Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-27

GEN. BRUSSllOFF ca a
strange figure from the north--a new
Napoleon-enters the stage of the bloody
drama. He is a man of little militarlstic
training, writer or journalist, but in
his grip most Of Europe will remain until
1926"
What the world wants to know today
Is whether Tolstoy was not mistaken in
few places and whether Alexei Alexeie.
witch Brussiloff Is not the great figure
from the north. Brussiloff was born in the
Caucasus, but he Is of Russian blood in
the purest He Is man of long training
In military affairs, but of small experience
In battle He is not journalist, but he
is a scholar. And in recent months he
has shown himself to be a second Ma.
poleon. He Is virtually in sole command
OF the armies driving Austria headlong
across her own frontiers. He Is RESPONSE.
BILE for the evacuation of the Volhyhian
triangle, for the difficulties of Bothmer
and Pnanzer and Boehm-Ermolli. If
Kuropatkin in the north is able to keep
step with him, Brussllof may be the hero
of the eastern war. From every report
we learn that he Is brilliant commander,
great student and although a rather
unapproachable person. the idol OF his
army.
One of the reasons why is in this story,
which corresponds In many ways to one
told of a celebrated German commander.
Brussiloff really likes the army He is
an enthusiast for maneuvers. a fanatic
for horsemanship. So, when he became
commander of cavalry guard corps he
insisted that training should duplicate,
as far as possible, the rigors of warfare.
He used TO send. and go with. the young
noblemen In the corps on long jaunts,
night and day. fair weather and foul
Mammas protested to papas, and papas
to the court. and the court to the EN-
peror and the Emperor to Brussllon. And
Brtissiloff answered:
VERY good. your Majesty" he said.
II will discontinue these rides II you viii
guarantee that the enemy will attack us
only In sunshine"
Brussiloff's commands to the men under
him are as laconic as those of Joffre. The
French commander said, "Jusqu'au
bout" Ito the end). and Brussilofr said,
Hold out-whatever happens" SO 1t is
no wonder that in Russia they repeat
the words Of soldier when asked II the
battalion had been compelled to retreat,
Retreat? Impossible. We are BrussI-
Ions"
He is a man thin Of face. short. wiry.
incredibly strong. His eyes are sad they
look like those of a scholar who has found
the last secret of life and holds 1t cheap.
He is not the great bearded, huge. DASH
ing cavalry officer OF fiction. But his
looks are very deceptive. In the field he
is indefatigable. at home charming. The
one thing he has never doubted Is the out
come Of this war because he Is religious
man and, unlike many heroes of this war,
cannot fight without faith. The adyan-
tage Of that Is confidence.
So much is the quiet truth about Brussl-
lon. and 1t may not go the whole way to
justify his Identification with the man
from the north. The rest OF his story,
and the hnal proof. Is to be read day BY
day In the war dispatches It would seem
that the man from the north ought to be
a combination Of Won Hindenburg ana
Won Falkenhayn, and Kitchener ana
Joffrs and the Grand Duke. Well. that
isn't too hard for Russian. His ofeh-
siyes rival those Of Won Hindenburg, his
Is equal 70 Falkenhayn's his
religious hold over his men surpassss
that OF the Grand Duke ana he prepares
as steadfastly As did Kitchener. whether
he can include JoHfs cannot hs sslasa
Until hs arrives u Vienna