The Washington herald., 1909-08-29
DIV III EX-ATTAcHE.

invited guest OF the Car, is an event OF
rot only military interest. but also OF
great political Importance. Sir Ian,
throughout TIE war in Manohuria, was
attached 10 the headquarters OF the Jap
Rnese, who initiated him into all their
military secrets. movements, and prof.
ects. 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 staff, Sir
Ian represents. 10 an even stin greater
degree than In 1904-05. 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 all foreign officers have for years
been barred, save the chief Of the gen.
eTai 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
ized against Germauy-and her Austrian
Rlly-nOt for offense, but for purposes OF
defense. and the fact that the annual
maneuvers 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 ant-Teuton character of
Russia's projects and affiliations.
Sir Ian 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
churla.
The MuscOvite army had been subjected
10 the most radical and far-reaching re-
organization since It went into the field
against Japan five years ago. The period
OF service has been reduced from Ave 20
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 file have
been completely transformed. All this
has naturally contributed 20 render serv-
I've much more popular than IT. days OF
yore, and there IS a good will and salts
faction among officers ard men which
were formerly lacking but that increase
the value OF the army 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 is own
populous and decorative general stan. un-
der the titular cheftainship Of a member
- Il
away with, through the influence OF the
douma.
Bstead, the artillery, the cavalry, the
engineers. tho transport. commissariat,
and medical corps each have their repre-
sentative on the general stan OF the army
al headquarters. and moreover. the Car
and the cabinet in the face of the strenu-
Gus opposition Of the clique OF grand
dukes. have accepted the recommended
ton OF NJ. Cutchkoh. in behalf OF the
army comDnittee 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 DOuma, speaks volumes for tho
Importance OF the latter as a factor IN
the new order OF things In Russia.
Before leaving Russia, Il IS probable
that both Sir Ian Hamilton and the
chief OF the general STAFF OF the French
army will be sounded by the Gar. and
hss hfu
their views on the subject OF one OF the
most serious problems confronting the
Russian war department. II concerns
the question OF western defenses OF the
Empire
In the event OF a war with Germany
and Austria the brunt OF the attack by
the invaders would fall upon the fort
resses along the border line. and ini
Western Poland. These, owing 10 the
confguratlon 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-
atoms in such n fashion as to prevent
their being furnished with supplies or
reinforcements. In fact siege. with in
evitable equalization. would stare them
IN the face
The war department at st. Petersburg,
and the general staff. are I'm favor OF the
razing Of these frontier fortresses 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. and that it's prin-
srl~ has Oh. - Z
stronghold which II would be impossible
20 turn, owing TO the enormous marshes
which stretch to the north and south
They argue that this line OF defense
thanks to the lay Of the land, can be
rendered well nigh impregnable. and
that light cavalry. horse artillery, ana
temporary entertainments and earth
works will suffice 10 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
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, unofi-
cially. and even in a semi-ofhcialIy man
ner. that the execution OF the plan will
be construed al Berlin and at Vienna
as an unfriendly 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 20 bring. at a given mo-
ment so much pressure to bear upon the
Gar that he was compelled 10 with
draw his support Of Servia in the Bal