THE RUSSIAN ARMY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15037, 4 August 1914, Page 11

THE RUSSIAN ARMY.

THE NEW NATIONAL SPIRIT.

(By Lieut.-Colonel V. V. Krivenko in "The Times.") Not only foreign but even Russian opinion has but a vague idea of the profound changes that have taken place in the Russian Army since the war of 1904-05. ~ In reviewing" them it is, above all, necessary to call attention to the rise among the leaders of the Russian Army of a' new spirit based on the development of a national conception of the conduct of war* and of a corresponding change in the system of military training. Up to recent times the .higher commands were filled chiefly by graduates of the former General Staff Academy, who had como entirely, under the influence of German military literature. In accordance with the essential qualities of their national character, our neighbours are ever inclined to resort to clever and methodical combinations rather than to boldness and dash. This characteristic found its expression in .the tactics of ■ deep formations. This system has undoubted advantages; it discourages risky operations, and in case of defeat saves the army from complete rout. But in the face of a determined enemy it quickly develops its negative features, both in a material and in * a moral sense. While appropriate to the methodical and persevering German character, it has proved unsuitable for us, who are devoid •of these * qualities. In their case it engenders carefulness, in our case it has led only to lack of confidence, apprehensiveness, and even timidity. In their anxiety to assumo stability 7 Russian commanders have been over-careful of points d'appui, and gradually camo ■to regard them hot as a means but as an object. The Russian Army lost its traditional mobility, its initiative, and tho will to strike at and overthrow the onemy. RETURN TO TIME-HONOURED ,'... METHODS. • ( The lessons of the war have in this respect' been beneficial to us. The -leaders of the Russian Army have ab*jured their faith in learned theories, .elaborated under.alien -psychological ■conditions, and have sought a different road, and* have found it in a return to time-honoured methods created by tho genius of bur great commanders ahd by the .instinct of the nation". Not to bo .subservient to the will of the enemy, por by slavish'anxiety tognticipate his plans, nor to prepare ever.for the,defensive", but, onthercontrary, to impose our .own ■ will upon liim—-such, in substance; * are the tendencies above mentioned, and upon.them depend the respective -tactics", Strategy, and -preparation, of-the-Army in time of peace and the "education of the nation. These new ideals, conforming with the best traditions of our • military history,' have ifound expression -in the present teaching of the Academy and in our military literature.,..; Being in Ijarmony with the spirit of the Russian nation,,, they are 'quickly permeating all ranks, and in a possible) future conflict, i.t may be . hoped that we shall not see a repetition of the reverses of 1904-05.'

ACTIVITY IN MANY DIRECTIONS; No small progress has oeen made by the. Russian Army in othor-' respects. The higfter commands have, been rejuvenated, so has ttie Army itself. % By the law of 1905 service in , the ranks was' reduced- from four to ;'two and tnree-quarter years,- ahd "this at once' gave, .an 'annual increase of ,200,000 young reservists. An-* other uelectr-tho, parallel maintenance of- Regular'and Reserve' units, the latter consisting in time of< peace of small cadres, and therefore in time of war to provide. ; the necessary stiffening—has been Removed since 1907. . Preserve unite have been either abolished br transformed. Between the years 1907 and 1909 our military schools were amended ;and enlarged so as to. ensure an annual supply of 1500 welUtrained and educated subalterns. Money was "also voted' for the creation of corps of time-expired non-commissioned officers numbering 20,000. During the present year* (1913) a new law'has come into force, improving "the position of officers of Reserve and Volunteer . soldiers. Once started, the stream of reform has run irresistibly, affecting every side of our military In. 1910 was begun.the. equipment of our Army corps with heavy guns and new transport; the' Arniy, began to be sunolied with wireless stations, searchlights, automobiles,' and • aeroplanes; trials were made of different methods for destroying fortifications, and a new substance for producing a. curtain of smoke .to screen the advance of troops was tested. No doubt all these innovations have still to run their full cycle, but not a little work has been done. ■ .'. THE COSSACK FORCE. . : The Cossacks hold a place apart in the Russian Army. Although'it inn have seemed at one time that their glorious' traditions were nel-er to be revived, .such a presumption can no longer have any justification. The Cossacks can place 200 regiments of cavalry, with their own artillery, in the field in time of war. The fighting value 'of such a force cannot be questioned. i The Cossacks are the products of ages of. warlike and social organisation. Their destinies were ever closely bound I up with the destinies of the Empire. From their very origin they r.->: dered inestimable - services to the cause of national defence, and at the 6ame time least ."of ;all required*' the tutelary support of the Government. And to the present day they are imbued with the same spirit' of devotion and. independence. Every Cossack is the child of a military >and warlike communiry. which leaves upon him its indoljble imprint. From'his infancy he is imbued with the; the idea that it' will be his duty to take his' father's place in' the ranks. His «_ras,- his uniform, nis charger, are all objects of, daily care, for the" Cossack, the ambition, of his youth and the prid**. of his maturity. Every Cossack has his personality in the ; ranks, and all the more so when he is off duty. A spirit of individualism ; b, therefore, the distinctive mark of the Cossack." He is circumspect. quicHy adapts himself to any conditions, does not require surveillance or support in the execution , of tho *, most * responsible missions; he is fearless and unspoilt. Among the Cossack- forces .there has always been an' innate desire to' be officered from their own midst. In most cases their officers were" Cossacks of larger means. In the cavalry schools, there are special

Cossack sotnias. xVU Cossack boys who have finished a middle school are eligible. Unity of origin between officers and men has now been, almost completely assured. The fact that they all como from a common stock and nave been brought up in a similar wav provides a strong bond of union between privates and officers. The Cossack Arm y is a military f milv or clan. Wo are no longer continuously engaged in war as in the old times, when the Cossack was ever in the field. But it would-be a great mistake to think that the Cossack has lived his day. Mis training, his education, the atmosphere of military ideals among which he grows up and lives—all these conditions develop the young Cossack into an excellent soldier, and will continue to do so for a long time to come. AN ENGLISH n^iiMAIE. Mr J. Ellis Barker, writing m the "Fortmgnciy Review,' deals with tne development aud progress made by ine Russian Army. The totlowing is an extract from the article'—.,,,. „ "Tho Russian Army, which had been mismanaged daring many years, has ol iate beeu greatly improved, partly Decause the Japanese deieat has given Bussia a rude aud wholesome awakening ; partly because her "great prosperity has* enabled Russia to spend eiormbus sums upon her Army and Navy. The cost ot living has greatly increased the world over, principally m consequence of the great rise in tne prices of foodstuffs, and of raw materials, and -Russia, .being chiefly a producer of foodstuffs and raw materials, has been greatly benefited by that rise. That may be seen from the great mciease in the value of her foreign trade, and by the notable improvement of tno Russian Budget. "In 1910 Russia's expenditure on her Army was £'52,500,000, and on her Navy £9,800,000, together £62,300,000; i-i 1913 tho expenditure on the Army was £62,700,000, and on the Navy £2-1,900,000, together equal to £87,600,-----000, or an increase of £25,300,000- as compared with 1910. The increase is truly startling, but it should henceforth exceed £100,000,000 per year, in view of the enormous increase in the peace strength of the- Russian Army. The Russian officers have worked very hard 6i*nce the Japanese War. The great pi ogress of the Russian Army is particularly noticeable in the technical services, in which the Russians were hitherto weakest. According to the French authorities, Russia occupies the second rank in aviation. She intends building 400 aeroplanes during the present year. The effective peace strength of the Russian Army is 1,385,000 men, and it is proposed that this enormous number should be increased by 450,000 men.

"Russia has become more dangerous to Germany than she was Mn former times, because she has lost her former megalomania, her complacent belief in her invincibility, which caused her to fritter away her strength in Asia and to neglect her Western frontier, where alone she is vulnerable, to the despair o f General Kuropatkin and other leading soldiers. Russia has wisely abandoned the Pacific. She is satisfied to rule the Black Sea, where she is building three Dreadnoughts of 23,000 tons, and she intends concentrating her naval efforts upon the Baltic, where 6ho is completing four Dreadnoughts of 23;000 tens, armedwifh twelve 12in guns, and has laid down four huge battle-cruisers of 32,000 tons, armed with nine 14in guns. The Russian At my is supposed to have a very excellent modern artillery, and it is being supplied with a new rifle since 1913."