THE RUSSIAN SOLDIER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 48, 25 February 1878, Page 4

THE RUSSIAN SOLDIER.

The special correspondent of the Times with thei Russian army, in the folio wing, controverts the popular notion of the habits and characteristics of the Russian soldier : — Never in my life have I seen so quiet so gentle, co well conducted an flrmy. In 200,000 men I bave not come across one drunken man. It ia a popular idea in England that the Russian soldier is a bard drinking, noisy, violent, brutal boor. Never was there a greater fallacy. He is sober to a degree ; never have I heard a violent word or Been a blow ; he pays scrupulously for all he buys, and lets himself be cheated and fleeced uncomplainingly by the uninteresting Bulgarian whom he is fighting for. His priucipal drink is °tea, which is substituted four timeß a week for the authorised daily ration of vodki (coarse brandy). The allowance of tea is practically unlimited. Under the private soldier's lowly tente d'abri, as under the comfortablejmarquee of the general officer, the samovar, the everlasting tea urn is alwaya smoking ; and no one who has cot experienced the luxury of a tumbler of tea— cups are unknown, though the glass always Btands on a saucer — hot, fragrant, of a rich golden color, with plenty of sugar, i andasiiceoflcmonandperhapsasoupcon i of rum— no one who has not gratefully blessed this glorious drink after long miles of dusty road or when the water is running iv streams down the nape of your neck, or squelching in your boots at every step— no one I say, who has not drunk ochai in a Russian camp knows what tea- is. As different from the miserable stuff we spoil with London chalk and water as champagne is from small beer. This is the° universal drink, and right good liquor it is to serve a campaign upon. But this is a digression from the Russian soldier to hia drink. May I say that he partakes of tbe nature of his drink ? Alway patient, always cheery, his principal amusement is singing i Q chorus. Round the fire at night, or from an early hour in the afternoon, this singing goes on, always standing' never seated, one man gives the words' and the whole join in the refrain 1 cannot call it melody— in fact it might be called tho least bit discordant. But it makes up for that by being incessant, and apparenily affords the greatest delight to the performers who repeat tbe same notes, and, apparently, the same words, for hours and hours together in a series of abrupt and long drawn howls. Whenever a company or a battalion moves, tbe singers are called to the front. They shuffle out of their places and form up in a loose group of fours at the head, and away goes the column, the time being occasionally varied by a few taps on tha drum. Another popular fallacy in England is that tbe Russian soidior lives in an atmosphere of blows— tbat ihe knout ami the stick are his only ruling moHves. The fact is that nowhere, not even among the Germane, is the soldier managed more entirely by moral means. A word, or even a look, from his officer euflices. He seems to feel a I reproof—and it is rarely deserved— as much aa an Englishman would a blow. Tbe bulk of tho Russian privates are themselves small land owners and have on interest and a stake in the country, acxrJingly I never saw more ready or lroplict obedience, or more cheerful compliance. This is not official only, but is Apparently baaed on genuine mutual j liktog and goodwill. Perhaps the officer forgets in plonoiog operations that his mon are no longer serfs. Evan in time of war the Russian soldier ia not liable to corporal punishment for any offence whatever, unless h 3 h»s by previous bud ccmJuet and by judgment of v court beeu placsd in a degraded or inferior clsss, que of whose special disadvantages is this !ii_bi!ity.