Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-02-20
Experts
Opinion

WASHINGTON, d. q, Feb. IS
General Miles, on the occasion of his
European tour several years ago, and
several other American military men
also have had the privilege Of becom,
ing personally acquainted with the
Russian army men and methods BY
attending maneuyers, reviews, etc,
in the land of the car. Very few
American naval officers, however, pro.
fess to have an intimate or expert
knowledge of the Russian navy. It
has always been the policy Of Russia
to work under cover, and foreigners
have had little opportunity to aequaint
themselves with the details regarding
the growth and development Of her
navy.
An American naval officer OF wide
experience in his profession has just
returned to washington after the COM
pletion of a period OF duty on the Paci-
fc station, which service brought him
in close contact with Russian ships
and men and afforded opportunity for
many interesting observations. A re-
suit OF these observations and OF a
knowledge previously gained by a
study Of the subject is embodied in
the following interesting statement
regarding the Russian navy, itsforeign
origin, its officers, seamen and discip
line:
I'm endeavoring to estimate the val
ue of the Russian navy on the person
al side, it is well to remember that it
was not indigenous to the soil. Theczars
from Peter the Great to the present
ruler, have experienced great difficult
ty in finding efficient seamen. The
Russians, in general, have al aver
sion to the sea, and the long winters
In the Baltic are an additional impeii-
ment to the learning of the seamen's
art. 1t the early history Of the Rus
sian navy the most prominent part
was played by English and Scotch of
ficers-many of them Jacobites who
took service with the Russians.
Russian officers Of the present day,
so far as can be estimated, are of two
classes. Some Of them, like Admiral
Makaroff, are men Of science and OF
professional d~iseernment, and doubt.
less of efficient qualities. These give
q very favorable impression, and do
not in general differ much from our
own officers. Others are of a Q
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 or yer brutality
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 seyeri-
ty marked in some Russian ships.
Many experts hold the opinion that a
considerable number of the officers
are incompetent. They have the ex-
elusive patriotism Of the Russian. and
however genial they may be to for
eign visitors, they never admit them
to any really intimate friendship, and
are reluctant to discuss service mat
tiers. The smartness OF the American
officer Is rarely found In them, and
some OF them are slovenly.
Russian sailors are conscrlpts ,serv-
ing seven years on the active list and
three in the reserve. and they are or
ganized in 'e~quipages' in each Of which
the company Of q b~attleship is the nue.
leus, the men Of smaller vessels max
ing additional companies. There Is
comparatively little sea training, and
this organization is an attempt to q
ry on the sea work on shore. The man
is generally-for. Of course. there are
exceptioDs-of a far lower level
than his American or British
c~onfreres. The tub is little
known to him in many ships.
squalid dirt Is his element. and his
room is often more desirable than his
company. The Russian navy has
made enormous advances In the last