'Russia and India in 1903' [‎7v] (14/68)

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RUSSIA AND INDIA IN 1903.
with the smallest degree of comfort without a fair
knowledge of Russian. The national spirit has taken
great development in recent years, and received much
encouragement from the Emperor and Empress-
Dowager—the idol of the National school—as it did
from Alexander III. It is now almost as “ bad form”
for a Russian to speak to a Russian in French, as it
was in former days to speak Russian at Court.
Officering of the Reserves and the Militia. —If the
officering of the Standing Army presents an ever-
increasing difficulty, that for the Reserves and the
Militia is much greater. There is always a large
deficiency, although commissions are liberally given
to officers retiring from the Standing Army, to
“Volunteers” on completion of their limited engage
ments, and to senior non-commissioned officers.
Non-Commissioned Officers. —Similarly, great exer
tions have to be put forward to obtain non-commis
sioned officers, to induce them to re-engage, and to
provide them with adequate instruction.
In the first place, there are Instruction Battalions
for all arms—500 strong. The course begins on
October 1 in each year, and lasts for seven months.
Soldiers of promise may be sent to it after their
second years manoeuvres. If they come up to the
standard they revert to their corps with acting rank,
and are confirmed after three years’ service. Their
pay is then subject to an annual increment, and if they
serve for ten years they are sure of civil employment,
for all the railways, and nearly every other institution,
either belong to the State or are State controlled.
There are also excellent openings in the Gendarmerie
and the Custom House, which employ a vast number
of men.
Discipline. —Akin to the regulations governing
officers and non-commissioned officers is the great
question of discipline. Returning to the Russian
Army after an interval of twenty-five years, the most