Arizona republican., 1915-07-26
Under Modern Military Methods Work of Com manders i'll Chief Prac- tically Ended When Ac- tive Fighting Begins
LESSON LEA RIVED
 FROM JAPAN ESiI
London Times Col1'espontl- cnt Gives General De scI'iption of Russia Il Methods ii the Campaign About Warsaw

LONDON, July 25.-The correspon-
 dent of the Times" at Warsaw says
 Simplicity and lack of ostentation are
 the leading characteristics of every thing Russian in this war. and partic ularly of the army The two most sim Die men have met are the Grand Duke Nicholas and General AleXeieff, who
 has been appointed to the command of the northern armies in consequence of
 the retirement of General Ruszky. Without giving away any figures, it is perhaps safe to say that General Alex eiefrs force is twice the size of that now under the command of Field Mar shaI French. The territory it occupies covers an enormous area.
 The theory in the Japanese army is that the brain of the army should be so far away from the actual scene of operations that he is absolutely de- tached from the atmosphere of war, md that between himself and the front there should be installed so many ner- vous shock -absorbers that the quarters Of the great chief himself become the realm of pore reason. with no noise and xcitemert and horrifying sights to inn pair his judgment.
 
 with major fnow lieutenant general Tanaka, Field Marshal Oyamas per sonal \. D. C. "I should have liked to be with the general staff I remarked 10 him. during the battle of Mukden It must have been an exciting time with you'' My friend laughed and an | Swered: You would have had great surprise, I imagine There was no ex- itement at all How do you suppose Field Marshal Oyama spent much Of his time during the battle?' One nat urally imagined that it was spent | scrutinizing maps and making plans and I said this to Tanaka. Not at all" he replied when the battle be- gan our work was largely finished. It was but necessary to make an occas- | onal change in the line here and there and this took but few minutes. Most of the time the field marshall and ko- dame (chief of the general stafD were playing croquet"
 Much the same atmosphere of de- l tachment from the activities of the | campaign may be seen today in the | little Polish city where General Alex 1 eieff has his headquarters, except that l no one nere has time to croquet It is | safe to say that beyond his own staff, | there are not 90 soldiers in the place. | Tn fact. it is less military in appear | ance than any city I have seen since I 1 have been in Russia. Tn front of his I quarters are a couple of soldiers, and l small Russian flag hangs over the | door. Nothing could lead one to be- | lieve that within is the individual in | the palm of whose hand lie the fate | and movements of hundreds upon hun | 1reds of thousands Of men and at | whose word q thousand guns will mak- en the echoes with their mental | threats. In trenches miles away | stretching through forest and along | hilltors. numberless regiments and bri- gados await the curt order from this l building 70 launch themselves against l the German lines
 The man himself is as quiet and un- | obtrusive as are his surroundings. Per | haps 5S or g years of age with a very 1 intellectual face and an almost shy | manner, General Alexeicff is currently | reported to have the keenest brain in l the Russian field armies. The staff | consists Of about 75 members. If their 1 looks do not belle them they are about | the most serious and hard working | men that one ca find in a long jour ney.
 | While at Warsaw rumors are flying | thick and fast to German advances | and Russian mishaps, at General Alex l eieff's headquarters everything is se- | rene and calm. The general opinion of the staff is one of optimism although | for the moment the Russians are in the | trough of the sea. The Russian atti-
 tude is that Russia can stand the loss-
 es. such as they are. almost indefinite ly, and that she is willing to take tho
 burden of breaking the German wave
 again and again if need be, with the
 idea that each assault of the enemy is
 bringing them nearer and nearere tC
 the end of their tether.
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