The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-10

pensed than on a Russian warship. 1t has
become a proverb in all the ports OF the
world visited by naval vessels.
In point OF seamanship the RUSSIAN naval
officer compares favOrably with the ofncer
of any other service. There are two gooo
reasons for this. In the first place, II not
better educated, his education has certainty
progressed farther at the time or MS en-
trance into the naval academy at kron-
stadt than that of either the English OF
American cadet; and, in the second place,
he is under far more effective compuiS son
to keep up his studies when afioat. But
mere book learning will not take lau Tar
in the Russian service. No cadet is engloIe
for promotion to the rank OF heutenans
until he has made a trip around the worlu
i'm a Russian man-of-war. That is his post,
graduate course after he leaves the naval
academy.
STANDARD OF DISCIPLINE.
The standard of discipline in the COM
missioned ranks of both services is similar
to that in the armies and navies of other
nations, with this striking difference, that
off duty there are practically distinc-
tons of rank among the officers. In the
messroom or at the cardtable the junior
lieutenant does not defer respectfully 10
the colonel of his regiment or the cap
tain of his ship, as he would do in other
services. On the contrary, he Is hail
fellow-well-met with him. There is a re-
markable spirit of brotherhood IN Rus
sian mess. and one officer stands aosoIuteiy
upon an equality with another. 1t is
this feature of Russian military life which
most surprises foreign officers when they
dine on a Russian warship or with gar.
rison mess. They stare in amazement
when they hear a mere boy of lieutenant
call his colonel by his Christian name or
even chaff him as he might have chaneo
one of his chums at the naval academy.
Certain distinctions in the commissioned
ranks are peculiar to the Russian navy,
and form an interesting link with the past
A boy enters the service as a naval cadet
and the ranks to which he may be pronot-
cd are the following: Cadet OF the navy
junior lieutenant, lieutenant or the navy,
captain of the navy, captain OF corvette
captain of frigate, commodore, wee al
mral admiral, admiral of the navy. These
ranks were adopted from the British navy
in the time of Peter the Great, and have
remained unchanged ever since then: The
corvettes and frigateS disappeared long
ago. but the titles are retained.
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 $4,000 men.
Every able-bOdied Cossack is liable to serv-
at eighteen, and the liability does not cease
so long as he is able TO ride a horse or
carry a gun. But only proportion or the
Cossacks serve at one time. Inc rest are
granted unlimited leave" or belong to the
reserve.
The Cossack feels the burden of military
service more heavily than any otner man
in the world. At eighteen he begins three
years preparatory service in the locality
where he dwells. After that is over he Is
drafted into one Of the three Cossack bans
for twelve years service in any part OF tne
empire He spends seven years with the
colors and five years with the reserve.
After these fifteen years of service the
veteran might be supposed to have done his
duty to the nation. But there is still furth-
er reserve, which comprises ali able-bodleo
COssacks not included in the other forces
The veteran has TO join this body and re-
main in it until he is enfeebled by age. The
men of this last reserve have to supply and
maintain at their own expense their horses
arms clothing and equipment. Thus
army is kept up at the cost Of the men
themselves.