The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-20
RUSSIANS HAVE NJ HEART IN FIGHTING So Says Man Who Was in the
 Russian Army RELATES HIS EXPERIENCE l. Gordon, Russian Jew Now Living In Birmingham, Tells of the Hard
 Conditions In the czar's
 Service.
RELATES HIS EXPERIENCE

I. Gordon, man who has served in the Russian army and has watched the pres ent war with a great deal of interest, was talking yesterday about the conditions in Russia and the reason he thought the Ja- panese would whip the Russians Mir. Cor don is a Hebrew and has been all over Europe. He was made to serve in the Russian army for a while, but by bribing the superior officers he made his escape and came to America. He keeps fully in- formed on the war. and Is the subscriber for dozen daily papers, which he gets every day and reads with a great deal of care.
 In speaking yesterday of, the conditions he explained very fully why he thinks the Russians are in no condition to cope with the Japanese. He said in part:
 No Heart In Fighting.
 ''The Russians have no heart in their fighting. They are poorly fed, poorly clothed and equipped. and have 6OOO miles to go before they reach the Japs In the Russian army a private gets 90 cents every four months, and he has to buy many things with this He is given cer- tain things such as poor boots and some clothing, but not enough for his needs. Out of his 90 cents he has to buy baths, towels, soap and other things which the men get free everywhere else. He is forced to serve in the army.
 There is only one thing he is taught h ha ia fN fauI And a thai he has to divide with his superior of ficers, giving them half. Bribery is the great evil of the army, and it Is cor rupt from the top down. When an officer makes report about provisions and equipment, he always adds something for himself and when the food and supplies come they are stolen. The great Russian store houses in Siberia are supposed to be full of supplies, but they are not
 Plain Rations.
 "The Russian soldier feeds on nothing but bread and little poor soup, and now he is not even getting that. What chance has Russian soldier to fight after he has travelled coco miles in box car with out hot food, just like cattle. They have lost their patriotism, their bravery and all desire to fight For little they could be bribed by the Japs, officers and men.
 "rhe Russian private knows nothing Only a few write or read They are taught to sing the hymn to the emperor, but they know nothing about shooting and handling their guns. A Jap can shoot seven times to a Russians three, and shoot thousand per cent straighter. The Russians have no heart In their fighting, and are only doing it because they are forced to. Many of them would willingly shoot an officer instead of the enemy if the opportunity presented It. self.
 Take a private citizen and follow his career in the army. He is made to enter and is put under a man like the Ameri- can corporal to get bis training He is not taught a good manuel of arms, but Is put through a lot of gymnastic exer- cises, such as children are taught In the grammar schools in this country. The officer is always skipping, kicking and ill-treating the private, who Is little bet ter than dog. He has to do all the work such as building forts, making roads and cleaning up the barracks When he finishes that he Is hired out by the day. He gets 75 cents for this, but half is taken from him by the superior officers
 tf In Angry Moods.
 peioie ne ever starts 10 light he Is mad at the government for the ilI-treat- ment. has no heart in him for fighting. and is almost ready to mutiny. When he starts to war he Is poorly clad. as he gets only one suit of clothes a year and two pairs of boots which he can hardly wear. In every regiment a prize of gold watch Is offered for the best marks man, but no one has ever won a prize yet. The officers confiscate the watch before 1t is ever won.
 The soldier is packed with a hundred others In box car and run to Korea He gets no warm food enroute. has little chance to sleep and rest, and when he arrives he Is one of the most disgust ed men in the world. Can he fight then? No, certainly not. He Is not fit for anv- thing. Would any one blame him for sell ing out to the enemy?
 The Russian soldier has an enormous appetite. Ordinarily. he Is given three pounds of bread day. and some soup. Now In war times this supply is greatly diminished and he is practically on half rations. Ordinarily his appetite is three times that of an American soldier.
 "A man cannot be brave under such circumstances. The Cossacks ae noted for bravery. They are brave when 1t comes to leading massacre or fighting NNANifo'it'S WOiitH anu tIlluTen UT course Russian soldier is much bigger than Japanees and could whip three in a hand to hand fight, but the Jap is much quicker and can easily whip the Russian when shooting. He is trained. the Rus sian Is not.
 "A Russian soldier is always afraid that he will be kicked and cuffed by off- cers, therefore he Is very slow in his movements for fear of making a mistake. The Jap is quick and alert
 How He Escaped.
 "The officers are very little better than the men, and the corruption extends to the biggest generals. How did I escape from the army? I was forced into the army like all young men. I had some money and property. After I had been in service several weeks, l bribed the offi- cers to let me go home for few days. They said they could not. but they got the doctor to give me a certificate that I was sick I paid him s10 and also gave several officers the same amount They knew I would never come back. As soon as got a way I came to America
 'T believe the Poles are ready to rise up and fight against Russia at any time They hate Russia and are always nervous under the forced quiet. From what I see in the papers 1t looks as If there might be international complications.
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 n1nANIZINN MEM rLlIpHu