THE ARMIES OF RUSSIA

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 99, 22 October 1915, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE ARMIES OF RUSSIA

IMMENSE NUMBERS AM) FINE

PHYSIQ ; UE

It is only when we think of the immense size of Russia, of her nearly nine millions against Germany's two hundred thousand square miles of territory, and her population of a hundred and seventy-four as compared with Germany's sixty-live millions that we are able to form some conception of the vast military possibilities of our Ally. The number of men that annually arive at military age is, indeed, so great that the resources of the country enable her to t;wn but only a fraction of them. The population of this vast region includes men of many rates, but all rally round the standard of the Little father, and were it not for their vared dialects it would be hard to distinguish one race from another. A few months' training suffices to weld the recruits from every part of the Empire into one body—the Russian Army. With the exception of a few minor differences, necessitated by the variations of climate, the Russian soldiers are all dressed alike, no matter whether they hail from the provices of Eastern Asia or from Western Poland.

RECRUITED FROM THE PEASANTRY. The Russian trooper is generally recruited from the peasant classes. He is a simple, kindly fellow, but is endowed with an intense love for his country, and though he can seldom road nor write, yet he makes one of the finest soldiers in the world. His free, untrammelled life, amid the snowy wastes of the North, or the fertile plains of the South, has made him one r the hardiest creatures in the world. Doctors are unknown in the majority of Russian villages, and though tie mortality from plagues is enormous, jet those wiio survive are practically supermen so far as physical fitness is'concerned. The Russian soldier can bivouac on snow-clad or marshy ground without deriving any ill effects, and this is where, during the past winter, he has held such an advantage over his enemies. There is no lack of discipline in the Russian Army; our Allies willingly die at their posts. There are atles of how Russian soliders were frozen to death while on duty on tiie heights of Sh pka, and many similar scenes have been witnessed on'the battlefields of Poland and Galicia. AN AMPLE FOOD SUPPLY". llip dosing of -:ie Black and Baltic m-is to Russian commerce has had no disastrous effects upon our Ally's t'oou supplied. Indeed, m many districts it luis only helped to make food cheaper as the "vast exports of cereals whicn Russia makes annually have been stopped. No matter how long the war lasts our Allv will have no difficulty in feeding her Army. The failure of supplies in past wars has been largely due to difficulties -n transport and the dishonesty of contractors. Moreover, the Russian soldier is one of the simplest men in the world to feed. He is almost n vegetarian, and his favourite food is "stehee"—a kind of soup made from cabbage and potatoes, with, perhaps, the adit : on of a little meat. His daily ration includes about 31b. of rye bread, Jib. of meat, and an allowance of porridge, macaroni, or buckwheat. Tea is his favourite beverage; he carries his kettle with him on the march and make* his own infus ; on from tlie Jeaves. .... .i Tb-r is some similarity between the dress of the Russian soldiers and that of our own troopers. The cap is of tho same shape, and the greatcoat, thoueb grey in colour, is similar to the khaki

garments so familiar in our streets today. In summer the Russian soldier wears a white linen blouse, and coarse grey trousers, the legs of which are tucked into his high-topped boots which in many cases he has made himself. He disdauis undergarments, but as the cold weather aproaches adds to his outer clothing, until, when the temperaturo is far below zero, he dons his sheepskin jacket, in which he can defy the fiercest blizzard. RUSSIA'S CRACK REGIMENT. Russia's crack regiment is, of course, the Russian guard. The men belonging to this famous corps are recruited from the tallest and best in the Empire, and in times of peace the regiment is never quartered far from Petrograd, where its training is constantly under the eyes of the Czar. Members of the Imperial family serve as officers in this regiment,' and its staff is composed of the ablest military authorities in the Empire. Another famous infantry regiment is the Preobranshensky, which is recruited from the reighbourhood of Petrograd, and in which the sons of the best families in Ri Soia may be found. I l ' u land, of coir so, is favoured win drown army, which with the addiv:-a of Russian artillery, is entrusted with the ! defence of its front ; ers. The seventy of the winter in this part of the Em--1 pire has helped to make the Finland ; crs excellent ski-runners, and the Finnish troops occupy the proud position of being the finest skieurs in the Czar's donrnions.

The Russian infantry is armed with the "three line v rifle, which i> sighted for 2000 paces, but it is capable of killing at a much greater distance. But the Rusisan soldier prefer? to fight at close quarters; he is a skilful bayonet fighter, and it was in bayonet engagements that the Japanese were said to have lost 80.000 men at Port Arthur. When on the march the Russian soldier carries, his bayonet turned down: it cannot be detached from the rifle as. in other European countries, and it : s the skilful way in which our Allies make use of this weapon which serves to lower the morale of the German troops.

THE COSSACKS. It was once said that a hundred Cossacks make less noise than a single cavalry officer, and certain it is thai their quietness and agility of movement are two of their greatest characteristics. Cossack cava'ry often appears before the enemy without giving the slightest warning of its approach, and when out-classed scatters again with equal rapidity. The Cossacks are without doubt Russia's finest soliders. They are drawn from Southern Russr*, from the provinces bordering the Don to the distant waters of the Pacific. Originally they were free-hooters, and at one time they became so powerful that the Muscovites were forced to declare war upon them, but at the time of Peter the Great they were organised as a milita'ry force, and they have been its chief defence ever since, '/he Cossacks are bettor educated than any other peasant classes in Ru>sia, and they enioy many political privileges <n return for the services they render the Empire. Their martial training may lie said to begin when they are mere children, for they are rocked to sleep to the tune of martial ditties, and very often they are taught to ride before rhev can walk. At the age of eighteen the young Cossack receives his first course of military training, and ho is required to provide his own uniform and amis. ~.,,-, t The Cossacks are divided 'nto two great classes, the Stanovie and the Circassian Cossacks are clad in 'tcherkesses," or tightly fitting cloaks, and are armed with small bore rifles, curved swords, and double edged daggers, but all other types wear a surtout, and carry a rifl«, curved eword, and a lance.