The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1915. RUSSIA'S FINE PART.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 2, 1 May 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1915. RUSSIA'S FINE PART.

ji How much France and Britain owo to i Russia for the great work done hy j her splendid troops, is liardly understood, and one not infrequently hears the question asked; What has Russia really done in the war? Mr Stanley Washburn, an experienced American war correspondent, who was with the Japanese during the greater part of the Russo-Japanese campaign, and who, from the outbreak of the present hostilities, has been with the Russian forces in the East, during ,a recent visit' to England, was impressed with the lack of accurate knowledge which he found existed and the con- ! sequent failure to appreciate the re- ' markable results achieved against the 1 Austro-German hordes in the face ot I tremendous difficulties. In a series of I articles written for the Times, Mr i Washburn shows it to be absolutely certain that Russia’s prompt and dramatic invasion ot East Prussia at the outbreak of the war, vitally influenced the whole of the Allies.’ campaign. The j rapidity of Russia’s mobilisation asfounded the Prussian military directors, and compelled the hasty transference of large bodies of troops from the West at a critical time for tho ( ! British and French, on whom the terrific strain .was thus eased- Do-’ ■spite the disadvantages in means of transit that Russia labored under, she indicted terrible blows on both Austria ami Germany. Speaking of the Army and the Grand Duke Nicholas, Mr Washburn states bis belief that history will consider the Grand Duke perhaps the most remarkable single individual to stand in the public eye in PJI 1. Russia has, in this great soldier, a Commander-iu-Chief and a Staff with but one criterion and one standard—success and efficiency, and [t “with abiding faith in bis army and the future, and with an incredible amount of patience, the Grand Duke is playing his own game in a way that will' ultimately mean victory.” That is something to be most devoutly prayed for. As regards the moral of the Russian Army and the character of the soldiers nothing could be more splendid. Religions fervour and a general dislike of the Germans play an important part in the attitude ol these soldiers of the Czar. Mr Washburn ( altogether scouts the idea that the j Russian is ferocious, and tells iis there I is no more tenderhearted soldier, but lie can attack with ardour, and bp is stubbornness itself in defence. Simple, strong, healthy, good-humoured, heroic-allv patient under suffering, he is splendid material for a soldier, and the now Russian officer sees to it that the best use is made of him. I’lie relations between officers and men are j quaintly paternal. After a gallant i charge a war-worn colonel will say to I his regiment: “Thank you, my ebilj dren. you have clone well.” and the reply comes: “Thank yon, lather, wo

are willing to do again." \ cry special ; note is made of the great improvement ' in Russian artillery, the field artillery particularly being quite equal to the German, and in application of artillery ! war science in the held the Germans apparently can teach the Russians nothing.