The farmer and mechanic., 1915-08-31
RUSSIA HAS LARGE
RESERVES OF FIRE
FIGHTING POWER
Finland Can Supply Half Mil
lion Excellent Troops; Horse
men From Nomad Tribes

The news that the Tsar has called
to the colors young men of nineteen
years might lead to an erroneous
Russia, writes a Russian correspon
dent, who bases his figures on official
statistics. 1t might seem, he says,
that all the reserves of men from 20
to 43, the age at which, according to
Russian law, one is exempt from fur
ther military service, have already
been exhausted. It would be SO in
Germany or France, but it is quite
different in Russia.
The Russian law of compulsory
military service, introduced in 1874
and reconstructed in 1912, entirely
excludes from compulsion the only son
Of family, as we'll as the father, if
he is the only breadwinner. These
are called in extreme necessity Thus
while the young men Of nineteen years
Of age now in training there are plenty
of capable and strong men between
twenty and forty who are not yet
called. Every one who has been to
Russia during the war has noticed
how many vigorous porters are on
duty at each station. The cafes, res
taurants and the like are full OF wait
erS of serviceable age.
Roughly speaking, the population
Of Russia is about 10, 100000. Ac-
cOrding to official statistics persons
between nineteen and forty amount
approximately to twenty per cent.
Tf women and unfit are excluded
there will still be at least 100000
available for military service and
quite fit. It may be estimated that at
the beginning of the war about A.
German estimate Of Russia losses.
which is undoubtedly greatly exag-
gerated, there are about 2 100000 left
ii the fighting ranks at the present
moment.
The young men Of nineteen now
| called approximately amount to one
million, so that if the above estimate
| is correct there are still three million
| fighting men available for service.
| The War Minister has said in the
| Duma that the second rank of the
| OpO1chenie will also be Immediately
| called up. This means that persons
up to now exempt from service will
! have to serve.
| Great as these reserves are, they by
no meaps represent all the fighting
material Of which Russia Is possessed
| There are whole tribes, mostly nomads
on the Ural, the borders Of the Caspian
Sea, and In Turkestan, that are ex-
empt from the service. There are
many reasons for this, the chief beine
that military service in Russia Is con.
sidered as the most honorable service
for the country. The members of this
half Asiatic tribe are not given thi:
honor. However, the late Gepera
skobeleff, the hero of the Russo-Tur
l1ish war, has already suggested tha
many Of these tribes, being bor1
! horsemen, could render valuable ser
vice especially on scouting duty.
| During the present war an expert
ment has been made by Introducing
the Turkoman cavalry, and it ha.
proved splendid success. This drew
the attention of the Russian militar,
authorities to another tribe, tn,
Kalmuks. 1t is probable that thes'
also will be called for the defence o
the common country. the more so a
they are very anxious to take part il
the war and lately sent a petition t,
the Tsar demanding to be enlisted
These Kalmucks begin to ride OF
: horseback when other babies begin t
creep. Their chief occupation i
hunting, SO that they are good shots
1t Is almost impossible to introduc
discipline among them so as to max
them regular troops. But as irreg1l
lars they might excel even the Cos
sacks. The Cossacks, when he doe
, not serve, is an agriculturist. TIL
Kalmuk is a nomad. a hunter, some
, times a robber and also hors
| breeder.
Russia has at her disposal a valu
able asset to the war in the people O
l the Grand Duchy of Finland. AS
: known, Finland had her own army u
to 1902, when, for political reasons
it was dissolved by order of the Tsa1
This army operated alongside of Rus
sia's in 1858 during the insurrectio
, Of Poland, and In 1877 during tn
, Russo-Turkish War. It proved to b
Y one of the best fighting forces Whe
this war began many officers Of tn
former Finland regiments petitione
! the Tsar and were enlisted in Russia,
regiments Some Of them alread
have been killed in action. Some hay
II i lr4orn