New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-19
THE WEAKNESS OF THE RUSSIAN NAVY
1T is BANNED BY RECRUITS FROM THE PLOUGH OR
THE FACTORY, ALL UNUSED TO THE SEA.

IF the value of a navy were calculated by the
number and quality of its ships the physique OF
It's buejackets. the smart appearance of It's officers
on shore. indeed, by the deeds OF bravery OF It's
members in past times that of Russia would take
q hlgh place among the naves OF the world"
says a writer In THE Fortnighty Review" But
all these things though doubtless excellent are not
enough to win the way to victory There must be
In navy. as well as in army. what the Ger
mans call der Geist the spirit that gives life.
Some nations obtain their sailors by inscrip-
ton maritime which draws 10 a large extent on
the fishing population. Others place boys for in
struction upon training ships. The object of these
methods is to profit by certain knowledge. either
naturally artihciaily, OF ships and boats OF the
sea. its tides. its aspects under various meteor
illogical conditions which comes only TO those ac-
customed TO the sight of the waves In Russia
such system exists certain proportion of the
recruits annually selected for service attaining
the age OF twenty-one years is told off to the
service. The number taken for the navy in
Russia has been 1000. out of total which
has varied from 10000 TO 10000 in the last few
years
LAS soon. then as Osip. AIexei is drawn from
the cart-tail in the Black Earth region. the
marshes OF Poland, for the service of the Car, he
may be designated for service afoat. That he has
a ship or. in many cases either a mast
SAIL does not matter. 1t may happen on the
contrary, that he has welded the Voga
or Dneper for some years. In any case he is a
told off to of the twenty thirty equi-
pages OF which the Russian fleet is composed.
There is the equpage of the Imperial Guard at st.
Petersburg composed Of good natured giants with
the right to the orange and black ribbon OF
the coveted Order of st. George. In the Baltic are
ten others; the Black Sea numbers many;
Vladvostok and Por; Arthur each possess one
equpage. An equipage' lives In barracks on shore.
Its meubers march in rhythmical tread TO the dock
yard. or to divine service various occasions. In
barracks their interior economy is conducted on
he O infantry
and they similarly instructed in musketry and
bayonet exercises. During their visits to the
docky ards they fapiliarlzed with the sight OF
ships in construction and large accommodations of
naval stores. Officers attend in very small num-
bers only at these performances When a ship
is commissioned in Russia she generally lies a long
time alongside the dockyard before proceeding to
sea During that time the sailor doubt be-
comes acquainted with her guns. ammunition
hoists. learns boat sailing, etc. The place or
his mess how stow his kit. and the way from
one place to another on his new home are matters
with which he also becomes familiar.
Generally speaking a Russian hates the
the devil does holy water. A steamboat service
between St Petersburg and Peterhof. excellent in
every detail, had to be discontinued for want of
support. A we'll known Minister who was desired
to accompany the Emperor to Copenhagen on
board his magnificent yacht begged his imperial
master TO allow him to make the journey overland
II YOU embark at Sebastopo for Yata. thirty miles
Off half the passengers lombard you with fearful
anticipatiOns the possibility Of shipwreck on
the Journey! Nevertheless, certain number of
gentlemen yearly elect TO serve in the navy. AS
far as physique and education go they seem quite
satisfactory They first sent to the Imperial
Naval School in Vassili Island. the quay OPP
posite the statue Of Kruzerstern. There they
ceive an excellent theoretical education But there
are no boats for them 10 sail in. do
they ever see a man-o'-war, except those the
slips OF the Galernaya, on the other side OF the
river Neva- Later they pass to the full rugged
cruisers and sloops that form the naval cadets
training squadron. Nothing in these ships in
way resembles the surroundings that the young
officer will find his transfer to battleship
There is a training school for gunners. and tor
pedo school at Cronstadt, where is also the divers
school-hulk. Here the instruction afforded is Of
a practical nature.
1T is usual in Russia to launch a ship in less
forward condition than those that take the
water with US, and is instantly told off 10
her. But it does follow that the crew goes
board. In fact it would be very much in the way
of the carpenters. plateayers, riveters, and vart
Gus other workmen. No. the crew, with Diana or
Pallada inscribed in gold letters on its cap rib
bons. and impeccable to great coats. brass but
tons. boots etc. continues to tramp about the
streets OF st. Petersburg Cronstadt Sebas-
topol living and learning with the other equi-
pages In barracks. Then come the ships trials It
10 absolutely necessary that these should give the