A RUSSIAN GENERAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15886, 6 April 1915, Page 6

A RUSSIAN GENERAL.

There is often room for accepting with reservation the reasons given for the resignations of high placed commanders during the progress of war, but this cannot apply to the case of General Russky, of the Russian Army, whose retirement owing to illness lias been announced. When General von Falkenhayn succeeded von Moltkc he went to the German Army as the representative of a disappointed Kaiser; the Grand Duke Alexieff takes the place of General Russky as representing a regretful Tsar. General Russky had a high reputation prior to the war, and an excellent record as a teacher in the art of war in the Russian Staff College- He promptly proved his ability in the field by his capture of Lemberg early in September, and at a later stage he came into prominence as the victor of Prasnysz. For his success at Lemberg he received the public congratulations of the Grand Duke Nicholas, Commander in-Chief of the Russian armies, and the most coveted of Russian decorations, the Cross of St. George. Closely following his success at Lemberg General Russky did brilliant service for Russia by the capture of Mikolaiev. a point of strategical importance to the advance on Przemysl, and believed by the Austrian.? to be impregnable. His latest success at Prasnysz and his subsequent appointment to the command of the troops before Przemysl make it certain that his resignation indicates no desire on the part of the Russian commander to cover up tactical mistakes. Russia has lost for the time being a distinguished and successful general, but the events of the war have proved that she is fortunate in possessing a number of leaders whose reputations, like that of Russky, have survived the strain of eight months' war.