Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-12-28
r~v> Today The Evening Journal
Year 1916 Goes Into Russian
History AS One Of Greatest


these beverages: aided the Govern
ment 10 feed the soldiers at the 'front.'
furnished laborers in many instances
to dig trenches, build bridges, pom
looms, etc; and. ia a general way
they have solidihed the Russian EN-
plrc by having the people work WIN
the soldiers for common cause
This work was begun early IN the
war. IN 1916 Il made such head"ay
that no one can dispute its magnituue
today nor its probable Influence on
the Russia OF the future.
Similar to the Zemstvo and NUM-
cipality Unions IN that it Is an or
ganizatiOn growing out OF puplc
spirit, IS the committee which, during
1916, modified the small industries
of Russia TO help the army with mu-
uitions. There are several large mu
nitions factories IN Russia, which
deal direct with the War Department,
/ but there are hundreds OF little toun-
dries. machine shops, mills and WORKS
Of all sorts too small to do business
OF this sort alone. The committee
grouped all these, put specialists III
charge Of district groups, and mao
them FIJI orders for the Government
The little industries were thus
grouped into one big industry by a
committee of patriotic men, Who re-
ceive no nav for their service though
of course, the little shops are palo ioi
whatever they supply the army
Russia's own output of munitions
more than quadrupled during l9lS
through these and other expedients
The little concerns could not make
great siege guns, Of course, but they
could and do make trench mortars
hand grenades, caissons, cannon
wheels, hatchets, spades the smaller
shells and what not
Furthermore, they have built tan
lneries for taking care of enormous
quantities of Russian hides; bulit o
enlarged factories for making thu
necessary tanning chemicals; bull
new boot and shoe factories, and en-
larged old ones to make footWea
for The troops: established enormou
repairing plants to redeem leaky ant
worn army boots. They emplo.
scores OF thousands Of poor people
mostly women, thus giving materia
aid in time of need. Schools for me
chanics, chauffeurs, and other spe
cialists are maintained TO supply III
army with experts and automobil
rcpair shops are operated by the com
! mittee all along the front
On the sea 1916 failed to bring {
{ Russia any great victories. But ais
! IL brought no defeats. Beyond ON
mysterious fight in fog in the BaI
5 tic during which two German ships q
medium tonnage and several dc
Z strOyers were reported sunk; das
{ into the Gulf of Finland against coas
a towns there costing the Germans al
other three or four odd destroyers
} naval aid to the Russian armies g
Riga and at Trebizond in Ash
, Minor not much more Is known {
: Russia's maritime activities.
, automatically two importar
events were registered during tn
o. year just closing. Both directly e
b feet the United States. One was th
n conclusion of treaty between Rul
STA and Japan, binding these wv
!. countries together on all question
e concerning the Far East; the secor
@ was Russia refusal to conclude
q Commercial Treaty with the Unite
r states. replacing the one abrogatC
e during President Taft's administra
D. ton. Her refusal was not official, bl
@ refusal it was. nevertheless. her e
n cuse being the undesirability of el
S tering into commercial agreemen
n with neutral nations until after Il
o war. or, at least, until the Ali
trade agreement can be more del
Is nitely refined.
J. On the other hand a project vi
IF preached for direct telegraphic COZ
s.. municatiOn between Russian and Il
ID United States. either by cable
d wireless. Also permission has be-
m given for the establishment Of 4
IN American bank at Petrograd
Is A decree prohibiting the import
lie ton OF Injuries was promulgat
ne during the year, three meatless da
a week proclaimed and another &c
In nomic war measures put into fore
ne But so far as Russia is cOnvern
v the real participation in the war
r the Common People was the I
r. event. Through this participation t
r. people are beginning 10 find the
ed selves. The formation Of Pet
m ants Party IN the Duma is sign
nd cant of the close The subtle inter-
n change in the Empire will make 1S
IL remembered when victories in {
ee field shall have been forgotten.