The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-08-07
RUSSIA AND ENGLAND.
A Russian Officer Presents His Side Of the
Case.

|
Said Russian staff officer to a New
York reporter the other day: "Tht
Russian army is composed of 1872 in.
fantry regiments of $500 men each, o,
672, 900 men all told; of the sharp
shooters, numbering 46, 900 men of the
frontier battallions. comprising $4,000
men; of cavalry, $4,000 men, and OF
Cossacks, numbering $4,000 men. In
the Russian artillery there are about
$4,000 men, with 2,424 cannon of
the foot artillery and $50 cannon
of the horse artillery. Our en-
gineer corps comprises about $4,000
men. Therefore the Russian army,
ready to move, consists of 900, 900 men.
Besides, there are the artiIlerymen sta
toned at different fortresses all over
the country to the number of not less
than 80, 600 men. There are also many
local battalions for local duty. As 10
the reserves, I may safely state they
will amount to half of tine active army
as stated above-that is, about 450, 900
men and / 200 cannon. There are also
special recruiting forces, composed of
experienced officers and men and num-
bering 5000. who would be able in q
short time to instruct and prepare for
service ten times as many recruits. In
the Afghan war the Cossacks would be
of great Importance. There are the
Cossacks of the Don, of the Kuban, of
Orenburg, of the Trans Baikal of the
Terek, of the Ural, of Siberia, of As
trakhan and of the Amoor, numbering
$4,000 men, ready to move at short
notice.
"Cronstadt is situated on the Kotlin
Island, forty six versts, or about thirty
one miles from st. Petersburg. There
are two channels leading to the capital,
one north and the other south from
Cronstadt. Both channels are, as it
were, virtually closed by three strategic
lines of powerful forts on artificial
islands. Now, in order to reach st.
Petersburg. the English men of-war
would have to pass between these forts.
By a device of our own we may concen-
trate the fire of at least hundred can |
mons at one time, and on any point of |
those channels. AS I have already said |
we might easily sink there the combined
feet of eli Europe. The cannon we have
there are of the heaviest and best made
in existence. Some of them could well
come the English with half-ton cannon
balls. Our men-of-war might also
stand between those forts and act as
forts. Besides all that, each channel
there is closed as torpedoes.
Russia is powerful and solid ma
lion, which expands naturally because
Of its growth. She will be the master
in the East, all English impediments
to the contrary notwithstanding. You
know, of course, how jealousy England
each of our steps eastward, and
how readily she kept even the company
Of the Sick Man, provided that served
ner purpose of keeping Russia away
rom India and Constantinople. But
he inevitable must come sooner or
alter. 1t seems to me that the hour of
English decline is near at hand. Her
great historical role is played out. Her
uture fate we may see in that of Hol-
and. HEngland should be beaten in
her prestige would be
uined, not only in India, but also in
ii her colonies all over the world. AS
said before, in this war Russia puts at
take nothing and England every !
hing"