Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-15
Kuropatkin's Book, Just Issued
Shows Causes Of Russian
Defeat
COULD NOT BE SUPPRESSED
Book Becomes Public Despite Efforts
Of Government to Prevent Circula-
tion--Many Soldiers Lacked Nerve
Morale Of the Troops Was Bad-sub-
ordinate Generals BIundered.

st. Petersburg, Feb 15.-General
Kuropatkin's History of the Russo
japanese War" which was confscatcd
by the Russian government, has at last
become accessible despite the most ex-
IRENE precautions to prevent this gall
ing official indictment from reaching
the public.
The work Is remarkable for It's
historic value as the closing chapter
of the war from the pen OF the conf
mander-ln chief, and for the merciless
criticism OF the men and measures that
In Kuropatkins' estimate, swept Rus
STA and its army to inevitable defeat.
The work consists OF three bulky
volumes. respectively devoted to the
three crucial events of the war--the
battle of Lao Yang. the battle Of the
Sha river and the battle of Mukden.
The voluminous general orders, sta
tistics, reports and other documentary
matter have been collated by Colonel
Belkhoveteneff OF the general staff.
These with the conclusions that
have been formulated, constitute most
amazing revelations Of disorganization
and incapaclty and even Of disobedi-
ence Of specific and urgent orders on
the part OF certain general officers in
trusted with high commands In the
field, notably General Kaulbars, against
whom a formidable indictment Is
h To- ohnnHnra
practically the entire responsibility
for the crushing defeat at Mukden.
Kuropatkin's reasons for the failure
OF the war are based chiefly on q COM
parison of the warlike spirit of the
Japanese their preparedness and valor,
which, he says, had never been seen In
any previous war, and their ability to
maintain the numerical superiority
necessary to assume the offessive, with
the disadvantages OF Russia owing to
the inadequacy Of the single track rail-
way from Europe in feeding her fight
Ing strength, with commanding Off
GERS disobeying orders and in hope
less state Of confusion and cross pur-
poses, with low state of morale and
confidence among the troops and con-
tinuous news from home Of the Internal
troubles and Of insults and reproaches
against the army.
The general closes his survey of the
cause of the defeat of the Russians
with the pathetic reflection that IL Rus
STA had been united and ready to make
the sacrifices necessary to safeguard
her dignity and integrity the valiant
Russian army would have striven till
the foe was subdued.'
Speaking of the condition and morale
of the Russian troops, Kuropatkin says
that in reviewing them he noticed the
significant lack Of strength, especially
in the case of officers. among the re-
servists, many of whom were old and
the majority heavy, clumsy or under
sized"
He says Of these that believing they
had been unjustly called to the colors.
they came in sulky frame of mind,
refusing to fraternize with the regu-
lars" The company commanders did
not know their men and among them
were many who had just been appoint
ed to commands and were quite unfit
for their posts SO constituted, the
Tenth corps, from which so much was
expected, met WITH defeat after deIeat
and fell far short of justifying the ex-
pectations that we had the right to en-
terrain of famous old regiments of the
Russian army.
The whole narrative is dismal re-
Prospect Of unprep aredness, disorgani-
cation and cross purposes. KuropatKin
says of this famous Tenth corps that
little energy was shown by the COM
mander and that there was "insuffic-
lent firmness in the case of certain reg
iments. especially among the reservists.
rank and file. who under various pre-
texts went to the rear"