'Russia and India in 1903' [‎8v] (16/68)

RUSSIA AND INDIA IN 1903.
Regiment. Bicycling once in the uniform of that
ancient corps, and alone, as the Tsars of Russia love
to be when circumstances permit, His Majesty—at
least, so the story goes—was stopped and called to
account for not saluting a General on foot, who failed
to recognise the cyclist.
The regiments of the infantry of the line are num
bered 1 to 180. Four regiments, or sixteen battalions,
make up an infantry division, divided into two
brigades, the first having red shoulder-straps, the
second blue. There are forty-nine such divisions,
of which four are Grenadier divisions, with sixty-four
battalions, and in addition there are seventy-four
battalions of rifles in brigades of four regiments,
with two battalions each.
In marching the Russian infantry has absolutely no
equal. Nothing is omitted to develop and improve
it. The vast hedgeless country facilitates great exten
sion in movement, and all that can be done to make
the march cheerful and pleasant is done. The Russian
does not yield to the Italian in his love for song, or to
the Spaniard in his love for dancing and fun. They
sing every inch of the way, and often and often a
dancer will step in front of his company and by merry
carnival antics send the laughter round. That is the
way to get men along and keep them good-tempered
under adverse conditions. The man who helps therein
renders good service, and is let off some guard or
fatigue or gets an extra ration or tot. How different
to our comparatively dull, silent, march in serried
fours ! “ The soldier who sings as he marches, marches
to victory/' So wrote Lord Wolseley for the book of
marching songs I induced Messrs. Clowes to publish.
But it remains on their bookshelves, and the songless
British officer, unless in command of troops of the
cheery Indian Army, has the greatest difficulty in
getting anyone to start a decent chorus, even on foot,
and much less mounted or with guns.