Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-02-19

less of efficient qualities. These give
a very favorable impression, and do
not in general differ much from our
own officers. Others are of a 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 or even brutality,
and the fact that every officer. and
even petty officer, can punish any man
of lower rank, and does so, may ac-
count for the atmosphere of severity
marked in some Russian ships. Many
experts hold the opinion that a con.
siderable 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 are reluctant to discuss service
matters. The smartness Of the Ameri.
can officer is rarely found in them,
and some Of them are slovenly.
Russian sailors are conscripts,
serving seven years on the active list
and three in the reserve, and they are
organized in 'equipages' in each of
which the company of q battleship is
the nucleus, the men of smaller YES
sells making additional companies.
There is comparatively little sea train
Ing, and this organization is an at.
tempt to carry on the sea work on
shore. The man is generally-for, of
course, there are exceptlons-of far
lower level than his American or
British confreres. The tub is little
known to him in many ships, squalld
dirt is his element, and his room is
often more desirable than his com.
pany. The Russian navy has made
enormous advances in the last few
years, but still the old influences ex.
ist. There is still the despotic power,
still the men are cowed by its exer.
else, and still their personal condition
leaves much to be desired. They are
apt to be sluggish, but there is some
thing Of religious fervor in thcm, and
they may be expected to act and fight
with courage and endurance, If with
little initiative in handling arms and
machinery.
Probably the darkest spot in the
state of the Russian navy is the sever.
ity 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 meeting with Russian ships in ports
Of evidences of hard treatment, of the
Russian ships putting. to sea and re,
turning with a man the less, who had
been hung at the yardorm for the ex
ample of his shipmates.
1T is commonly stated that the
Russian officers have been known to
knock their men down They are
certainly able to order tho lash-a
commander fifteen strokes, a captain
twenty-five, and the captain of an
'equipage' fifty. Tie system is a
rigid one, and contributes little TO the
creation of esprit de corps or conf
dence and a good understanding be
tween officers and men. In short
the code is still harsh and cruel, and
cannot be without a reacting influence
on the characters of both officers and
men. There must be severity in every
navy, but the peculiar character OF
Russian measures seems to indicate
that. in this matter at least, the navy
is a century behind that Of the United
States or Great Britain"