Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-22
FOREGROUND. 1E7zR


saw 1t Is Ills kllometers (nearly 700 miles).
which means a railroad journey of q
hours, and from Vladivostock to St.
Petersburg II is S6O7 klometers nearly
5i0O miles,, and this means railroad
journey of nine days.
STRENGTH OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY.
THE total Russian army in time OF
peace In 1914 numbers 1,A0.0O0 men, con-
tanning three kinds of recruits-first 1885,
900 ordinary recruits second, $4,000 Cos
sacks, and third, $1,000 soldiers held over
four-year and five-year enlistments. The
compulsory recruitment numbers each
year 1,2O0O 900 men, but only 3S0,000 men are
selected from the total. The physca
examination Is extremely severe, and in
the army of Russia every soldier must
have perfect constitution.
In 1918 the brilliant manoeuvres were
due entirely to the patience and continued
energy of General Soukhomlkof who Is
the soul and the general of the Russian
army. The Russians have thrown them
selves so violently into the reorganization
of their army that they have neglected
certain needs in regard to their foreign
attitude. In some ways they are vague
whereas they should be frankly offensive
"The Alliance is justly worried over
the amount of time 1t takes for mo-
bilzation and concentration In Russia.
Despite the fact that great progress mas
been made both in railway extension and
in military organization, 1t requires
month to mobilize the forces of Russia.
It is necessary, however, to take into
consideration the inadequacy Of the Rus
sian railway system for military pur-
poses. The Russian army will be fatally
late In comparison with the armies of
France and Germany, IN the event mo-
bilization is ordered in these countries.
Let us glance at the railway routes
In Russia. We notice how few there are
which touch on the western frontier and
tho River Memel The immense distance
between Galicia and the Baltic is crossed
by only two railroads. the first crossing
two kilometers from Warsaw and the
other 100 kilometers southeast Of 1Vango-
rod. In wilma and Grodno toward the
Baltic there are very few troops. for on
the left bank of the Vistula Russia does
not need O heavy guard because of the
great marshes and the enormous river
itself.
THE Russian alliance Is certainly a
great advantage for France. Neverthe-
less one must look at It in circumspect
way. France cannot count upon Russia
at the beginning of war, in fact hardly
at all until Is or 20 days after mobiliza-
ton has been ordered.
Russia has on her northern frontier
reason to fear the Swedes and Germans,
Her navy is in the midst of reorganiZa-
tion, and with the assistance of foreign
shipbuilders she will soon possess a fleet
of eight fighting ships. of which number
four are armored cruisers. She has had
the idea for a long timo of equalinG the
German navy OF 16 armored cruisers.
I'VE must remember that Russia is a
land of enormous resources. and her re-
organized army is capable of much If she
can be stripped of sluREishness. She will
be a great help to France, but France
cannot count too much on her. Russia
is only European in regard TO aggres-
siveness. Her interests are complex her
politics and ambition are Asiatic.