RUSSIA'S WAR STRENGTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 93, 15 September 1914, Page 8

RUSSIA'S WAR STRENGTH.

A VAST. FIGHTIXG- MACHINIIi SOME RECENT REFORMS. The Russian army Underwent a great reorganisation sifter the war with Japan, most of the changes being effected in 1910. The Duma has displayed the greatest interest, and voted laage stuns of .money for .the purpose. The old system of maintaining reserve- units v.-ith strong permanent cadres in peace, and also units of infantry i and field'artillery embarked for local service, luis been abolished in the interests of the first line.. (Thus three new army corps have 'been formed in European Russia, one in tlie Caucasus, and two in Siberia and the Far East, The army has, moreover, been redistributed—a fctep which lias considerably affected the balance of military power in Europe— a central group of corps having been formed in the Moscow-iUzan region, whence it can reinforce n.ny iilvreitened frontier. Training, both of ■of Hears and men, has hecn greatly improved, and tho old weakness of the lliu«Hn amuy—slowness in preparation and jnoWliswtion—is rapidly difia?" r r.:Mj as efficient ■administration develops. Tho formation of tile central mass hits, to some extent, weakened the frontier armies as th'.y ■land, in peace, ibut it is admitted that on the whole the new distribution is preferable 'to the old, and will become more and more so as railways increase.

The Russian army may be said to consist of several armies—the European, the Caucasian, the Turkestan, and the Amur force, the ifirst of these organised iike other European a-iimoes, and the censtitution of the others varying in conformity with 'local requirements. There are 13 greater military districts, t'iio trans-Caspian district, and the territorial, region of tho Don Ocssaeiks. There are 27 army corps in Europe, three in tho Caucasus, two in Timkestau, and five in Siberia and the. Far Katd, the army corps, moreover, being about 20 per cent, stronger on a war footing than the normal unit of thai name in other armies.

The. peace strength has been given as i": ; llows: Europe and Asiatic Caucasus. Itoissia. Infantry <W7,OtJt) 63,000 Cavalry 110,090 14,WV.> Artillery 133,000 15,000 Engineers '34,000 ' .8,000 Army Services .. 34,000 5,000 ifotal MIjOUU JI2S,UIK>' Including Cossacks and the Frontier Guards, some authorities give the total peace strength as 1,400,00!), iiu'hi..,.ig 00.000 in Turkestan and fcemirlctshc.nk and 280,000 in .Siberia. In the liuiasian Empire about 1,100,000 men (not including IVws'.cks) annually attain tho age for joining the anaiy; exemptions are numerous, .as only a little more 'than one-third of the. contingent is required for service. Liability to service lasts from tho 21st to tho 43rd year. Those Who join tho stand-in" army spend three years with the color* (four in the cavalry and horse artillery), 10 to liTi in the'reservc, and the remainder in the Opok'henie. or militia. The OpolehenJe embraces: (1 The surplus icf the annual contingent (;in- ( trained); (2) men who have complete!

service with the eollora and in the reserve under a law of March, 1811. Short trainings aro 'being introduced for the untrained portion, and an annual assembly for the older trained men. In Finland'there is a tax of 13,000 jOOO marks, to increase by 1919 to 24000.000, imposed, toy the Dirasa in lieu <ii, compulsory military service. Certain tribes and sects (such as Caucasian Mo-Sia-minedans) can also purchase exemption. The Cnssock forces havo a special coiiv ijivl" Cossack (becomes liable to servo as soon as lie 3m<3 completed his 18th year, and finds his own liotso nnd equipment, as in the Indian SiHadar cavalry. For the first yfM his service is purely local; 'bat'for trie next 12 vears he ibcliongß to tfio "front" category, ■which consists of three tots, the first of which is formed of men attifcdly serviiu",' and the two others of men who have been granted unlimited leave. The last five years arc spent in (he ro-j serve. Tlieso' are the) rules .for Don, C'osEackw, the teiuns of eervjee being slightly different for other contingents. I This peace effective of the Ossacka is stated to be 66,000, with f«2,400 horses; but it is probable that n»t more than 58,000 a:ro permanently with the colors. Tlio war strength is given as about I^o,ooo. Tne war strength of tho Riipsiari forces consists of about- sG,r>o:) ofticers ami 2,808,000 mien. ' These form the active a'rmv, but are not all availawo in any one part »f the Empire. To these '•figures must be abided the tvvailclile reserve, estimated tit I.oMoMfrontier battalions, 41,000; Cossacks, inclusive of the Opolehcnie. The war KlrenslJi in 't'laiued men is estimated at 5,400,000.