Mikhail Dmitrievich Skobelev, a man described by that ever controversial figure Bernard Montgomery as the world's "ablest single commander" between 1870 and 1914, died at the young age of 39 from a heart attack.
There seems to be little doubt that his death deprived Russia of a truely great general, no more highlighted than in the Russo-Japanese war. In the Russo-Japanese war the Russian commanders were around the same age as Skobelev would have been if he lived but are generally considered poor substitutes.
So I want to know, what would be the effect of Skobelev living to a ripe old age instead of being cut down in his prime?
(A link to the wikipedia article about him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Skobelev )
There seems to be little doubt that his death deprived Russia of a truely great general, no more highlighted than in the Russo-Japanese war. In the Russo-Japanese war the Russian commanders were around the same age as Skobelev would have been if he lived but are generally considered poor substitutes.
So I want to know, what would be the effect of Skobelev living to a ripe old age instead of being cut down in his prime?
(A link to the wikipedia article about him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Skobelev )