IVAN IN FRANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 169, 17 July 1916, Page 9

IVAN IN FRANCE.

BITSSIAN CAMP AT MAILLY. W AY HOME THROUGH GEBMAKV. The Russian troops have come to France by sea, but their way -hack home lies through Germany. "I told my men," said Colonel Nectchvolodoff. command- ■ „ {he first Regiment, who showed Hγ tj Warner Alien, the official representative of the British Press with the French Army, round his soldiers' quarters -'after" our interminable voyage, ♦iat it was possible to bring troops such an enormous distance to fight, but that for nothing in the world would I consent to their being taken back by sea. ■fTe are goins to tight our way back to -Russin by land, at the bayonet's point. The tnen were delighted at the idea, because, like mc. they hate the sea." ■y. fi rs t glance the Camp de Mailly, which lies about a hundred miles south- ' east of Pa"3- may differ not at all from aß y ordinary camp — commodious wooden huts ranged in orderly lines, muddy opc-n space?, and all the bustle oi camp Hie. But then the eye falls on the resimental colours, carefully rolled and sheathed to protect them from tie rain, standing in the centre of the huts allotted to the regiment, with a grey uniformed sentinel standing beside them motionless as a statue. '-Good day, sentinel!" says the Colonel as he passes. In stentorian tone.- the sentinel replies, at the salute. "At your service, your Excellency! .All is well!" THE KI'SSIAX SPIRIT. Nothing is more typical of the Russian spirit than the relations between officers alid men. They are patriaTciiaJ, or rather paternal, in their simplicity Wherever the Colonel goes he calls out ins greeting, and the men reply in hearty .unison. The Russians attach great mi

portance to' these formaJities. "Our men," said the Colonel, "are quite happy so long as we wish them good day, but if -we pass them by unnoticed they at once conclude that they have done something wrong, and to ignore them is a recognised sign of disapproval." The Russian soklier's uniform is practical, simple, and admirably adapted for modern war. The men. one and all. are well built, and admirably drilled and disciplined. They come from all parts of Russia. I saw for instance, in this one regiment men. from Lrbutsk, in sontheni Siberia, from Brest Litowsk, on the border of Eussian Poland, and from the Caucasus. No special selection, I was assured by tie Russian officer, had been exercised. "We have," said one officer, "a fair proportion of veterans among our men.-as you can see from 'the medals worn by the non-commis-aoned oflicers.' . Without music no Russian can be really happy.' and every regiment had its chorus of singers. At the Colonel's orders a OToup of some two hundred men gathered." closely packed in a semicircle. The leader of the chorus, supported by Ms best singers, stood in the midst, and at a motion of his finger, the men jrwy softly, almost ■whispering, broke snt« a soldiers' s.ong. Then the notes swelled out, -with the richness of an organ, until the eong of parting became 'the song of victor)-. Even in its most juialant moment the haunting undercurrent pnelaneholy never failed!'' One could- eee-,on- the. faces of the men, written clear, the sorcery of: the music. '' The voices died a."way. and after an ■ iattstval the; Russian singers began again. 'The song they had chosen this time Ttas lighter and more jocular than the first; It told the story of a soldier going to the. wars and consulting a

wizard before he went. Every now and then .the chorus -would put a question to the leader, who. as tradition required, would answer with some improvised x«ply, sometimes swas. sometimes spoken. Then there were dances, the three best dancers of'the regiment.' in their, greygreen blouses and heavy boots, showing to us the original steps and fj|rures which are the foundation oi the Russian baUet. CHURCH SERVICES. It i≤ at mass, however, that the Russian singing is best to bp appreciated. The men sing with a childlike reverence and simplicity that is both touching and impressive. Tie sen-ice itself was as simple as the men. Through it all there came the haunting refrain of the Litany, "Gospodi Pomiloui" (Lord have mercy), and the men sang with all the sincerity of their souk. The priest, the regimental chaplain. wae a striking Imire in his robes of white silk. With his Ion? hair and flowing beard ho seemed the apostle of a mediaeval picture, and his men Tevercneed him with love and respect. He had been through the whole campaign in Russia, and wore about his neck a golden cross, a decoration that had been conferred upon him by the Emperor of Russia. A new detachment of Russian troops las reached the Camp de Mailly. and a luncheon has been given in honour of the

newly-arrived officers by their comrades of the first regiment*?." After luncheon the General reviewed the Russian troops, ■who produced a splendid impreseion by their bearing and discipline.