Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-11-25
BULGARIAN WAR CHIEF
JOINS RUSSIAN ARMY
Radko Dimitrieff, Napoleon Of
the Balkans, Again May Be-
come a Dominant Figure.

come a. OOuluduL E1QUTe.
In the press OF news from the front
the significance Of the brief statement
in the papers of August II that Gen.
Radko Dimitrieff, commander of the
Third Bulgarian army during the Balk-
an war. has telegraphed his resignation
in order that he might join the Russian
army. has escaped general notice.
The remarkable career of this hero
of the Balkans is sketched by Lieuten-
n Wagner in with the Victorious
Bulgarians."
Since the day of Kirk Kilisse.''
Lieutenant Wagner wrote. "a name has
become generally known throughout
he world. which had long enjoyed
popular fame throughout Bulgaria it
self-the name of Gen. Radko Dimit-
rieff. the victor of Kirk kilisse, and the
commander of the Third Bulgarian
army.
The officers and soldiers call him
'Napoleon-tscheto,' not only on ac-
count of the Likeness of his profile and
his general build to that of Napoleon,
but also he is the hero of Kirk kilisse.
Lule Burgas and Chorlu.
Whence came Radko Dimitrieff?
undoubtedly the most popular leader
of his time in Bulgaria? He was born
in the little town of Gradez on Septem-
Der "a. 1859, n after a successful
course at the military school of Sofia,
passed out as lieutenant o n May 10.
1879. He then distinguished himself
as "a student at the academy of the
general staff at ST. Petersburg.
When the annexation of eastern
Roumelia was proclaimed by Prince
Alexander at Philippolis, he was sent
with most of the Bulgarian army to the
VN11rEiC6 f~nnfiovp fnye yoot,~o11y fha
general idea was he Bulgaria would
be attacked by Turkey. But the fore
sight and the expectations of Natsch-
ovitsch, who was then ambassador at
Bucharest, were justified and it was
not the Turks but the 'Servian broth
cit is we'll known how difficult it
then was, on account of the van of
railways. to transfer Bulgarian troops
from the south to the northwest of the
country. Radko Dimitrieff 20 part
as a captain in this operation. March
ing his men at headlong speed he was
in time to be present at the decisive
battle of Slivnitza as one of the famous
left wing. But then came the UNI
fortunate d~ethroning of Prince Alex
gained by Russian ~janslavists among
the officers who had studied at st.
Petersburg n were enthusiasts for
the car, the liberatOr from the Turk
ish yoke This affair involved the
otherwise amiable and astute Radko
the service and go away to Russia,
where he was again employed as an Of
f1cer, this time in a foreign army.
II distinguished himself in various
! ways in his work as captain and soon
| received promotion. But homesickness
grew upon him, and he often regretted
that he had allowed himself to be
drawn into poll. S.
Ten years after his exile began he
was enabled to return to Bulgaria I'M
der the government of Stoioff. who had
brought about a reconciliation with
Russia. His whole conduct in his re-
lations with others and his zeal for his
military duties soon opened for him the
advancement that he SO we'll merited,
and he was named inspector general of
the Third Army district.
I'm this appointment General Dimit-
rieff showed more than ordinary ability
in preparing all the resources he
would have to RELY upon in a future
war. Frequent staff-rides in the open
country. the ideas and schemes for
which We're always very original. and
manoeuvers with the troops made him
greatly liked and generally popular
with the army. When he appeared
among his troops. which was very
often. one could see in the faces of the
men their enthusiasm for him."
(From with the Victorious Bulga-
rians," by Lieut.. Hermenegild Wagner.
This book also contains a full account
of Dimitrieff's remarkable campaign in
the Balkan wary
The weakest point of the Russian
military has always been it's generals.
And in no other army is effective lead
ership more necessary. Frederick the
Great said the Russian soldiers were
SO stupid that they didn't know enough
to fall down when they were killed.
Patient. stubborn. obedient, fearing
death less than he does his officers. the
moujik lacks only individual efficiency
to make him the ideal soldier.
1t is Just this defect that makes the
success of Russian arms absolutely
dependent on the quality Of Russian
generals. The Russo-Japanese war
failed to disclose any effective COM
mander. and, as far as is known, none
has since arisen. Russia can put an
army of 1900, 900 men into the field.
Efficiently led. such a force as this
would be well nigh irriestible. Under
the circumstan- S it is TO exaggeration
to say that the action of the Napoleon
Of the Balkans in Offering his services
to Russia may be one of the determin-
ing factors of the war.
Japanese Gardens.
Janet Hervey Kelman's "Children Of