The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-02-25
RUSSIAN MEN
AND METHODS
THEY DISLIKE THE SEA
SOME INTERESTING INFORMA-
TON ON THE sUBJECT.
Officers are Brutal, and Generally
Course and Lethargic, Hanging or
Flogging THEN Men When They
See Proper.

W&shington.-An American naval
officer of wide experience has Just re-
turned to Washington after a period
OF duty on the Pacific station, which
brought him IN contact with Russian
ships and men and afforded opportu-
nifty for many observations. A result
Of these is embodied in the foreign
origin, its officers, seaman and discip-
line: In endeavoring to estimate
the Russian navy on the personal side,
it is well to remember that it was not
indigenous to the soil. The Cars,
from Peter the Great to the present
ruler, have experienced great Difficult
ty In finding efficient seamen. The
Russians, in general, have an aversion
TO the sea, and the long winters in the
Baltic are an additional impeachment
to the learning Of the seaman's art.
In the early history of the Russian
navy the most prominent part was
played by the English and Scotch of
.ncers-m many Of them Jacobites who
took service with the Russians. The
Russian officers of the present day, so
far as can be estimated, are Of two
classes. Some Of them, like Admiral
Mukaroff. are men of science and of
professional discernment, and doubt
less OF efficient qualities. These give
a very favorable impression, and do
not IN general, differ much from our
own officers. Others are of more
lethargic class, probably not lacking
in courage, but showing little alert
ness and much given to vodka drink
ing. In such men there must be some
strain Of coarseness our even brutal
ty, and the fact that every officer,
and even petty officer, can punish any
man of lower rank, and does so, may
account for the atmosphere Of severi
ty marked III some Russian ships.
Many experts hold The opinion that a
considerable number Of the officers are
incompetent. They have the exclu-
sive patriotism OF the Russian, and
however genial they may be to for
eign visitors, they never admit them
to any really intimate friendship, and
reluctant to discuss service matters
The smartness Of the American Off
Ger is rarely found IN them, and some
of them are slovenly. Russian sail
ols are conscripts, serving seven years
1.-two n a,,d 4f,,-co IVA thu
serve, and they are organized in
'equipages' in each Of which the COM
pany of battleship is the nucleus,
the men Of smaller vessels making adj
ditional companies. There is compar-
atively little sea training. and this
organization is an attempt to carry on
the sea work on shore. The man is
generally-for, Of course, there are
exceptions far lower level than
his American OF British confreres.
The tab is little known to him in
many ships, squalid dirt is his ele-
ment, and his room is often more de-
sirable han his company. The Rus
sian navy has made enormous adj
vances in the last few years, but still
the old influences exist. There is still
the despotic power. still the men are
cowed by it's exercise, and still their
personal condition leaves much TO be
desired They are apt to be sluggish,
but there is something Of religious
fervor in them, and they may be ex-
pected to act and fight with courage
and endurance, If with little initia-
tive in handling arms and machinery.
Probably the darkest spot in the state
of the Russian navy is the severity
Of ITS punishments. A story is told
that, within comparatively recent
years, the whole company Of flag
ship, officers and men, were deported
to the Siberian mines for mutinous
conduct British officers have told me
Of meetings with Russian ships in
ports, Of evidences Of hard treatment,
Of the Russian ships putting to sea
and returning with a man the less,
who had been hung at the yardarm
for the example Of his shipmates. 1t
is commonly stated that Russian Off
GERS have been known to knock their
me1 down. They are certainly able
to order the lash-a commander fif-
teen strokes, captain twenty-five,
and the captain Of an tequipage' fif-
ty. The system is a rigid one, and
contributes little to the creations of
esprit de corps or confidence and a
good understanding between officers
and men. In short, the code is still
marsh and cruel.'
Senator Morgan has made his last
speech on the canal ouestion.