The Ghost of Skobeleff

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 November 1915, Page 3

The Ghost of Skobeleff

* A LJfiGlfiND 0J? , THE KUSSLUN . • AIkUIES. Many .Russian sentiuols declare thai they have seen the ghost of Genowil Slvdbeiefl; in a white unilonn riding a ■white ' horse. .Russian tradition &ays that the apparition marks a critical moment for the armies oi the Tear and causes panic in tho ranks of the enemy. Skobeleit : made such an impression on the Russian imagination that tho story of his reappearance will "be believed by millions oi peasants, tie was perhaps the most remarkable military personality Russia Has ever produced. He made his name in iue IlussoVTurkish "War of 18/7 He was a general 'befo.ro he was tib. lie brought abtnit the surrender of Turkey's last army, ami the capture < t ■ Adriauople, and would have been in Constantinople 'had not England inter- '/ vened. *He was-a magnificent leader, a strict disciplinarian, a man of much learning—he could siienk at least sevu.i ..languages fluently—and a good friend ■foi his men. The 'Svhlite liorso" legend comes from tho fact that he always wore a white coat and rode a white horse,.._!;o that hie men couM always pick him out. Ho was a man of the highest courage and daring, but he seemed . to 'bear a charmed life. His horses ; were shot under him, his sword smashed; in his hand, Jiis staff were sliot.at hie side, bullets whistled round hi'<i, yet he was never killed. With Ins impressionable troops the' story gre-v that he could not be killed. Archibald Forbes once said that he was oni of the greatest generals of modern times, and added, ff He was the most brilliant man I ever knew, and incomparably the finest fighter.' . He hated Germany and Austria, and speeches *hat he made on the danger from thoue quarters created 'a great sensation. Germnny tried tojget the Tsar to restrain Iris great soldier but a muzzle was unnecessary, for almost in a i';rw days the voice was suddenly silenced by death in 1882.' He was only 40; he . might easily have lived to sec that present struggle.