The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-02-02
THE SOLDIERS
LEAN TO PEOPLE
Attitude Of the Cars Military
in the Present Russian
Crisis.
PEOPLE ARE SURE OF AID
Believe that When Once They Fairly
Start the Troops Will Side with
Popular Rights and Make
Revolution Easy.

t'St ''ii NAiiS" NAANlb 4 ms
The composition of the army is such
that this is not y strong improbabiiity
though the army officials always haTG
been cogni2ant of a strong bond OF
sympathy between soldiers n people
and have sought to anticipate rebellion.
This anticipation has taken the form
OF sending barbarous and semibarbar-
Gus troops into civilized communities,
enc posting the more enlightened sol
dlerS among the semisavage natives.
Or course, the strongest dependence
has been placed on the royal guards. If
these cannot be trusted no soldiers In
Russia can be counted on to preserve
the royal rule. The recent attempt at
assassination Of the czar would indi-
cate that the most highly trusted of
h troops contain con]spirators.
To show the spirit Of the army
Toward revolution a glance at it's com
position will be helpful.
Backbone of Peasantry.
The backbone of the Russian army,
khe backbone, indeed, Of the Russian
empire itself, is simple, humble War
n~yanovitch, the Russian soldier. The
p~easantry class in Russia constitutes
P0 per cent. of the entire population OF
Ehe country.
Every male member of every Russian
Family is liable to military service, with
the chief exception of one bread win
sner, who must not be OUNCE than Is
tor older thar SIS.
In view of the enormous population
and the high birth rate, it is not neces-
sary to enforce the law Strictly-for it
happens hat the number of recruits an
,nually called Pr for the service is
greater than the number required. Out
of the total inspected by the army sur
Eeons only the strongest health
lest are aiken.
In addition to the brea4 winner the
list of those who are not expected to
serve as soldiers consists of men physic-
ally fncapacitated for work, convicts
and political prisoners. the only grand.
son, when the grandparents have nc
SON.. and, lastly, teachers and pro
ifGssors.
How Educated Men Are Treated.
Men of good education also nave the
privilege of serving for less than the
legal term. Moreover. they may offer
themselves as volunteers. a form of ser.
vice which has many advantages over
the regular army. Men who have com
rseted their education in the higher
schools and colleges serve only two
years In the line and sixteen years ir
the reserves. while those who ave com
pleted their education In secondary
schools must serve for three and some
times four years in the line and for
fourteen of fifteen years in the re-
9aarve.
But the humble, uneducated peasant
who must also serve his country fol-
mote fewer than eighteen years, must
pass four years in active service and
fourteen in the reserves. Long as is
Hhe term of service, 1t can not be com
stspared to what 1t was in the day OF
Nicholas ], when to be a soldier once
sneant to be q soldier always. In those
days, hen a man was taken for mill
Nary service his relatives followed him
out of his village weeping and Wailing
as If he vas going to his death. But
NOW, when a man draws the fateful
number which means that he must
serve in the army he does not look at
himself as lost forever. He knows that
in four years he VIII return. He is
dispatched to the future scene OF his
military training. This will be as far
from home and Its surroundings as
possible.
Statistics of Troops.
According to the recent returns the
statistics of the Russian army are as
Follows on peace footing:
Infantry, 500 b%attalions of foot, 45o,-
900 %bayonets.
Cavalry, fifty-nine regiments, or 51,-
900 sabers.
Artillery. 400 batteries, or 1900 guns.
Cossacks. $4,000 men and 108 can
mons.
The general total on peace footing
S%ncluding those not in the ranks. gar
Eison troops and local reserve forces.
amounts to 100000 men, with $50, 900
horses.
On d war footing, Including the reserves.
Che soldiers OF the car amount to $50 COZ
men and GO0.000 horses.
Tho total population OF the empire IA
u III ;ss55ss,555s 81 Souls
To finn ayerapa Apncri@ap rc.Ear ~