Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-04
GEAR AND HIS COURT
Russian Nobility Well Repre-
sented in the War
ON LAND AND ON SEA
ACTIVE SPIRITS ARE TITLED MEN
OF RANK.
Nicholas II Arouses Patriotism by
Reviewing His Sol
diers.

VIEWS tUtH Win muCH HfiHldTy poLfp
splendor. and very frequently accompanies
the soldiers to the station to cheer them on
their way. The soldiers have the greatest
respect for him and appreciate his deep in
terest in their movements.
The emperor has placed much reliance on
the work of his Cossack troops in the pres
ent war, and has gone out of his way more
than once since the struggle in the far east
began to show his regard for this branch of
his large army. No patriotic Russian SOL
der can fail to appreciate the signal favor
of being led to action. so to speak, by the
ruler of the nation, and this acts an in
centive to them to struggle and fight des-
pera tely to gain victory.
Figuring largely in the present war will
be the Grand Duke Michael. successor to
the throne of Russia, who is prepared at a
moments notice to go to the front, accom-
panied by his royal suite. He commands
the Imperial Lancers and hopes to be able
to engage in the present conflict before the
close of the war.
Grand Duke Vladimir.
Another member of the imperial family
who is likely to give good account of him.
self In the present war is the Grand Duke
Vladimir, general-in-chief of the Russian
army, the officers of his staff embracing
the flower of the nobility. He is an uncle
to the car He was born April 10. 1S47,
and married Princess Parleona of Mech
lenberg- Schwerin.
Grand Duke Dlmitri. the tallest officer in
the Russian army, standing six feet seven
inches in height Is q cousin of the car and
was born June 1, 1862 He is son of the
late Grand Duke Constantine, brother of
Emperor Alexander II, who Is grandfather
of the present car. He is one of the most
popular men In the Russian army beng
generally known as good fellow" He is
now his way to the front.
The Russian soldier is a man of pecuI-
iarly hardy physique. and can dispense
with much that men of more advanced
type consider hecessaries Of life In the
possession of this last most useful quality
in soldier the Russian Is UNNECESSARILY
superior to the Japanese, and, moreover, he
is just as good-if not better-marcher. So
far as intelligence and dash are concerned.
the Japanese Is his superior, but not SO in
stubbornness of purpose or those shikaring
qualities that-among many others-dis-
tinguish a country-born soldier from a
town-bred one. and very much to the adj
vantage of the first.
A Conquering Race.
Coming from conquering race, and
with all the prestige behind it, the Russian
is only too likely to prove something more
than match for the very best troops
Japan can bring against him, unless it be
in very prependerating force-a very UNI
likely contingency, all things considered.
The Japanese soldier $50 far as a con-
tempt for death is concerned-a rare
plucked man, and. though many possess
soldierly qualities Of a very high order in
deed. far too many. on the other hand, are
much lacking the fighting qualities of the
Russian soldier.
The Russian empire unquestionably DOS
sesses the biggest fighting machine in the
world in the shape of it's army and navy
but there is no other military force Of
which the world knows so little.
Even the numerical strength of the army
is largely matter Of conjecture. AS near
iy as can be reckoned. the force available
for carrying on the earlier stages of a war
amounts to nearly 3, 100000 But in case OF
national emergency this force could be
swelled to about 100000 fighting men by
the calling out of the territorial reserve
and the opoltschenie. 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 modified. is estimated
to have total of 3.036.000 trained men.
strength of the United States army was
fixed at 107,S55 men-less than one-seven-
tieth of that of the Russian.
Has Three Great Navies.
But Russia does not depend upon this i'm
mense army alone. She has one of the big
gest navies in the world. or. rather, three
distinct aavies, each with its separate or
ganizat.on and separate base. One is in the
Pacific, a second in the Baltic and third
in the Black sea. In many respects the
Russian army AID navy differ materially
from the forces of other powers. and some
Of the points Of difference are decidedly ill
teresting.
Secrecy is the keynote of the admin;stra-
ton of both services. The secrets of both
army and navy are most carefully con-
cealed.
Individual Heroism.
Even cases of individual heroism are sim
ilarly 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 serv-
ice to allow the iimelight to fall upon par
ticuiar men. however heroically they may
have acted. And 1t is considered to be bad
for the men. too-sn which belief the Rus
sian administration shows a pretty good
knowledge Of human nature.
sailor may jump overheard and rescue
his captain from death in shark-infested
waters, a stoker may dare appalling dan
ger to save the life Of comrade in an en-
CINE room accident. In due course he will
be rewarded and promoted. and through
out his career his superiorS will remember
the deed in his favor; but 1t will never be-
come public. Rewards. promotions and dis
tinctions are announced only in war time
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 re-
ports orders
The Cossack Levy.
One branch of the Russian army is to-
tally unlike any force possessed by other
civilized powers. 1t is. of course, the Cos
sack levy. which numbers 10000 men.
Every able-bodied Cossack is liable to serv-
Ice without limit of age. He becomes la
Bile at eighteen, and the liability does not
raa "a ca he ia aftlf1 ri ~ orc
or carry gun But only a portion of
the Cossacks serve at one time. The rest
are granted UNLIMITED leave" or belong to
the reserve.
The stimulus which provokes the energy
and fighting qualities of the Russian soldier.
fnciting to greater patriotism and love of