The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-04-08

buys 1t sells it again to the contractor
at small price, yet 1T great profit.
Thus it goes the rounds, for the con-
tractor again deals it out to the regi-
ment instead of the goods the govern
ment pays for until the poor soldier is
reduced to the last extremity of need.
Then he keeps the article when it is
doled out to him.
"The barracks life Is almost uEendur.
able. The younger soldiers are tyran-
nized over by the older ones, and any
complaints are met by physical blows.
It is a rule of the barracks that the
men must not lodge complaints. In
case where a. crime has been COM
OF the otner quarter. The breakfast
consists of cold water and a piece of
dry black bread
Each officer connected with the
army makes it a point to steal every
thing provided by the government for
the soldier except barely enough to
keep him alive. | knew of one officer
who was honest He started to deal
squarely with the soldiers. and he was
driven out of the army in disgrace.
When his brother officers saw that he
was unlike themselves they set traps
for him, lied about him, and it was not
long until the state officials at st. Pc
tersburg thought him the worst rascal
in the Russian army. He was the only
honest man | ever knew in his posi-
ton. and his name is bywofd in Rus
STA now, if it is spoken at all. His own
relatives turned against him. and not
one of them would mention his name
when he left Russia in disgrace
"The uniform allowed the common
soldier the first three years consists of
coat, trousers, boots and overcoat, all
old and worn. After the third year he
gets a new but cheap uniform Each
year he is allowed two shirts. two pairs
of underclothes, pair of wooden nit
tens and two rags to wrap around his
feet instead of socks. If he loses a
brass button from his uniform he is
imprisoned for eight days. The but
ton when new costs but 5 cents. The
soldier is allowed to steal, but if he is
caught stealing he is imprisoned six
weeks ON diet of bread and water
If he steals from the barracks the pun
ishment is doubled The officers say,
Steal all you want to, but don't get
caught at it. If caught, the soldier has
disgraced his country
"The soldier in Russia suffers be-
cause every article he wears is sold at
least fifteen times In the first place
the government buys the article from
contractor, who supplies it to the
regiment. The soldier who receives it
probably for , cents. The man who
mifted the offender is duly punished,
but the man who has complained of
him is compelled to stand motioniess,
he moves perceptibly he is placed in
prison on bread and water for six
weeks.
although the soldiers always wear
old uniforms, the government supposes
them to wear better ones. When a
high official is coming to view the
army, the superior officer makes them
don good uniforms, which he always
has on hand.
"The infantry is compelled to make
about fifty versts day when on the
march. One and quarter yersts make
mile. After the days march the
soldier is not allowed to eat until he
has cleaned his gun, pitched his tent
for the night and done any other work
there may be to do. If a cavalryman.
he must first put away the horses, thep
he may make his frugal meal of black
bread"