The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-04-06
RUSSIANS and THE WAR
How Many Officers Are Said to
Escape Service at Front.
EXAMINING PHYSICIANS BRIBED.

EXAMINING PHYSICIANS .BRlBED.
British War Correspondent Tells Of
What He Learned From the Wife OF
Reservist Omcer-Fortune Made
by a Penniless Doctor In the Turk
ish War.
A war correspondent Of the London
Times tells as follows how Russian
officers are said to escape serving with
their regiments at the front:
At the beginning Of the campaign
two commissions were appointed to ex.
anime officers and soldiers after their
cure and to report as to their fitness
for further service. One Of the COM
missions resided in Kharbin and the
other In Chita. They were composed
partly Of military surgeons and partly
Of officers and had very hard work all
the time. The number Of reservists
who were refused was about twice as
large as that Of the younger soldiers.
But thing which struck me very
much when I came to know some Of
the results Of the commissions pro-
ceedings was that the percentage Of
officers refused was nearly twice that
Of the soldiers. As I never lived long
In Kharbin OF in Chita never had
an explanation of this fact until on my
way back to Europe. I then met a
lady who had accompanied her hus-
band, a resevist officer going to the
war, up to Ekutsk. We Travelled In the
same train, and I noted that she did
not look particularly affected by the
separation. when do you hope to
see your husbandY' asked her once.
'I hope to see him very soon-" "How
is that? You know that the war will
not end for the present" "Oh, yes, I
know that, but my husband will be
back very soon." AS I pressed her to
let me know how this would be man
aged she answered: "Well, after all,
I'll tell you, for it Is no secret Every
officer knows 1t, and it only depends
upon his pecuniary means to avail him
self Of it or not.
"It is enough to pay 800 or 400 ru-
bles to the head doctor Of the medical
commission in Kharbin In order to be
rejected. You are then allowed to re-
main at home one year, after which an
other commission In Russia examines
you, and there you have to pay another
sum as large as the former, and then
you are free, quite free" I expressed
some doubts as to the correctness Of
these statements, as It seemed to me
impossible that officers could resort to
these means In order to avoid military
service, but the lady was positive and
cited several names. "Of our acQuaint-
ances," she said, there are three who
have thus succeeded In being sent
home. and one Of them advised my
husband to do the same, and he named
the doctor and the sum to pay" "Weal,"
I answered, you must do me one ia
vor. When your husband comes home,
will you please let me knowT The Ia
dy promised to do so, and fortnight
ago.I received the following note: my
husband has Just returned; he has been
rejected on account Of disease" That
gentleman bad been exactly two
months In Manchuria, just in time to
get the disease, pass through the COM
mission and return speedily home,
proudly thinking that he had done his
duty to his country. afterward learn
ed in Russia that this practice Is not a
new one, for during the Turkish war
Of 1877 a doctor who was. penniless
when he started for the war was worth
at the end Of It about 10000 sterling.
From the number Of his officers reject
ed and from what I have heard I think
that the doctor now in Manchuria to
whom the lady alluded promises to beat
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