GENERAL SKOBELOFF.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2506, 19 April 1882, Page 3

GENERAL SKOBELOFF.

The “ Allgemeine Zsifung,” a leading German paper published at Augsburg, has thc following remarks on the personal character of the celebrated Russian general:—Genera! Skobclcff, a man of thirty-eight years of age, is a thorourrh soldier, and regards war as tis element. He has perfected his undoubted military genius by deep study ; he is now a general of cavalry, Commander of the Order of St George, and—a celebrated man. Great as his military advantages are, the qualities of his character are little esteemed in the circle in which he moves. Tbo good matured Prince Michael Nikolajevitob look him with him, on bis completing his studies at tho StaS Colleges, ar an orderly officer, but was soon compelled to send him away. Although ho is tho national and popular hero of the Russian people, he does not enjoy the sympathy of good society. Richly endowed by nature in every respect with an attractive exterior, winning manners and tho most polite ways, and educated in positive science, the brilliant young general creates a favorable impression. And yet there is scarcely any had quality which in St. Petersburg is not attributed to him—cot merely by his enemies and those who envy him, who are naturally many, but, by the best circles in Russian society. He is said to be an intriguer, heart-loss, brutal, end cynical, devoid of all noble feeling, unprincipled and unscrupulous. Things are told of his severity ar.d cruelty while in Central Asia which make one’s hair stand on end. Whatever exaggeration there may be in this, the judgment is too unanimous for cne to doubt, its truth. And yet this man is tho national hero, and dccidedlv the most popular character in the Russian E ..{ ire, the god of the masses, whom he knows how to flatter—a mao who, oon-uracd by ambition, treats even fanaticism as a means to an end, and evidently may be destined to play a conspicuous part in the history of Russia. It is characteristic of him that, al hough he went to the Balkan campaign without any command even on account of his notoriety, his capacity soon availed him, and he returned home after a few months us one of tho most celebrated generals. The E nporor Alexander 111., who t-y no means likes a man who Is more than infamous in military life, will keep this general as for ao possible from him ; hut he may bo compelled, in case of serious complications, to appeal to Bkobolcff. If he lives, ho will ba the leader whom one will have most to thick about.