The Washington times., 1917-03-02
RUSSIAN SOLDIERS.
LEARN FRENCH LIFE
Have Exceptional Faculty for
Adopting New Customs
and Language.


maiD.-In the few months the Rus
sian expeditionary force has been in
France it has adapted itself In an
amazing manner not only to the
French military system, but to
French customs and French life gen.
orally.
With the wonderful faculty which
the Russians, and in fact all Slav
people, have for the languages, near
1y all OF the soldiers have now mas
tered SUFFICIENT French to be perfect
" at home, thus bridging one of the
greatest obstacles to foreign people
who must fight or work side by side.
When the Russians came to France
they did not bring arms with them,
and It was therefore not only neces-
sary to arm them throughout with
the French weapons, but to instruct
them In the French tactics and meth
DDS Of warfare. All of this they
have mastered as readily as they
have the language.
French Steel Helmet Used.
The entire Russian army, while re-
tafning its national uniform, has been
equipped throughout with the famous
French steel helmet that bears in
front, however, the imperial Russian
coat of arms instead Of that of the
French republic. The helmets are
painted brown, the same as those fur
ntshed the Belgian army, and to-
gether with the long brown overcoats
give to the Russian army very much
the same general appearance as that
of the Belgian army, although never
for an instant do the Russians lose
the swinging march or other char
acteristics that mark them as sol
diers OF the Car.
Along with the other French. GUS
toms adopted by the Russianss Is that
of having godmothers to- send thefff
nice things to eat and to wear from
outside the war zone.
Adopted ms GGodsons-
Nearly all OF the Russians have
now been adopted as "godsons"
either by the women members of the
large Russian colony at Paris or by
French women themselves who want
to show the appreciation OF 7:the
French to the Russians who are
lighting for them.
The Russians get their six days rf
permission from time to time, the
same as the French "poilus," and
every one can count upon the home
either Of & Russian or a French god
mother at Paris or elsewhere in
which to be received and entertain
ed while he is enjoying his leave.
The Russian new year, which
comes about two weeks after the
Christian New Year, was celebrated
this year on the Russian front in
real Russian style. The French mill
tary authorities set aside for the
time being the restrictions against
women in the war zone, and women
of the Russian colony, at Paris were
taken down to the Russian front to
conduct the celebration A heavy
snowfall added the last touch neees-
sary, and all the details of a Rus
sian New Year ceremony were faith
fully carried out.
Good Grace Lacking.
The appearance of the Russian
army on the French front appears
TO have been received with anything
but good grace by the Germans.
Their sector can be faithfully de-
scribed as one OF the sectors that is
not quiet, and the Russians are kept
under a pretty constant. gbombard-
ment. They also. have been called
upon to repulse some attacks.
As consequence, the Russian
little cemeteries back OF the front
lines now show a fraternal mixture
of. both Greek and Christian crosses,
and of the odd shaped slabs that
mark the graves OF the Musulman
soldiers from the French colonies.
Have own Orthodox Priests.
The Russians are accompanied by
their own orthodox priests and the
ra1fpf0ra haf NlrG he
fighting of the armies in Russia char
acterizes that of the Russian army
in France. 49, -
The soldiers themselves all appear
TO be more than content with their
transplanting. The regiments were
formed entirely not only of picked
companies that had distinguished
themselves in the fighting on the
Russian front, but even the com
psnies themselves were formed OF
picked men especially fitted bypphV-
sical and soldierly qualifications or
the service in France. ..
An unusual degree OF intelligence
Is therefore found among the men
which probably accounts in no small
way for their quick assimilation Of
French military life and customs. A
Roodly sprinkling Of French military
decorations, won in the fighting in
which they have already participated,
shows also that the change has not
lessened their military value.
But II the Russians are glad to be
In France, it would appear that the
French are glad to have them, A
regiment of French engineers in
which were a number of students
from the French School of Fine Arts,
was assigned to the task of prepar.
ing the camp for the Russians.
The result is that there is, perhaps.
not, another army headquarters camp
in the entire French front fitted out
with a, greater degree of comfort
and artistic taste from the kitchen
10 the marvelousIy decorated chapel
than that now being occupied by the
r Russians.