Kuropat-
kin, the old idol of the private soldier, has
been dismissed and disgraced and General
Linevitch. commander of the First Army,
Is appointed to succeed him in command of
all the Russian land and sea forces operat-
ing against Japan.
The word disgrace is written in large let
ters in the laconic imperial order gazetted,
which contains not a single word of praise
ard also disposes of the rumor that Kuro-
pa kin had asked to be relieved. The Rus
sian military annals contain no more bit
ter imperial Tebuke.
Decision on Linevitch a Surprise.
While II was known that the war coun-
ell had already decided to supplant Kuro-
pa tkin after the Mukden disaster the decis-
ion to confer the task of saving the re-
mainder of the army on Linevitch in the
very midst of Its flight, although bruited
last night, came as a surprise.
1t transpres that Emperor Nicholas, upon
the advice of General Dragomiroff and War
Minister Sakharoff, determined that the
step was necessary when 1t became appar-
ent yesterday morning that kuropatkln.
Pass. seemed unaware that the japanese
had worked around westward again and
practically allowed himself to be surprised.
Old reports brought by General Gripen-
berg regarding kuropatkins failing men
tality also had influence.
Under the circumstances, therefore, 1T
was considered imperative, in view of the
exceedingly perlous position of the army,
to turn over its command to Linevitch,
who alone had been able to bring off his
army in order after the battle of Mukden.
His record during the Chinese war had also
demonstrated his capacity as COM
nlander.
Ordered to Return Home.
Kuropatkin will return to ST. Petersburg
forthwith.
The task conided to Linevitch of with
drawing what is left of the great army of
100000 men TO Harbin is desperate one.
He is hemmed in on all sides. General
Kawamura presumably is pressing north
ward through the mountains eastward
ready to swoop down, Generals Nogi and
Oku are on the west of the Russian forces,
the whole line of the railroad is threa tened
if not already cut, and Chinese bandits are
even reported to be in the rear of Hardin.
A consummatiOn of the Mukden disaster is
feared.
Napoleon's plight in the retreat from
Moscow with kutusoffs Cossacks harass-
ing the starving. freezing Frenchmen was
hardly as bad dangerous
Nothing further has arrived from the
front but it is feared that the decimated
battalOns which had hardly recovered from
the decentralization of the Mukden retreat
have again been thrown into confusion by
Field Marshal Oyama's relentless, merci-
less pursuit.
Fears of War Office.
The war office greatly fears that more of
the siege and field guns which Kuropatkin
managed to save at Mukden have been
sacrificed in the hurried flight from Tie
Pass.
The question of ammunition and food is
also vital, as 1t is known that the Rus
slams were compelled to burn further stores
at Tie Pass, where the commissariat was
only beginning to feed the half-famished
troops when the new retreat was ordered.
But even in the face of the possibility of
the complete loss of the army and the ad-
mitted fact that VladivostoA is already
possibly lost the emperor still shows
signs of yielding. Preparations for con-
tinuing the war on a larger scale are pro-
ceeding.
Another Army of 100000.
The dictum has gone forth that another
army of 10000 men is to be dispatched to
the far east, and, in order to avoid delay,
It has been decided instead of sending only
reserve men TO form new armies largely of
regular units, leaving the reserves to re-
place the regulars in garrison duty at home
Throughout the war many military men
have contended that ii was a fatal mistake
TO send reserve men to the far east. A
division of the Imperial Guard will be sent
TO the front. 1t is not improbable that
some of this years conscripts will be sent
Separate armies are to be organized under
Generals Grodekoff. Gripenberg and Kama
roH.
Uprisig Feared.
Even in the most optimistic quarters how
ever it is realized that a general mobiliza-
ton is likely to be accompanied by wide
spread disorders unless the composition
and functions of the popular representation
under the imperial rescript are more satis-
factory than now appears probable.
Practically no progress is being made by
the Bouligan commission. The emperor has
been so much occupied with the war Situa-
ton that he has twice postponed action on
Governor General Bouligan's recommenda-
lions, and the latter is represented to be so
dissatisfied that he desires to resign and
turn over his work 10 his assistant NJ Va
tatsi.
The war council. it is also understood. has
dehnltely decided that Vice Admiral Ro-
JesNrnsky shall continue his voyage and
give pattle TO the japanese in the forlorn
hope of wrestling control of the sea fron,
Admiral Togo. - 0iA
Banking on Rojestvensky.
If Rojestvensky is successsu, - ;s
claimed. an entirely new complexion will
be placed on the situation.
In the meantime the completely dis
heartened ranks of those who are CRYING
for peace are growing, the strangest con-
vert being Prince Mestchersky who as
shown by his article in the Grashdanin
THIS morning. has become suddenly a zeal
Gus advocate of reform, declaring that to
make an end of the war would not REQUIRE
more heroism than to conclude peace after
victory
He thanks God for sendinp dafaat In,
stead of victory which he says would
only cover with laurels the gaping wounds
and miseries of the poverty-stricken peo-
pie and the badly fed and badly clothed
but heroic soldiers. justified robbers of a
peaceful country"
The 'glorified though faithless servants