1-527-268 - Art Media/Heritage Images

General Kuropatkin touring the Russian lines by car, Russo-Japanese War, 1904. Alexei Kuropatkin was the Russian Minister of War and commander of Russia's land forces in Manchuria in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. His cautious, hesitant command strategy was largely responsible for the repeated defeats suffered by the Russians and after the disatrous defeat at Mukden in February-March 1905 he asked to be relieved of his command. An illustration from Le Petit Journal, 11th December 1904.