ROUND THE WORLD TO THE FRONT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 197, 4 August 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

ROUND THE WORLD TO THE FRONT.

Every day's paper seems to contain an announcement that further transports, full of Russian troops, have arrived at Marseilles.

As soon as they land they are entarined for the camp of Mailly. near Chalons, the Salisbury Piain ot France, where, under the fatherly eye of their beloved leader, Gcu.M-al Lochwitskv, they are becomin gfannliar with French military methods and rapidly preparing to go up to the front and join tneir Gallic brothers in smashing the Huns.

My lirst glimpse of the Russian leader was when he stepped off the leading transport, which arrived at Marseilles on Holy Thursday. A ta'l, fine figure, blue-eyed and smiling, ho has the gift of instant charm. To look at Inn s to undustand why these Russian giants idoliso him.

Next day I sa.w him marching through the sunlit the Mediterranean metropolis, at five head of h.s legions, a beautiful bouquet oi pink roses and white Mac in his right hand, his left resting on his sword hilt. His was a truly kinghtly figure, and there was not oik* 1 among the thousands of olive-cheeked daughters of the South whose heart did not beat more quick 1 * at sight of the gallant Muscovite general.

Lochwitskv is a hero. When wa* broke out he held the rank of coloncSince then Irs promotion has been at rapid as that of the French officer whom lie most closely resembles, Gen cral Petain, the hero of Verdun. During the campaign in Eastern Prussi t Lochwitskv, at the head of his regiment, hacked a way through the German hosts, for a Russian Army Corps was in danger of being cut off. For h-s ir.irepid conduct the Tsar made him a general of brigade. Later in the war he on several occasions distinguished himself, notably at Lotz, or the battle of the Four Rivers. He has been three times wounded —twice by bul ! ets and once by a shell fragment. The first time, after being struck while leading his men in a desperate charge against the Germans, ii.i fell on the snow amidst Prussian barbed wire entanglements and remained there unt : l the following day unaided. U was only when the Russians carried the enemv position that he was discovered and' carried to tho rear by h ; s man. The Russian soldiers who have volurt. leered for service m France are a'l. picked men, the majority of iron constitution from the banks of the Obi and the Lena.

JOURNEY OK EIGHTY DAYS. Nearly ail their officers have been wounded in the Russian campaign, and most of tliern wear decorations attesting their gallantry. When it became a question of soJeciting the who should lead these men in France Nicholas 11. sent for Lochwitsky . "To you," lie said, "J confide the honour or my chikl-eu and my Hag. i know it could not lie in better hands.'' In conversation with Captains Balbachev.sky and Semenoff, I learned taht the Russian troops after concentrating at Petrograd and Moscow the two cap : tals of Russia, travelled by rail to the Japanese port of Dalni, in the Kwang-tung Peninsula, a journey i t 7,0(K) miles, where they embarked for Europe. The land journey took them twentyfour days, and after going on board the transports they spent another fifty. four days at sea. Thus from the time they left their barracks at home until they landed at Marseilles they had been nearly eighty days on the wny. Tl'.ev stopped en route at Saigon, where they spent five davs: at Singapore, Colombo and Port Said. At none cf these ports was nny socrot- niatlo i» their identity or their destination. Tho problem of keeping in good health and spirits thousands of men in closely packed trasnports during such a protracted voyage was no ordinary one. Fortunately the Tsar s soldiers are robust, both in physique and morale. Every day tlu-y went through physical exeive'js and mil'taiy drill to whi *'i they are accustomed in barracks. and in order to prevent them becoming lowspirited. their officers lead them games and the singing oi hymns and old Russ : an folk songs. Ihe result was: that out of the thousands of soldiers wiio landed at Marseilles only three or four were on the sick ljst.

AY I ion tlio troops loft Dalni tlio sea was rough, but good weather soon set in and prevailed dur.ng the greater part of the voyage. In the Mediterranean. however, the transports were delayed hy a tempest, and a mistral greeted them at Marseilles. During the voyage the troops were escorted by torpedo-boats. In order to lessen the risks ot attaek by hosti'.; craft the transports passed through the danger zone with all lights out, and the soldiers were forbidden to silig.

One of tliOT most trying experiences was the varying temperatures imposed upon the troops. When they traversed Siberia and Manchuria tl.oy experienced temperatures of minus 40deg. Reaumur, while in tlio Chinese and Indian Oceans a tropical sun beat pitiloss ly down upon them. But they bore tliest) extremes with the fortitude of seasoned troops, and all their troubles were forgotten the instant they landed at Marseilles.

The Russian troops are delighted with the reception accorded them 'n. France and are impatient to join their Allies at Verdun, or at any other part of the front where they can be useful

The prospect of fighting alongside their AMies fills them with joy. I know that the Russian Emperor takes the keenest personal interest in the troops lie has sent to France, and is constantly kept 'nlonned of their doings. His Majesty may bo assured that nothing is being ielt undone to secure the personal comfort of his -soldiers 'li France. A speeal journal entitled, "I. Ami dii So Ida t Riisse. lias been produced, entirely in Russian, for the purpose of giving the sokhers home news and war bulletins from the various fronts.

Hiiv>inn postcards h:ivt - si!>o Ikvii si.pplied tn them, so tlmt corresponden with their t'ai.'i : ljes may bv facilitated. K'r"iichwonien ;ire doing wliiit the\ can to (!:-)!• I the of tlie Russian soldiers so fiir from home, lo this end t |iev have intimated that, as in the , ael their own countrymen, tliev are willing to act as war godmother* >o the subjoins of the Tsar ulio liavc come to light on the western I runt, and to keep them supplied with tobacco, eliocolate and other comforts.