The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-01-17
Che gzar's Hrmy and navy.


quarters of a cent
Nevertheless the seaman's mess on
the Pacific and Baltic stations coma
I pares favcrably even with that on
American ships. where the sailors are
said 10 be the best fed ia the world
F The same is measurably true of the
+ Black sea fleet.
I The officers messes are supported BY
fixed contributions from all the Of
feers, according to their rank, and the
British idea Of gun room and ward
room Hesses is carried out on the iarg-
I er Russian ships.
! Eligibility for the commissioned
( ranks in both services depends uDon
birth and educational qualification. II
IS necessary that candidates be well
born.
Their parents must have been of no
Die birth OF members of the government
or the civil service, or officers in, the
army or navy or-to quote the words
OF the imperial ukase on the subject
persons OF substance, who never kent
an open store or market" That is 10
say, the son Of a rich merchant would
+ be eligible for a commission. but q ira
der's son would not.
In addition to the qualification Of
birth and family, candidates must have
passed the final examination in the
gymnasium, which is about the eoufva-
lent OF that for entrance to the higher
class Of American universities or the
nnal examination Of the best American
high schools.
The pay Of officers in both services
IS practically nominal. That Of Junior
lieutenant in the Havy is leo roubles
month, about $50 in American money.
as compared with $50 d month for the
same rank in the American navy.
a.
career. never for a livelihood. Any
man with social ambitions in. Russia
must become an officer of either the
army or the navy. unless ne be a per-
son Of transcendent ability. No father
would think Of entering his son IN the
cadet school unless he could give him 4.
suitable income with which 10 maintain
his rank.
In the British navy and other fleets
the ohleers Of the higher ranks receive
literal allowances from the government
to defray the expenses of the frequent
entertainments given when in port or
when foregathered with the warships
o. other countries. There are no such
allowances in the Russian service.
me standard of discipline in the
commissioned ranks Of both services is
similar to that in the armies and ma
Vies OF other nations. with this striking
dinerence, that of duty there are prac-
tically no distinctions OF rank among
the officers.
in the mess room OF at the card ia
Die. the junior lieutenant does not defer
respectfully to the colonel Of his regi-
nent or to the captain of his ship, as
ne would do in otner services. On the
contrary, he is hail fellow well met
with him.
There is a remarkable spirit OF broth
efhood in Russian mess, and one Off
Ger STANDS absolutely upon an equality
with another. 1t is this feature Of
Russian military life which most sur
prises foreign officers when they dine
on Russian warship or with a garri-
son mess
They stare in amazement when they
hear a mere boy Of a lieutenant cali his
colonel by his Christian name, or even
chaff him as he might have ehaffed one
OF his ehums at the naval academy.
One branch of the Russian army is
totally unlike any force possessed by
other civilized powers. It is. of course.
the COsSack levy. which numbers 142. coo
men. Every able-bodied COssGck is la
bic TO service, without limit Of age
He becomes liable at Is and the LA
bility does not cease SO long as he is
able to ride horse or carry a gun. But
only proportion of the COSsacks serve
at one time. The rest have unlimited
leave or belong TO the reserve.
The Cossack feels the burden OF mill
tary service more heavily than any
other man in the world At Is he be-
gins three years preparatory service
in the locality where he dwells.
After that is over he IL drafted into
one of the three Cossack bands for
twelve years service in any part Of the
empire, He spends seven years with
the colors and five years with the re-
serve.
After these fifteen years OF service
the veteran might be supposed to have
done his duty TO me nation But there
IS still further reserve which COM
prises all able-bodied Cossacks not in
Guided ia the other forces. The vet
eran has to join this force and remain
iB it Until he is enfeebled by age.
The men Of this last reserve have to
supply and maintain at their own ex
pense their horses, arms. clothing and
equipment Thus a highly important
addition TO the Russian army is kept
Up at the cost of the men themselves.
New York sun.
100