The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-01-04
Sketches Of the Victorious jap
and Defeated Russian.
WAR A BUSINESS TO THEM
Military Operations in the Port Arthur
Siege Marked by Machine-Like Ac-
tion, Born Of Long Experience
by Both Generals

IN all the accounts of the men who are
fighting out this Russo.Japanese war nc
attempts are made to place on their busy
heads the halo Of romance, says writ.
er in the New York Sun. Correspond
ents and returned chroniclers of japan
and Russia almost apologize for the bus.
iness.like character Of the generals and
admirals, and eagerly seize upon any
mythical occasion when they are alleged
to have shown emotion or evidence OF
human joys or sorrows. One reason for
the lack of the romantic element Is be-
cause Of the fact that, in the majority
OF cases, the commanders of both armies
and navies are no longer young men.
but frizzled warriors who are sick OF
war, and accordingly make business
Of it.
Should the struggle continue long
enough some Little Corporal will no
doubt appear, but thus far writer's must
go to other parts of the armies and ma
vies than the generals tents and the
admirals' cabins for stories OF passion
ate devotion and reckless self denial
Not that the commanders of armies and
fleets are not fighters Of the highest
type OF character and patriotism; they
are men OF modern times and must
train themselves to be content with the
unromantic, machine-like business of
being cautious-and successful.
The central figure in the siege Of Port
Arthur, and one which future poets, de-
spite the above made reflection on 70.
nance, will delight to cite, was Gen.
Stoessel, who, by his indomitable win
and never dying hope held his town from
the enemy until the world almost long
ed for its fall If for no other reason
than that he should be relieved of the
terrible burden. II was Gen. Stoessel,
toe, who commanded the Russian troops
when the allied forces made their IA
NOUS march to the relief Of the leua
tions at Peking during the Boxer tr0u
bles. He was born at Magdeburg, Sax
ony, sixty years ago.
In the Franco prussian war he serv
ed IN the German army as an officer in
the engineer corps, later going to ST
Petersburg and becoming commander of
the Sd Siberian Rifles. He is solidly
built, not tall, with square is.w and
gray-blue eyes. He il not a society
man. His soldiers respect and honor
him. lie believes that what he says can
be done can be done. He issued proc
lamation at Port Arthur on Feb. RI.
1904, which long since became famous
II showed the man. 1t read as follows
Our troops know, and the inhabitants
are herewith informed by me, that we
viii not yield We must fight to the
death, and I, the commandant. will new
er give the order to surrender. / bring
this notice to those less daring, and call
on all to become convinced of the neces-
sity Of fighting to the DEATH"
Gen. Kuropatkin's fame was dimin-
ished and at the same time increased by
q mastery retreat" The popular wave
OF enthusiasm for the successful
japanese dimmed the worlds eyes 10
the power and greatness OF the Russian
commander who once made an unfortu- |
mite boast, according to report Histo- |
ry will perhaps be kinder to the Rus
sinn commander inchief than contem. |
porary report.
Gen. Kur0patkin was born a soldier /
his father having been one before him. /
Educated at q military school, he enter
ed the army at the age of is, and went 1
Immediately to Central Asia, where the
Turkcstan War was in progress. He
returned to ST. Petersburg within two
years lieutenant, with wounds and
decorations for valor. For six years he
studied at the Academy Of The General
staff at Sc. Petersburg, graduated with I
the highest honors, spent year in I
France, helped draw up plans for the
81 the French cavalry,
went to Algeria, and upon his return To
st. Petersburg wrote book on the con
aitions in that country. He then went
"a Central Asia again, where he helped \
SkobeleH in the war in the wilds Of
rartary, afterward writing book on
their operations there.
In the Russo Turkish war 10 iS77-7s, II
le was chief Of staff to Skobeleff, later !
-eturning to ST. Petersburg, where for
welve years he held the profess0fship i
il military statistics at the Academy Of !.
he General Staff When the conquest !
# the Turcoman brigands was under !
aiken he was again associated with Sko-
1eleH and went home a major general !
ii 1890 he was appointed governor Of !
.he Trans Caspian region and soon af
erward became minister Of war, which
,fice he held until he went 20 The lar
East last spring He was the hope Of
.btL fAItHNks
When Gen. Nogi was made commander
Il the forces at Port Arthur he received
he highest honor in the power of the
'Iikado. The old general-he i gray
lead, too has been described as brave
nd sometimes savage model sol
ier, according to the most rigorous and
ncient standard He Is simple, rugged
nd a heartlesa disciplinarian, given to
ireat silences and his chief luxury the
xercise 81 heroic Viii Before the
var broke out he was governor general
f Fogmosa. where he had the pig puzzle
ask of suhiug9 ting the fierce the noun
ain tribes the Chinese had been unable
o control He once summed up his moral
nd mill airy philosophy in those words
"3'he performances Of a soldier on the
attiefeld are nothing but the coverings
nd fruifion Of the work and training
+ his daily life IN the time Of peace"
Gen. Ktlfoki, commander Of the First 4
japanese 6Arny obtained a severe mill
arv trading IN the civil war By which
"a COVE ament was returned to the