Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-08-15

sary's strength, entirely unprepared
herself in a military sense and as
eople, except for the commercial in
terests, Indifferent to the causes of the
war and its objects.
Steady Preparation for War.
The rehabilitation of Russia's
strength in the far East and the in
creased effectiveness Of the TRANSIT
berlan railway as a transportation
agency in time of war, are as nothing
to what has been done nearer the Ne
va to prepare Russia for just the sort
Of contingency she faces today. Re
organization of her local irregular mill
tia force has been accomplished. A
navy which found itself crippled after
the disasters met with in the far East,
is In process of reconstruction. AL
ready In effective fighting ships built
and building It is very far ahead of
Italy and twice as well off as Austria
Hungary. In torpedo-boat destroyers
she is about as strong as Germany,
and In submarines has distinct ad-
vantage. Great progress has been
made in the air service both for the
army and navy. To such purpose, in
deed, has Russia taken up this branch
of warfare which promises to figure
prominently in modern battles at sea
and on land, that she is said on the
highest authority to be probably the
third strongest air power in the world,
with Italy fourth, and Great Britain
fifth.
All Trained to Arms.
In considering the potential strength
of the armies v''ich Russia, in the
course of a long war. might put in the
field, 1t may be pointed out that mill
tary service in that empire of more
than 171000,000 people is universal
and compulsory. Service under the
flag begins at the age Of twenty and
lasts for twenty-three years. Usually,
It is proportioned as follows: Three
or four years In the active army four
teen or fifteen in the Zapas, or first
reserve, and five years In the Opol-
chenie, or second reserve. For the
Cossacks, those fighters who are a
conspicuous element of Russias mill
tary strength, there is hardly a cessa-
tion In discipline during their early
manhood Holding their lands by mill
tary tenure. they are liable for ser
vice for life. Furnishing their own
equipment and horses-the Cossack is
almost invariably cavalryman-they
pass through three periods of four
years each, with diminishing duties,
until they wind up in the reserve,
which replaces casualties in time OF
war.
Could Muster large Force.
With respect to the armies which
could be put In the field in time Of
war there are conflicting estimates.
It seems certain that Russias war
strength is more than 100000 men,
but, of course, the train service and
the artillery for such a force is lack
ing Two and three-quarters million
men could probably be mustered at
one time. As far as arms go, the Rus
sian infantryman carries a fairly eff
fectiye rife, though not the most mod
ern. 1t is a .299-caliber magazine gun,
holding FIVE cartridges, and It is
sighted to 5000 yards.
In the event Of a prolonged war, In
which the tide OF affairs should put
Russia strictly on the defensive, she
would be less easily invaded than any
large country of Europe. The very
extent OF her empire, protected by nat
ural barrier at almost every side save
where she touches northeast Europe,
would present almost insuperable diff
culties to the invader. Napoleon paid
dearly for his fortitude in pushing his
columns into Moscow. The only con
ditions under which repetition OF
such a feat is conceivable are not
likely TO be found during the sort of
European struggle which now threat
ems. German and Austrian troops will
be too much preoccupied with Tight
ing within and along their boundaries
10 be able TO give their Undivided at
tention to such problem a. q sue
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