The sun., 1908-11-24


dlspossd u what ahs pissssS n IA
Baltan peninsula
| Mr.. TARDt9u. shows tAat not only
did Russia tns6f gTseyous loss O
military and naval prestige through
the 0aIamiteue outcome or her wal
with Japan. but that eyen now, although
three years have elapsed since the Peact
Of Portsmouth, RuesIa's army is incap.
able Of rendering .ihuoh assistance II
her French ally. As Q coed deal ol
misconoeption exists upon this subject
1t is worth while to mark ;tte grounds
on which Mr.. TARDIEU bases hi, ,asser.
ton, He points out that the Cars Gov.
ernment has still much to do II Russia
is to play successfully the. role incum-
bent upon her in the event Of Euro
pean conflict. Her war with Japan
which loyalty to her French ally should
have restrained her from entering upon
has certainly diminished her power Of
attack for some time to come. 1t drew
successively, first, on the military for
nations belonging to the Far East;
secondly, on the reserve divisions sta
toned in tho various central provinces,
and ultimately on the several army
corps habituaily destined for the de-
fence OF the western frontier and more
particularly prepared for an interven-
tion westward Of the line Of the Wis
tula. Transported in detachments to
the front, these western army corps
were obliged to borrow men. officers,
artillery and material from those corps
that were not being mobilized. The
latter thus became incapable OF passing
Immediately from peace to war foot
ing. Moreover, domestic disturbances
required their employment against the
revolutionaries. In word, Mr.. TAR
DIEU maintains that what was left to
Russia in the way Of military strength
at the end Of her war with Japan no
longer weighed in the European balance
Of power.
In order to bring this state of things
to an end the huge drafts made by the
Far East ON European Russia had to
be restored. Demobilization began di-
nectly after the signing OF the Peace
of Portsmouth. but a general strike
ON the railways retarded it, and not
until near the close OF 1903 were the
European, army corps completely re-
installed along Rllssia's western border.
The fact. moreover, must be kept in
view that they had lost in Manehuria
a considerable portion of their units and
nearly the whole Of their belongings,
had spent their war provisions, had
experienced the fatigues of hard
campaign and suffered the demoraliza-
tion of defeat Obviously their mill
tary efficiency could only be regained
through a resolute effort at reconsti-
tuition and reorganization. Reconstitu-
ton implies an immense outlay on
weapon equipment and military acces-
SORES. Mr.. TARDIEU recalls that Count
WI1TE recently computed the cost OF
this indispensable undertaking at $780,
600 coo This enormous sun. ;s net yet
forthcoming and Russia can only pro-
Cult IL tlOIii ifCl EICHCh any. III tt-
spect of reorganization, as distinguished
from rearmament, something has no
doubt been done 10 improve the Russian
army. The duration of military SER
vice has been restricted to three years,
instead Of the five fixed by the old law,
the effect OF which change will even
tually make the reserve classes younger
and more numerous. Not yet, however,
has this innovation been carried out
completely. 1t follows that for the
moment Russia would not be able to
a large part of the German
and Austrian forces, and naturally,
therefore, must shrink from the test of
war. 1t was the knowledge of this fact
that encouraged the Vienna Government
to seize the present opportunity for ag-
grandizement in the Balkan peninsula.
The Germans seem happily to have
solved another great native question in
German Southwest Africa. 1t relates to
The powerful Ovambo people who occupy
the northern and widest part OF the colony
md overflow into Angola, to the great dis
.ress Of the Portuguese. with whom the
0vambos are at swnrd's point. The ma
ives have the unpleasant practice OF turn
nR Portuguese plans topsyturvy. When |