DRIVEN TO INSANITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15594, 28 April 1914, Page 7

DRIVEN TO INSANITY.

UNHAPPY RUSSIAN SOLDIERS.

STARTLING . STATISTICS.

REASON FOR THE MANIA.

Times and Sydney Sun Services. * (Received April 27, 6.20 p.m.)

St. Petersburg, April 26. The suicide mania is steadily growing in the Russian Army. It has increased by 150 per cent, during the past seven years, the greater number being connected with insanity, intemperance, and the lonely life in the desolate places of Siberia. Three years' service in strange surroundings in Poland, where the language is unknown to him, also predisposes the Russian soldier to take his own life. WAR ON DRUNKENNESS. Encouraged by the Government, the Russian people seemed to be in a fair way towards drinking up their national debt. According to Count Sergius Witte, the former Premier, who a few months ago confessed himself a convert to temperance, the liquor monopoly, which he organised when Minister for Finance, has during the past three years been producing a revenue of £100.000.000 each year. To what extent drunkenness can be suppressed or lessoned in Russia by the Government, now that it has decided upon intervention, is regarded as a moot point, but the new Finance Minister, acting under the orders nt the Tsar, is resolved to lay the axe to tho root of the evil. He inaugurated this work by issuing an important circular to nil excise officials in the Empire, prescribing a number of measures to be taken, some of which had never before been cmployed, and distributing the responsibilities for negligence in a manner which bids fair to produce speedy and tangible re- ! suits. " " I