Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1897-05-12
RUssIA's ARMY.
Two Million sEsn, Armed With lEedsrn
 Rifea. Ready For Action

A8AEIM
 Rinea. Ready For Acsion-
 As the military forces of Russia on a war footing contain upward of 5000, 900 combatants, it would ap- pear that something more than "co- ercion that does not itseh mean war" would be required to enable any nation of western Europe to settle the eastern question without first consulting the czar. This vast army is raised throughout the Rus sian empire, liability to service be- ing almost universal. As a rule service with the colors lasts five years, and in the event of q mobih- Eation of the forces the field troops would be brought up to war strength by calling in reserves who had served five years in the ranks. The field troops and field reserve troops. together numbering 2,000, 900 of men, would be formed into field armies, which would each comprise number os army corps, rifle bri- gades and reserve divisions. The remainder of the forces consist of fortress and depot troops and i'm perial militia.
 The three line rife, pattern 1891, " has been introduced in place of the single loading Berdan rife The new rife carries five rounds in the magazine, is of small caliber @ inch), and has a smokeless aIa- munition. On s6rvice the bayonet scabbarSls are left at home, and the quadrangular bayonet is carried fixed. The barrel of the rife is un- cased and screwed into the body, an arrangement which helps to lessen the weight, and, in fact, the rife. with bayonet fixed, weighs only 9Sk pounds, or about one pound less than the Lee -Metford rifle and bsy- onet used in the British service.
 The regulations recognize four kinds of infantry fire-viz., volley fire, which may be used at all ranges, individual fire, which is employed up to 500 or 600 paces; individual concentrated ire-the fire of all the men of a section or squad at com. mon object-up to 1,200 paces; s mass fire at greater distances than 1,200 pGves. When within 200 or 800 paces of the enemy, fire attains it's maximum intensity by the em- ployment of magazine fire. After a successful bayonet charge the shoot ing line must continue it's advance to the far side of the captured posi- ton and press the enemy by a rapid fire. A frontal attack must be sup ported by one on the flank. When acting on the defensive, infantry must put forth every effort to shake the enemy by fire and then attack him with the bayonet
 Throughout the Russian cavalry the men are armed with a curved sword 34JS inches long and rife and bayonet. In tbe Cossacks the front rank carry a lance. In artil- lery the Russians are particularly strong, and their armament and projectiles are of the latest and most approved patterns The active army and field reserve troops alone con- tain upward of 300 batteries, man. ming over {, 900 guns. General staff officers form closed corps and are recruited from those who pass the General Staff academy. The duties of the general staff, broadly speak ing, include the movements and op- erations of the army. intelligence of the enemy and reconnaissance of the theater of war.
 It is laid down that on marches, when at distance from the enemy, it is of the first importance to study the comfort and convenience of the troops by separating arms and sending on billeting parties and bakers to provide for the wants of l the troops beforehand. When near the enemy, however. and on q march that may lead to an enooun- ter, the troops advance close up as much as possible in columns and aim mainly at swiftness and secre- cy.-Pall Mall Gazette.