pay no taxes; but in lieu of this render military service, from the age of 19 to 40. Only a portion of this time is actually spent in the ranks; but in war time, by order of the emperor, the whole male population between the ages of 15 and GO may be called to arms. The Cossacks are organised in " polks " or regi ments of light cavalry, about 900 strong, and formed usually of six "sotnias" or squadrons; in battalions of infantry, about 1100 strong; and horse artillery batteries of 8 guns. In peace time a few squadrons are stationed at St Petersburg and "Warsaw, furnishing escorts to the emperor and viceroy. The rest are distributed about the Cossack provinces and on the frontiers, maintaining the lines of communication in the wild Asiatic provinces. The force under arms in 1871 amounted to 66,000, forming 323 sotnias or squadrons, 35 companies of infantry, and
12 batteries. In war time this can be raised to—| A table should appear at this position in the text. See Help:Table for formatting instructions. |
Cavalry, 155 "polks" or regiments, 142,000 Infantry, 37 battalions, 41,000 Horse Artillery, 27 batteries, 6,000 189,000
with 232 guns. In war time the divisional cavalry of the regular army is furnished by the Cossacks, one polk being attached to each infantry division for purposes of outpost duty, escorts, and orderlies.
Militia.—The militia or national legions include all men within the ages liable to service who have not served actively in the army. There is as yet no regular organisa tion for the militia, nor have the men been drilled; notwith standing this, on the three occasions on which they have been called out (viz., 1807, 1812, and 1855), they have always been rapidly formed, and have done good service to the country. In 1855 the number actually raised was 366,000. The number liable to service in 1871 was over 500,000; and as the new law comes fully into action that number will be enormously increased.
Organisation and Administration.—The emperor is the Commander-in-Chief of the army, and exercises his authority through the War Minister. The War Ministry is divided into twelve sections or departments, including the imperial headquarters or military cabinet of the emperor; the council of war, which is the highest legislative and ad ministrative authority in the empire ; the headquarter staff ; .and the artillery, engineer, intendance, medical, &c., departments. For purposes of military administration the empire is divided into 14 military districts, corre sponding to the civil "general governments," and 51 governments or military sub-districts. At the head of each military district is a general, who is also viceroy or governor-general, and has the supreme control of all affairs, civil as well as military. The local forces belonging to each military district are commanded by a local divisional com mander, and the forces of each government by a local briga dier. In addition to the command of the local troops, these officers are charged with the keeping of the muster-rolls of men on furlough, &c., and generally with the arrangements fur mobilisation. The field troops stationed in the district are under the command of their own divisional generals, subordinate to the district general. The guards and some of the regiments stationed in the fortresses and great towns are lodged in fairly comfortable barracks; but the accommodation generally is quite insufficient. The erection of barracks for the whole army is projected, and the necessary buildings have been commenced in many places; but it must be long before the plan can be fully carried out. Meanwhile a large part of the troops are billeted in the towns, and in some country districts are distributed among the villages, living with the peasants, and for months without seeing their officers or any opportunities for drill. During the summer months, May to October, the regiments and divisions are brought together in large standing camps for training, commencing witn battalion and regimental drill, rifle prac tice, instruction in field fortification, &c., and concluding with brigade and divisional field-days and great manoeuvres. In 1873, 445 infantry battalions, 238 squadrons, 93 sotnias of Cossacks, and 828 guns were thus assembled at the various camps of instruction, the largest of which were at Warsaw, where nearly 50,000 men were collected; and at Krasnoe Selo, near St Petersburg, where about 30,000 men, principally of the guard, were encamped.
the vast military population of the empire, are perhaps the finest body of men in Europe ; and with their brilliant and various uniforms, relieved by the Oriental picturesqueness of the Cossack squadrons, certainly present the most gorgeous and imposing military display to be seen any where. They have many special privileges, and all officers of the guards rank two grades higher than the correspond ing ones of the line. The ordinary line soldier is rather below the average of European armies both in physique and intelligence; but he is generally a good marcher, capable of enduring great hardship and fatigue, and is good-natured, cheerful, obedient by instinct and habit, and imbued with a certain religious and superstitious loyalty, which is always apowerf ul motor, and at times can be excited to fanaticism. Of all their commanders, Suwaroff knew best how to appeal to this semi-barbarous and superstitious instinct, and to this he owed much of his extraordinary influence and brilliant successes. Generally, however, the Russian s strength lies rather in endurance than action ; no army, the British perhaps excepted, fights so stubbornly and will endure such heavy losses without flinching. Hence the most bloody battles in modern history have been those fought against Russian troops, Zorndorf and Kunnersdorf in Frederick s wars, Eylau and Borodino in Napoleon s time. Outwardly the discipline is good, though the intercourse between men and officers retains somewhat of that mixture of familiarity and servileness characteristic of a stage not far removed from slavery ; but it may be questioned whether it is of the kind that will withstand the strain of war, or gives the officers that moral influence which alone tells in moments of danger or discouragement. The non-existence of a class corresponding to the lesser nobility of Germany or the gentry of England has always made the officering of the Russian army a matter of peculiar difficulty. The staff and scientific corps are largely officered by foreigners, mostly Germans ; in the infantry the want is supplied to a certain extent by promotion from the ranks. The Russian army, like the nation, is in a transi tional state. The liberation of the serfs was a vast con stitutional change which could not make itself fully felt in less than a generation, and which affects the army as well as the nation. The introduction of personal service, applied to all classes, must materially alter its character. The Russian Government, fully alive to the present defects of the army, and also to its importance as a means of raising, educating, and disciplining the nation, is using every endea vour to instruct and improve the soldier. Regimental schools have been established throughout the army, at which the soldier is taught, either by or under the immediate supervision of his officers, for many hours a day during the long winter months. Higher class schools are also formed for the instruction of non-commissioned officers, where they receive not only a military education, embracing tactics, mili tary history, field fortification, &c., but also a general educa tion which qualifies them, on leaving the army, to become, as many do, teachers in the national schools, or to fill civil appointments. The physical training of the soldier is also
attended to ; gymnastics of all kinds are constantly prac-
