The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-29

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invited guest OF the Car. is an event OF
rot only military interest. but also OF
great political Importance Sir Ian.
throughout the war in Manchuria. was
attached to the headquarters Of the Jap
Rnese. who initiated him into all their
military secrets, movements, and PROT
eets, as their chief representative, in the
field, OF Great Britain-their ally, though
not their fellow combatant.
To-day, in his capacity as adjutant gen.
eral and chief OF the general stan, Sir
Ian represents. to an even stin greater
degree than IN l90l-O5, the English army,
and that he and his aid-de-camp should
be attending the Russian maneuvers. on
the coast of the Baltic-maneuvers from
which al foreign officers have for years
been barred, save the chief Of the gen
eral stan of the French army, Is accepted
as a conclusive proof that Great Britain
has now definitely Joined the Franco
Russian alliance.
The latter. which has been in existence
Tor twenty years is admittedly organ
ICED against Germany-and her Austrian
ally-not for offense, but for purposes OF
defense. and the fact that the annual
lnaneuvers Of the MuscOvite army are in
variahly designed 10 resist an invasion
either by Germany or by her ally-Aus-
tria-those now IN progress represent the
defense Of St. Petersburg. and OF the
metropolitan district against a German
attack by sea and land-serve to en-
phasize the anu-Teuton character OF
Russia's projects and Affiliations.
Sir Tan Hamilton. who is one OF the
most up-to-date and brilliantly clever Of
British generals, cannot but have found,
during the last few days, a wonderful
change IN the military conditions OF Rus
STA, as compared with those which came
under his notice during the war in Man
churia.
The Muscovite army had been subjected
10 the most radical and far-reaching re-
organization since II went into the field
against Japan five years ago. The period
Of service has been reduced from five 70
three years. and the pay of officers and Of
men has been considerably increased.
while the arrangements for the feeding
and lodging OF the rank and flle have
been completely transformed. All this
has naturally contributed 70 render sery-
I've much more popular than In days Of
yore, and there Is a good Will and salts
faction among officers and men which
were formerly lacking. but that Increase
the value of the army a hundredfold.
The entire artillery. which was the
weakest army in the war In Manchuria,
has been re-armed and re-equipped, and
the cumbersome arrangement by which
each branch of the service had its own
populous and decorative general STAFF I'M
der the utular chieftainship Of a member |
OF the imperial family. has been done
away with. through the influence OF the !
dOuma.
Instead. the artillery. the cavalry. the
engineers, the transport. coumissarlat |
and medical corps each have their repre- /
sentative on the general staff Of the army
at headquarters, and moreover. the Gar
and the cabinet, IN the face of the strenu-
Gus opposition OF the clique Of grand
dukes, have accepted the recommended
ton OF NJ Cutchkoff in behalf OF the
army committee OF the Douma. that the
various divisions and army corps should
In time Of peace be under the command
OF those generals who would be at their
head in time OF war.
Columns could be written OF the abuses
which have been abolished IN the army
during the last three years, and the fact
that many OF the reforms inaugurated
Should have been not only suggested. but
also insisted upon by the army committee
OF the Donna, speaks volumes for the
Importance OF the latter as a factor in
the new order of things in Russia.
Before leaving Russia, II is probable |
that both Sir Ian Hamilton and the
chief OF the general staff OF the French
army will be sounded by the Car, and
by his military advisers, concerning
their views on the subject OF one OF the
most serious problems confronting the
Russian war department. It concerns
the question Of western defenses OF the
Empire
In the event OF war with Germany
and Austria. the brunt OF the attack by
the invaders would fall upon the fort
resses along the border line. and ina
Western Poland. These, owing to the
oonfguratlon of the territory, could read
ily be turned by the enemy, would be
inadequate 10 bar his progress, and
might be cut off from the base Of oper-
atons In such a fashion as to prevent |
their being furnished with supplies or
reinforcements. In fact. siege. with in
evitable capitulatlon. would stare them |
IN the face
The war department at St Petersburg |
AAla AtAN - EllNl III eAdlls are IN FAVOR OF the 1
razing OF these frontier rortresses that
cannot be held, and that would only
serve 20 shut up bodies OF troops that /
might be more usefully employed else
where They insist that the principal |
line Of Russia's western defence against |
German and Austrian invasion. should |
be much further back. ard that it's prin- /
cipal base should be at Brest-Lltovsh. a |
stronghold which II would be impossible |
70 turn, owing to the enormous marshes
which stretch to the north and south 1
They argue that this line Of defense. /
thanks 70 the lay OF the land. can be |
rendered well nigh impregnable. and |
that Hight cavalry horse artillery. and |
temporary entertainments and earth \
works will suffice to hamper and delay /
the advance OF the foe through Poland. /
until the bulk Of the army has been /
concentrated upon the new line of de- /
Tense.
Opposition to this scheme. which from 1
military point OF view Is undoubtedly
the most sensible, comes from the pro- |
German element In Russia. Moreover.
the court and government OF the Gar |
have been given to understand, unom- |
cialy. and even In a semi-oficially man |
ner, that the execution OF the plan will !
be construed at Berlin and at Vienna /
as an untriendly act The fact OF the /
matter Is that all the arrangements Of |
Germany and Of Austria for invading |
Russia, have been made in view OF the /
present Muscovite system Of defense.
These plans have been in existence for
years and enabled last spring. Germany
and Austria 70 bring. at a given mo-
ment, so much pressure to bear upon the
Car that he was compelled to with
draw his support Of Servia in the Bal
kan crisis, and to recognize Austria