Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-01-05
#isttlAnenas Reading.
RUsslA's FIGHTING MACHINE.

RUssIA's FIGHTING MACHINE.
Some Interesting Facts About the
Army Of the Gear.
The Russian empire possesses the
biggest fighting machine In the world
in the shape Of Its army and navy, and
there is no other military force OF
which the world knows 80 little.
Even the numerical strength OF the
army is largely a matter Of contec-
ture. AS nearly as can be reckoned'
the force available for carrying on the
earlier stages Of the war amounts to
nearly 100000. But in case Of ma
tional emergency this force could be
swelled to about 100000 fighting men
by the calling out of the territorial
reserve and the Opolchenie, or militia
This vast army Is more than twice
as large as the population of New
York city, more than twice as large as
the German army which, when mobil-
lied, is estimated to have total OF
3,036,000 trained men. Under the or
der of Oct. "a. 1902, the strength OF
the United States army was fixed at
107,s55 men-less than one-seventieth
of that Of the Russian.
But Russia does not depend upon
this immense army alone. She has one
Of the biggest navies in the world, or
rather, three distinct navies, each with
its separate organization and sepa-
rate base. One Is in the Pacific, Sec
ond in the Baltic and the third in the
Black sea-
In many respects the army and navy
differ materially from the forces Of
other powers. Reticence is the key
note Of the administration of both SER
vices. The secrets Of both the army
and navy are carefully concealed and
so are many things not usually hidden
by other nations.
For example. the allowance Of am
munition for target practice In the
Russian navy has been as large the
last year or two as that Of the Amer
lean navy. Even this fact Is not gen.
orally known, and no outsider can tell
whether the recent extraordinary ef-
forts to bring the craftsmanship OF
the gun crews UP to the highest point
OF efficiency have been successful.
The scores are not divulged, even
the fact that a ship has gone through
a course Of target practice Is conceal
ed. The keen rivalry between ships,
so prevalent in the American navy Is
thus impossible, and no Russian vessel
would ever enjoy the wide fame OF the
Alabama, however much she might de-
serve 1t. Absolute secrecy Is main
tained concerning all naval and mill
tary manoeuvres.
Even cases Of individual heroism are
similarly concealed, except in time OF
war. The theory Of the service Is that
every man Is equal in all respects to
his comrade Of the same rank. He Is
as brave, as efficient and as loyal.
1t Is considered bad for the service
to allow the limelight to fall upon
particular men, however heroically
they may have acted. And 1t Is con-
sidered to be bad FOR the men, too-in
which belief the Russian administra-
tors show q pretty good knowledge OF
human nature.
A sailor may jump overheard and
rescue his captain from death in shark
infested waters, or stoker may dare
appalling danger to save the life OF
comrade in an engine room accident.
In due course, he will be rewarded and
promoted, and throughout his career
his supporters will remember the deed
in his favor, but 1t will never become
public.
Rewards promotions and distinc-
tions are announced only in war times
or in cases Of very exceptional merit
and even In those cases no reference
whatever Is made to the occasion OF
the reward or special commendation IN
any published reports or orders.
No criticism Of anything connected
with the army or navy Is allowed, even
though it be Of a commendatory na-
ture. No officer or enlisted man Is
permitted to criticise brother officer
or enlisted man, except in the strictest
line of duty. Breaches Of this rule are
most strictly punished. and to 1t are
largely due the harmony and good fell
lowship Of the Russian service.
Any public criticism Of the service,
or even any department Of its admin
istration. Is sternly prohibited and
heavily punished. This rule prevails.
of course, in other services. but Is Oft
en- more honored in the breach than In
the observance. In Russia 1t Is most
faithfully observed. The Sampson
Schley quarrel and the Butler contro-
versy would be equally impossible
there.
The Russian naval and military SER
vices are compulsory, the rule being
that, every male Of sound physique
shall enter one service or the other at
the age Of twenty years. But the re-
cruit Is allowed to choose which SER
vice he will enter.
1t might be supposed that this would
lead to difficulty. as there might be
more men choosing one service than
were needed. and fewer choosing the
other. But 1t is not so. The system
works we'll, and helps to make the men
contented.
Enlistment Is for three years. with
the privilege Of reenlistment only up
on condition that the candidate has
been promoted during his term. In