Idaho Semi Weekly World

Russia Disgraced.—War news is as usual, curious: but curious as it is, two important matters are too palpable to be misconstrued—Russia was not prepared for war, and was over-confident. On those two points hang fifty minor questions that may tear to pieces the mass of bordering countries around Bulgaria. The Czar has discovered that his boastful generals are terribly deficient in military skill—shockingly slow in movement, dull of comprehension, totally ignorant of inimical topography, badly provided with arms; while the medical staff is not half made up, and the commissariat neglectful and incompetent.
The Russian rifle is a mere pop-gun at the distance of 1,000 feet, and the artillery men have not yet learned the power of the Krupp gun. As a Turkish officer remarked in a late skirmish, speaking of the Krupp, "The elephant is a monstrous beast—very dreadful—but few can ride him!"
It was quietly rumored at St. Petersburg that by the new year there would not be a Turk left in Europe and there would be great rejoicing at the palace of the Czar. One fatal consequence was the inadequate medical staff and the total neglect of provision for winter quarters. There has been but one man in the past hundred years that could move an army without providing for a retreat; and he once made a most disastrous movement in consequence of that inattention. The Russians knew all about this—for we speak of Napoleon; of his march to Moscow and the fearful retreat from the city which they themselves fired at the last moment.
Now they are overtaken pretty much as he was. At least they have ventured into a trap, and there is no escape except in disgrace or an unaccountable murder of thousands of brave men to gratify the pride of the incompetent crown. No one can doubt the personal bravery of the Russian soldier, and yet he is shamefully sacrificed to appease the wrathful Czar.
And worse still the Russian engineers are still talking of approaching winter. Now, even here in the far west, 5,000 miles from the conflict, was published six weeks ago, that the Bulgarian winter had commenced. The rains had come on, the marshes were filled, and mud, snow and slush were in the valleys, and storm and ice on the mountains. The Danube was filling and the sea was boisterous.
Now, the winter is on the mountain in all its fury, the roads are impassable, the wounded are unsheltered and Russia is disgraced in the eyes of nations.