The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-24
RUSSIAN BEAR IS
NOW AWAKENING TO
BIG POSSIBILITIES
Great War Is Cause of Thor
Ough Change in Life of
Once Sleeping Empire
of North

Stockholm, Sweden, August 25.
Correspondence of the Associated
Fress.) Americans Englfshmen,
Frenchmen, returning Though this
neutral gateway from the wide do
mains of Russia, all tell the same
story of the wonderful akening of
the great northern empire commercial
ly and civicly as well as in the gath
ering of military resources to carry
the war to a successful conclusion.
Americans in particular seem most
deeply impressed with the changed
conditions in Russia and are the most
aanguine as to the future of that coun-
try. They say there is something akin
to the old call of the west in the fast
opening opportunities and the wide
reaching resources of Russia which
sends an anxious tingle through the
veins of every American business man
or prospector who has delved into
Russian conditions as they exist today
{ and who is far-sighted enough to see
the prosperity that is in store for the
Russian people.
1t may be one of the anomalies OF
an anomalous period in history that
barbarous war shall teach people of
1S0,000,000 souls the ways and the BEN
efits of real civilization and enlight-
eminent. And yet that is what Ameri-
can travellers is Russia all agree is
taking place. Many thousands of lives
are yet to be sacrificed at the Aus
trian and German fronts, but it is now
agreed that there will come back from
the firing lines an army of millions
of men trained, disciplined, schooled at
least partially in the laws of hygiene
and right living. educated in a degree
beyond anything contemplated a few
years ago, well fed, we'll clothed and
ready to take their allotted place in
the commercial upbuilding of the en-
pire and the civic upbuilding of the
people.
The story is told of how, under war
conditions, the peasant, with only
pieces of bark for shoes and bag for
clothing, unkempt, ignorant with re-
gard to every phase of better living,
is brought into the city or training
camp, fitted with shoes and warm
clothing, out through a setting up"
course and taught for the first time
what his hands, his feet and his brain
and body can do. The change wrought
in SO short a time as IA days is said
to be marvellous. Regardless of what
may be the conditions in other coun-
tries, it is literally true in Russia
that army life has more comforts, more
advantages ana more eOucdtlOnal value
, than the average Russian peasant ever
dreamed of.
1t is predicted now that when this
great army comes back from the front
its members will not be willing to go
back to their old methods of life, but
will help in the evolution of new or
der of things, help to bring the vast
nation of the north to a state of eff
cheney which will make it a dominating
world power in deeds perhaps as we'll
as in domain
1t is said that before the war is ended
Russia will have had in her army or in
training no less than 25,000,0O0 men-25,-
100000 men trained to degree of at least
comparative efficiency, ready to throw
their power into industrial energy in field
or factory. y
But oftentimes the returning travellers
are met with the question: "Will not the
sudden awakening of the people, coupled
with the menace of SO many millions
trained to arms, logically lead to revo-
lution?' The answer invariably is that
Russia expects revolution, but it is gen.
orally believed it will be political and
not a military.