The herald., 1898-06-07
INCREASING HER STRENGTH
Constant and Large Additions Added
to Russia's Armv and NAVY

The Russian army has been almost dou-
bled since the last Turkish war, while the
general staff has been increased by more
than two-thirds. The three western from
tier districts-Vilna, Kieff and Warsaw
now have 5S4 battalions, 1896 squadrons and
2S2 batteries, with 2070 guns, all on a war
footing, or about six-sevenths of all the
infantry and five-sixths of all the cavalry
and infantry which Germany keeps up in
time of peace. Russia is attaching more
and more value to cavalry and has already
% divisions, whereas Germany has only
one cavalry division of the guards in peace
time. At the end of last year the cavalry
divisions quartered round Warsaw were
united to form an army corps. and the
war office means to extend the system. In
it's opinion, the value of vast bodies of
cavalry, such as were used in the American
war. is very great. and 100 squadrons take
part in the maneuvers. The Germans,
however. appear to be giving up the en-
ployment of large masses of cavalry. The
Russian cavalry is equipped and drilled
accordingly. Except the two cavalry d.
visions of the guards, which still have
curassiers, uhlans and hussars, 1t con-
sists of Cossacks and dragons. who re-
well, to enable them to advance as rapidly,
Independently and vigorously as possible.
Some of them have even been supplied with
bayonets as an experiment. 1 may add
that the Russian frontier guard of &c, 900
men includes 10000 horse soldiers. Both
men and horses are excellent and admir-
ably trained. On the other hand, 1t is a
distinct disadvantage that the Cossacks
ov,1 Nf al, ri,
can only ride at quick trot, which would
entail heavy losses In long distance at
lacks on modern artillery and infantry.
This disadvantage will be considerably
intensified by xhe proposed union of Cos
sacks and other cavalry in one division,
for the latter can ride the field gallop"
Of $50 PAGES minute.
The Russian navy budget for 1898 allots
81 100000 rubles for general expenses, 1885,
Notwithstanding the 10000. 900 recently as
rigned-for new ships; 112OO, 900 for putting
ships into commission, and $500, 900 for the
improvement of the harbor at Libau. The
considerable outlay on the widening of the
naval harbor at Sebastopol and for build
ing or improving other harbors is not IL
cluded. The Pacific squadron is to have
nine cruisers. two torpedo cruisers and
seven seagoing gunboats; the Mediter-
ranean squadron three large ironclads,
one torpedo cruiser, two seagong gun
boats and two torpedo boats; the Black
sea squadron six large ironclads, one
cruiser, three torpedo cruisers, six tor
pedo boats, three training ships and three
transports; the Baltic squadron four large
and eight coast ironelads, six cruisers,
three gunboats and forty-seven torpedo
boats. The czar's yachts and several other
vessels for special purposes are not in
cluded. The new Russian ironclad tyne
is compromise between an ironclad and
an appropriated cruiser The length will
be 426h feet, beam 711a feet and draught &c
feet. The vessel will have triple screws,
Il, 800 horse power and speed of IS knots,
ten-inch and II six-inch guns, 16 three
inch guns and 2S smaller quick-firers.
Thirty-two new torpedo boats for the
Baltic and Pacific fleets are building in
Russia. The Arctic division of the Baltic
fleet will no longer winter in the Baltic
ports, but in the ice-free harbor of Eka-
terina, on the Thurman coast of the PENN
sula of Kola. The bay on which Ekaterina
lies is about 21a kilometers long, $40 meters
broad and 40 deep. 1t has good anchorage
and. owing to the Gulf stream, seldom
freezes, except for few days in February
The harbor was begun in 1896, and a stone
pier $50 meters long, a railway of about
1870 meters and lighthouse were finished
at the end of last summer. At the same
time a town was planned in sheltered
valley and now has public buildings and
schools. a telegraph and telephones, and Is
connected with the harbor by railway
The seat of the administration has been
transferred thitner from Kola, and the
place Is certain to grow quickly when the
railway to st. Petersburg. which has just
been begun, is finished. 1t is already con-
nected by telegraph with st. Petersburg.
Archangel and Norway.-London Stand