RUSSIA'S SINGING SOLDIERS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 112, 14 January 1915, Page 7

RUSSIA'S SINGING SOLDIERS

W. Barnil Stevens has written a book on "The Russian Army from Within" (Hodder and Stoughon). From it is learned the fact that the Russian army sings; and especially it sings after it has drunk the five pen-orths of witotchka that come its way on fete days sometimes from its officers. Bidvodka or no the Russian swaddy sings. Each company has its song-leader, who marches in front and "gives out the hymns," and has speccial pay. Fear of death lias no place in the Russian soldier's philosophy. "Life is a farthing," he says, meaning that it is ;; small thing in face of great occasions. For the cause he believes in the Russian soldier dies readily after fighting hard; and he believes in the cause for which the Allies stand in Europe ioday.