RUSSIA'S GREAT RESERVES.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 May 1916, Page 3

RUSSIA'S GREAT RESERVES.

SEVERAL MILLION MORE TRAINED MEN. (London Times Correspondent). Russian Headquarters, S.W., Front, February. In previous messages I have sufficiently indicated the progress made in utilising Russia's splendid manhood for the Army, notably in respect of the organisation of reserve formations. A perhaps still greater improvement is noticeable in the supply of trained subalterns. I cannot give details, but to illustrate this statement I may mention that there are from 25,000 to 30,000 additional subalterns annually from one of several Sources of supply. It may safely be asserted that the Russian army no longer suffers from any deficiency of voung officers. I may also state'that 'if the Supply of rifles could keep pace with the supply of men we could to-morrow place several additional million trained men in the field.

While visiting th e Olonets infantry I was shown a card receh ed from the sergeats' mess of a British regiment bearing the same number and dated "Depot, West Yorkshires'." The exact nature of the missive was unknown until my ar-' rival, as none of the officers was conversant with ""English, but they guessed it, and the whole regiment was hugely pleased that their British comrades °ha'd remembered them. One officer said to me, "We were then expecting to go into action, and, I can tell you, this card bucked us up." The exchange af kindly messages between the Allied regiments , initiated some years ago between the French and Russian armies should be revived, and would certainly be much appreciated. It would be better still if regiments exchanged officers. Scarcely any of the units I visited during the past three weeks had ever seen a British uniform. Almost nothing is known here about our Army. The Russian newspapers are uninformed and are practically not available. We ought to send officers knowing Russian to serve with ihe regiments and invite an exchange of Russian officers knswing English." Prisoners here have been saying for some time that it is long since they had tasted sugar or eaten their fill ot i>read. They do not know fresh meat or hot food, being sustained almost entirely by tinned foods. The Austrians unanimously testify that their reserves are exhausted and even railwaymen of serviceable ages are being enrolled, their places being taken by old men. The comparison between the conditions in the respective camps is sufficiently great to warrant the fullest confidence in our eventual success in this theatre.

In conclusion, I may remaark that the opinion quoted here 'from the Times as to tfce advisability of a simultaneous offensive is widely shared in Army circles.