THE RUSSIAN ARMY.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15170, 7 January 1915, Page 3

THE RUSSIAN ARMY.

IMPROVEMENT ->* -MORAL

Writing under date oi November 6th, a •'Times" correspondent, reviewing tiie work of tho Russian Army in Poland, .tatee: — While it- is true that tho recent rear-, guard actions were not serious stands, and that the stain! which will probatory be made soon by the enemy will he much more stubborn, it is equally true that the constantly improving moral and condition of the Russian troops are bring them into the next big action with enormous efficiency, and I believe .'hat any checks that may be suffered will be followed by constant aggressions "with fresh troops. The determination of the soldiers and their officers to win regardless of cost or losses presages ultimate victory, ilussia can keep tilling up her ranks m-d-finitelv, while from the captured prisoners, both Austrian and German, whom I have seen. I am inclined to believe that ibe enemy .already have all the available men in the iu"""g line l-'rom personal observation I am inclined to believe that tne enemy are it -ring south much more reluctantly than toward;, thc west, as, the .ronticr r.rtio.!s &ce!i- t;"> bo innelt more vigorously contested. The Austrian* seem to h:v constantly pushwl in.*r> rearguard position*, and practically all the prisoners seen in the vicinity of Radom and Kielce were Austrians. It is stated that these are officered by Germans, and that their resistance, though vigorous at first, evaporates alter a lew days' fighting. . From conversation with ime innai.itants of Kielce 1 gather that the conduct, of the Germans during the occupation was lea.onablv good, though the Russian inform us that Ru-sian prisoners have been badly treated by the German*--. One hears occasional' atro-jity stories, but they must originate from the narratives of individual soldiers, and 1 personally think there i-> no undue licence in this theatre in the conduct of the war, either ou the Russian side or tho German. From the treatment T have personally observed of thc prisoners in the hands' of the Russians. I am of opinion that the individual hatred between the armies is here fading away. 1 _•_ w -.00 Austrian prisoners, with a .sprinkling of Germans, beinj: conducted by possibly a dozen Russians. Both the Austrian* and tho Germans told mc that, their treatment was good, and none of the Russians or the Germans showed anything but friendliness towards each other. Roth sides have apparently reached a feeling of mutual respect for the courage of their adversaries. The general opinion of Poland has crystallised miraculously into intense loyalty to Russia and hostility to Germany. Except among the Jews this seems widespread and typical. The check suffered 'at Warsaw and Ivangorpd, together -with the realisation of this sentiment, have undoubtedly caused the abandonment of the German programme here. As a general conclusion after seeing the Russian army in Manchuria and in this war. J would venture tho opinion after a month's observation here, that in moral, organisation, and determination it is as different from the army of the early campaigns against Japan as the troops afc Appomattox differed from those at Bull Run-in the American Civil "War. ■The soberness of the army is beyond question." I bave not seen a single tipsy or disorderly soldier or officer, and hearsay reports are extremely rare. If, after such superficial observations as are possible at the end of a'month with the army, I might be permitted; to ,oxpr«s*!. an opinion, .the mainspring: »£ .all. this .activity, according to the universal belief, is the generalissimo. Certainly, all Poland is at- his feet, and when the "War is finished and its history is -written, T believe he ."will prove to have been, perhaps, the greatest individual figure in this entiro conflict;