The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-10
RUSSIA'S POWER ON LAND
AND SEA GREATER THAN
MANY PERSONS IMAGINE
Size and Discipline of Army and
Navy Kept Secret and Crit
cism Barred.
PUBLICITY NOT ALLOWED
Even Acts of Heroism, Though
Rewarded, Are Concealed as
Much as Possible.
THREE MILLION TROOPS
Ready for an Emergency, and Four
and Half Million More
Always in Reserve.
PUBLICITY NOT ALLOWED
THREE MILLION TROOPS

a
The Russian empire unquestionably pos
sesses the biggest machine in the world in
the shape OF its 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 a matter of
conjecture. As nearly as can be reckoned,
the force available for carrying on the
earlier stages of war amounts to nearly
100000. But in case of national emergency
this force could be swelled to about 100000
fighting men by the calling out of the ter
ritorial 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 large as the German
army, which when modified is estimated
To have total of SO36.OOO trained men.
Under the order of oct. "A, 1902. the
strength Of the United States army was
fixed at 1O5,s55 men-less than one-seven-
tieth OF that of the Russian.
But Russia does not depend on this i'm
mense army alone. She has one of the
biggest navies in the world or, rather,
three distinct navies. each with its sepa-
rate organization and separate base. one
Is in the Pacific. a second in the Baltic. and
respects
the Russian army and navy differ material
ly from the forces of other powers and
some or the points Of difference are decid-
edly Interesting. Reticence Is the KEYNOTE
The secrets Of both the army and the navy
are most carefully concealed, and so are
many things not usually hidden by other
nations
For example, the allowance of ammunition
Tor target practice in the Russian navy has
been as large in the past year or two as that
IN the american navy. Even this fact is not
generally known, and no outsider can tell
whether the recent extraordinary efforts TO
bring the craftsmanship Of the gun crews
up TO the highest point of efficiency have
been successful or not. The scores are not
divulged; even the fact that a ship has gone
through course of target practice Is con-
cealed. The Keen rivalry between ships so
prevalent In the American navy is thus i'm
possible. and no Russian vessel could ever
enjoy the wide fame OF the Alabama how
ever much she might deserve IT. Absolute
secrecy IS maintained concerning all naval
and military maneuvers.
HEROISM CONCEALED
Even cases OF individual heroism are SINH
larly 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 70 allow the limelght TO fail upon partic-
ular men, however herOically they may have
acted. And IL is considered 10 be bad for the
men. tOO-in which belief the Russian adj
illustrators show a pretty good knowledge
of human nature.
a sailor may jump overheard and rescue
MS captain from death in shark-infested
waters, or a stoker may dare appalling dan
ger To save the life of a cOmrade in an en-
slne room accident In due course he will
De rewarded and promoted and throughout
MS career his superiors Will remember the
deed IN his favor. but IL will never become
public Rewards. promotions and distinc-
announced mil in i'm.
cases or very exceptional merit and even
in those cases no reference whatever is
made to the occasion of the reward or spe-
clal communication in any published re-
ports orders.
No criticism of anything connected with
the army or navy Is allowed, even though
IL De or a commendatOry nature. No Off
Ger or enlisted man is permitted to criticise
a. brother officer or enlisted man. except i'm
the strlctest line Of duty Breaches of this
rule are most strictly punished and TO II
II largely due the harmony and good-fel-
loWshtp OF the Russian services ANY pub-
nc criticism or the service, or OF even any
minor department. of its administra ton is
sternly prohibited and heavily punished
This rule prevails, OF course, i'm other serv-
Ices Ices put Is OFTEN more honored in the
preach th&n the observance. In Russia il
Is most faithfully observed. The Sampson
Schley quarrel and the Butler CONTROVERSY
would be equally impossible there
The Russian naval and military services
are compulsory, the rule being that every
man of sound physique shall enter one
ttINiCt or the Olner at the age of twenty
years. But the recruit is allowed TO choose
which service he will enter 1t might he
supposed that this would lead TO difficulty
as there might be more men Choosing one
service than were needed and less choosing
the other. But IL is not So The system
works we'll and helps to make the men
contented.
MODE OF ENLISTMENT.
Enlistment is for three years. with the
privilege of re-enlistment only on condition
that the candidate has been promoted dur
Ing his term. In this respect the Russian
service differs from most other services.
This peculiar provision has the merit of
insuring that all the veterans are picked
men. while soldiers and sailors of only
average quality are eliminated in due
The recruit for the naval service is usu-
any received after passing his physical eX-
animation, at one Of the great Russian
naval baSes-kronstadt St. Petersburg
Port Arthur or Vladivostock. After "A brief
Term In barracks there he is sent 10 a
framing snip and thence promoted TO a
pattleship. cruiser or other vessel-the class
or snip 10 which he is sent being deter
mined by his proficiency. a peculiar feature
OF the Russian service.
The Russian navy Is modelled very CLOSELY
upon that OF England. The Russian army
. T. modelled on the German. In both ca ses
the examples chosen as the best have been
copied 10 the minutest detail. There is
hardly any difference in the days routine
on Russian and an English man-of-war
The duties of men and officers the messine Q,
arrangements, the stations, the drills the
regulaticns-all are practically the same
Discipline is administered under articles
of war formulated by imperial ukase III is
far stricter than IN the British service
which. again. Is far more strict than the
American All government In Russia is of
course essentially autOcratic and the spirit
Is nowhere stronger than I'm the naval and
military services. Yet there Is no discon-
tent IN tne RUSSIAN army and navy. how
ever much there may be among some grades
OF Russian civilians.
The reason Is that the man I'm the enlisted
ranks lives better, dresses better and has
more money 20 spend than the average
peasant OF his class in civil life He has
prOhted materially by becoming a soldier
or sailor, In which respect he differs from
the enlisted men IN most other services.
A for the rigid discipline. IL Is only what
he has always known. The Russian peas
ant Is accustomed 10 the iron heel from
infancy As "A general rule, the officers are
liked by their men, ard the mere fact that
every Russian soldier and sailor refers hab-
1tually TO the Gar the Little Father
Will give foreigners some idea OF the in
CONTINUED on PAGE 2. PART ~