KUROPATKIN 3282 



conspicuous in all the great battles of that 

 st niggle. 



KYOTO 



LOCATION JMAT 



KUROPATKIN, koo ro paht' kin, ALEXEI 

 XIKOLAYEVITCH (1848- ), a Russian general 

 who was responsible for one of the most crush- 

 ing defeats of the Russian armies in the Russo- 

 .Japanese War of 1904-1905 (which see). How- 

 cvor. he later inspired his government with 

 such confidence that he was given an important 

 command during the greater conflict which 

 broke 1 out in Europe in 1914 (see WAR OF THE 

 NATIONS). Kuropatkin bore a conspicuous 

 part in tin- Russo-Turkish wars, became lieu- 

 tenant in 1890 and Minister of War in 1898. 

 When Russia and Japan began hostilities in 

 1904 he was given supreme command of the 

 jinnies of the czar. After the great defeat at 

 Mukden and the retreat of the troops to Tiel- 

 ing, he was succeeded as commander-in-chief 

 by Gineral Lmievitch, taking the latter's place 

 at the head of the iirst army in Manchuria. 



In his story of the Russo-Japanese War, en- 

 titled Tin Ji'iixsian Army and the Japai*< 

 \Ynr. Kuropatkin paid high tribute to the sol- 

 diers who had gone into the fray under condi- 

 tions which pointed to sure defeat, and he like- 

 wise frankly acknowledged hi- own mistake.-. 

 Nine year.-, after the do>e of the war with 

 Japan his country entered into the struggle 

 again.-t. thf (Vniral Kmpires of Europe, and in 

 \\.K called upon to take charge of the 

 Northern Division operating against General 

 von Hindenburg, the command of that division 

 having been relinquished by General Russky. 

 An English translation of Kuropatkirfs ,-tory 

 of I ho war with Japan was published in New 

 York in 1909. 



KUSKOKWIM RIVER, the second large-t 

 river in Alaska, exceeded only by the Yukon 

 in length and in importance. Its course is 

 wholly in the southwestern part of the terri- 

 tory, and at one point is not more than fifty 

 miles south of the Yukon. From Bethel, about 

 100 miles from the head of Kuskokwim Bay, 

 the outlet of the river, steamers run during the 

 season to Unalaska, the principal settlement on 

 the Aleutian Islands, a distance of 523 miles. 

 At Unalaska there is steamer connection with 

 Seattle, nearly 2,900 niiles southeast of the 

 Aleutians. 



For small vessels the river is navigable for 

 more than 300 miles northeast of Bethel. Alin- 

 ing districts are rapidly developing in the whole 

 Kuskokwim region, which is mountainous ex- 

 cept along the river's course, and the stream is 

 therefore rapidly increasing in importance as a 

 means of transportation. It is along the Kus- 

 kokwim valley that reindeer have been intro- 

 duced in largest numbers. At Bethel and in the 

 vicinity there are over 5,000 head. In time the 

 government system of railways will connect the 

 head waters of the river with the Southern 

 Alaska port.-. 



KYANITE, hi' antic, also called DISTHEXK. 

 is a pale blue or white and blue garnet, found 

 in rocks which divide along parallel planes. It 

 is composed principally of aluminium silicate-. 

 The better grades are clear or translucent; the 

 stone is capable of taking a high polish and is 

 therefore used for ornaments. The principal 

 sources are Massachusetts, Connecticut, Dela- 

 ware, Virginia, Switzerland, the Tyrol and Bo- 

 hemia. See GARNET. 



KYOTO, or KIOTO, kyo'toh. the ancient 

 sacred capital of Japan, is situated on the 

 island of Hondo, in an extensive plain, 230 

 miles southwest of Tokyo, with which it is 

 connected by railway. Kyoto is regularly and 

 compactly built on the rectangular system. It 

 is pervaded by an air of refinement, and many 

 tea houses and pleasure gardens add to its 

 attractiveness. The embroideries, enamels and 

 inlaid bronze work of Kyoto are marvels of 

 skilful handiwork, and its pottery, porcelain. 

 ivory and bronze ornaments, crapes, velvets 

 and brocades are famed throughout the world. 

 The chief buildings of interest are the old 

 imperial palace of the mikado and the resi- 

 dence of the shogun, which since the abolition 

 of the office of shogun has been the seat of the 

 city government. There arc many fine temples 

 and schools and an imperial university. Popu- 

 lation, about 443.000. 



