RUSSIAN CAMPS OF EXERCIRE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIX, Issue 98, 27 April 1895, Page 4

RUSSIAN CAMPS OF EXERCIRE

Broad Arrow.

During the drill season in Russia the troops annually go into camp in numbers which would appear to us enormous. There are many of tlies-e vast camps scattered about European Russia, and they cluster thickly towards the western and 'south-western frontier. IT be principle which seems to be followed in the case of provinces of doubtful loyalty, liko Poland, is to send troops from Moscow mid elsewhere to the Warsaw training camp, and to lake tho covertly disloyal Polo and send him to put his militiu-y principles into practice at a good sate distance from his native land. Infantry, cavalry, and artillery have each many camping grounds whore the three arms train separately during tho summer, .being united for manoeuvre, when practicable, at another period of the year, fcome of these are near tho cities, like the infantry camps round the Park of Moscow, whilst others, like the Mojaisk artillery camp, are ten or eleven miles even from a country town. In some of the moro northern parts of Russia, as at Kazan, thero are permanent huts, and the troops do not go under canvas ; whereas in others; as at Mojaisk, there is a sort of compromise, the officers' lines being huts, the hoises nlso being protected by long sheds, whilst the nieii are in tents pitched inside a hollow formed by a circular embankment which gives good protection from the wind. It is interesting on a fine evening Bummer to go round one of the

camps. We will assume that you are a civilian, at least for the time being, and that you are living in a little " datohn," or -wooden houso in the forest, with a family that has migrated after the usual custom to escape the dust and turmoil of the town during the short, hot, Russian summer. Tho men are at liberty, find some of ' them are fishing in the sluggish stream close by, -which seems to serve the double purpose of drain and water supply, hoping to be rewarded by a dace, a perch, or perhaps a pike, which will help out the supper. Others are playing their favourite game of skittles — " keglee." A little further on a regular open-air gymnasium has been prected, and some of the more energetic are going round the giant stride. Almost every Eus^an soldier seems to be able to play the concertina, which might be called the national musical instrument, and one often sees ja group of men, some lounging on the embankments which form the " curtains " of the tents, some standing round, whilst one of their number plays a lively air, and another, tho centre {of the admiring crowd, executes a stepdance dla I'usse. The air is marvellously clear and dry, and, passing by the officers' lines, we hear tho clink of glasses and the sound of merry talk ; and we catch a glimpse of one of the groups half hidden by the denso foliage of the young trees which surround tbe neat little birch huts; and which screen them from prying eyes. One of the artillery brigades is going to have some music, and the übiquitous German bandmaster, who has left bis fatherland and taken service with the Czar, is mustering his clientele who, under his skillful hands have beoome really excellent musicians. Every sight and sound . suggests contentment, simplicity, and comfort, and it is worth coining Borne distance to hear the soldiers gather under the g'-eat birch roof, supported merely by posts, Bing grace, as they invariably do, at the beginning and end of every meal. Sometimes, however, there is a good deal, of luxury— far more, indeed, than would be met with in any English camp of exercise— for at Kazan the officers' mess contains a circular hall, ante room, reading room, card room, billiard room, mess room, ladies dressing room, and other apartments, richly and tastefully furnished, provided with mirrors, hung with pictures and made suug with curtains. The fronl of the mess house is sheltered with a verandah, from beneath tbe shades of which there is a picturesque view of the environs of Kazan. There is a good telephonic and railcommuoication between Kazan and the camp. In front of the lines there is generally an extensive, slightly undulating plain, which makes an admirable drill and manoeuvre ground, and not far off there is the range, on which almost continuous firing is kept up throughout the day. The whole of the scene is set in vast yellow com fields, apparently without boundaries, save the dark primeval forest, a.n out-lying patch of which occasionally ließ like an island iu the golden sea of grain, which is destined in great part for shipment across the seas.

As to the numbers trained at Hojaisk, for instance, there are eight artillery brigades, each of six batteries comainiug eight guns per battery in time of war ; and this is only one of many similar camps. Accustomed as we are to seeing no more than a few batteries together, it is an eyeopener to find an artillery force of this Bize— i. e. between 4,000 and 5,000 men, which is only a fraction of the real force available. The phyBique of these men, all of equal age, and all fresh from the plough, would be the envy of any officer who knows the value of bone and muscle on active service.