New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-30
By Hamilton Fyfe
Recently War Correspondent win
the Russian Armies)


the Russian Armies)
"The Kitchener OF Russia!" That
was what they called him when ! ar
rived in Russia toward the end OF
October, 1914. WAS told stories
which even then seemed to me Fan
tas.ic. of the quantities Of arms and
ammunition which had been stored up
AGAINST the outbreak Of war by the
Minister of Wars marvellous FORE
light One Of these stories was Of
10000 900 rifles. Eyes Russian
friend told me, "i2.0OO,OOO! Think Of
IT! He is a wonderful man
Six months afterward this Russian
was one Of the loudest in calling ior
the head Of the man for whom ne had
professed. and not only professed but
felt. the most enthusiastic admiration
That is the Russian way. There IS no
pitv in that country for the man who
is down.
I made the ministers acquaintance
soon after / arrived. lie was man
Of kind heart and pleasant manners
He always welcomed me most encour-
agingly in his sumptuously furnished
room-"sumptucus" is the only word
which fits the Russian othclaPs idea
of comfort-at the top of the war
Office building, on the Moika Canal
He could read English, but he did not
sneak il. He spoke French well, not
like the majority of the army otlcers'
who make a terrible hash OF their
allv's exquisite language. They almost
ali know German, though, and talk IL
fuently.
Made Negative Betrayal
That Soukhomlinoff was traitor IN
the ordinary sense of the word | ShaIi
never believe. The court martial did
not believe it, or he would have oeeh
sentenced to death. He betrayed his
country by failing to take the neces-
sary measures for the success OF ner
arms. He failed in his trust by taxing
a light. hearted and perhaps wrong
headed view of the needs OF the mil
itarv machine. SO did Lord hitcneneri
hut no one in his senses would suggest
that he was guilty OF treason as tne
crime is generally understood. SIOUX
boulinotT and Kitchener both tal!ed lot
the same reason. They lacked fore
sioht They would not listen 70 their
subordinates. They neglected TO orlhs
their ideas of warfare up to date
II was impossible that any one so
transparently amiable and so heTceIy
eager for the success or the A1iIeu
cause could have been in secret COM
mun;cation with the enemies OF ms
country. have seen something, o.
traitors. / have had TO study tneir
demeanor closely and 70 decide whetA-
err IL was necessary 10 suspect 'hem,
From all my intercourse WIN MIN
came 10 the firm conclusion that
Soukhomlinof was more fool imam
knaye. He is not alone among those
whom the world recSons, or has once
reckoned, great in being empty OF tne
qualities which were attributed 10
him. We're all ministers or war 20
be put to the same fiery test as 1h!s
unhappy general, how many YOU'D
come out of the ordeal unscathed oy
the flames of censurc? And not MN
listers of war alone, but all ministers
all kings. princes and governors: 10
those n high places the Snake E,
spearian tag applies with pecan
force: use every man after his de-
serts. and who should 'scape WHIP
ping"
Joyous Over Victory
recolect one visit paid TO Sou
khomliEoF on the day we received IN
Pctrograd the news OF the capture o
Przerlrcl by the Russian troops
Though the date vas ate March, 40,
was falling heavily md making ''A'
fc difficult IN Ne 'll-k"pt ltrrts OF
the Cars capita, The g"rs~s. "a'
in state Ct joyor exc. ..n.nt. =
I CONGRATULATED Vim BE hr". ...t-
wit 10th his own ard be rs.rs st9'n
in hip ewes. isn't D. wonderful. Pc
said - hundred and eighty '...
sand rrer taken prisoner who could
have though there wer" SO moeE !.
the fortresR?' p.
! looked az him in am.z-m m y
had been supposed that .'r.c "a no "a,
the outside iftv or s..t .Hala :
Austriars shut I'm in |
did not bel there COW" r" been
TWICE the numb Der of the Huf IN arnv
Of investment. Why had they not
broken out?
Eyes. yes" he continued. a'mo7'
skipping around the room. ut IS rs
tell YOU. thanks he 10 God. Far bot
ter than we exnected Far, far more
of victory than we hoped TO GAIN
At that moment only very few peo-
ple knew the number of Austrians capt
ured. The general had told nobody
else. | could have telegraphed the
news and had scoop why dldn
do this? Because I did not believe t.
I In Russia it was impossible 70 accept
as fact beyond question any statemen,
made 10 one by a Russian, even by
ministers of the crown. ! had been
bitten once. received, straight from
the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr
Sazonof, an announcement that TWO
German army corps had been sur
rounded and captured near the town OF
LODI, in Poland. | sent this TO ms
Newspaper Next day we learned thai
the army corps had been surrounded
but that they had broken through the
Russian troops and got away. After
that experience, | made up my mine
not 20 believe anybody.
/ Talked Scandal With Nicholas
Yet the figure which SouShom..noH
gave me turned out to be correct.
II was the generals good humor anC
high spirits which made him fayor!t'
with the Emperor. Sovereigns Away
like people who amuse them. They
seldom value the men who do the bes
/ work for their countries. These mer
are apt TO be dull" Soukhomllnof
was an agreeable companion. lie die
not try 10 instruct the Car. lie tolt