The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-15

place to place on it's own wheels.
 General Weston, commissary general of the United States army. thinks well of the Russian soup cart, and considers the idea of its adoption by our War Depart ment well worthy of consideration. In an active campaign the Russian soldier receives two ounces of vodka Ca native whisky) daily. An allowance of 11k cents day is made for feeding the Russian soldier in war and peace.
 Russian Ration.
 The Russians can probably get abun- dant supplies while their railway across Siberia remains intact, but when that stretch of track is broken the soldiers of the Czar will have to forage. Japanese and Russians will probably make most of their meals off rice alone before the war has been going on long. Rice, with the possible exception of dried fish. is the most easily obtained ration on their bill of fare. and every town on the Manchurian, Korean and Japanese coast is probably well stocked at this time.
 The Navy Department fairly huns with commentaries upon the dashing success Of the Japanese attacks upon the Russian naval base at Port Arthur and of the sinking of Russian cruisers at Chemulpo Additional details of these actions are
 
 the utmost eagerness. But students of naval affairs arc quick to draw conclu- sions from what Is known of these en- agreements. and are analysing the lessons they teach behind the guns have been kept as keenly on the qui vlve in time of peace as If 1t were a time of war
 In contrast to this Japanese naval ac- tivity there has been Russian lassitude The bureaus of naval intelligence of every fY1 selves posted upon the operations and the morals of every naval service in the world. Every government knows the the oretieal and approximately the actual fighting strength of every battleship, cruiser and torpedo boat of every other government. It has consequently been a subject of inner knowledge to every ad- miralty office that the Russian navy was largely inert
 Mcrale of Russians.
 Worse than this there exists sound au- time. for the statement that the morale of the Russian navy had become lax. Some of the stories bearing upon this point almost parallel the reports that are familiar concerning the naval admin istration of Spain
 For example. it is asserted that Rus sian officers of high rank within a com Para'lNeY recent period attempted to place contracts with an American firm for large supply of coal. The offer was to pay for the coal at $5 a ton. The hussian government was to be charged SIP, and the difference was to be divided between the Russian officer and the American contractor. Another story is that the Russian naval officer paid all the bills for the construction and equip ment of complete battleshlp which was duly reported in commission. although from keel to tOpmasts 1t existed only on paper,
 Moreover there have been no Russian naval maneuvers of any real consequence most of the Russian battleships and cEuners having been kept in reserve and tneir officers and men in a state of in- activity. -..
 1hls contrast carries comfort and as- suFanee to the officers of the United states navy. because 1t has been the con unuous policy of this government tn keep