"NOT BEGUN TO FIGHT."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15998, 17 August 1915, Page 4

"NOT BEGUN TO FIGHT."

RUSSIA'S REORGANISATION.

NEW MINISTER FOR WAR.

Russia has found it necessary to make certain changes in her administration with a view to carrying on the war with greater efficiency, writes our London correspondent. The Tsar has issued an Imperial Rescript to his people in which he says: —

"From all parts of the country I have received appeals testifying to the firm determination of the Russian peoples to devote their strength to the work of equipping the army. I derive from this national unanimity the unshakable assurance of a brilliant future. But surmounting glowing difficulties and parrying the vicissitudes which are inevitable in war, let us strengthen in our hearts the resolution to carry on the struggle, with the help of God, to the complete triumph of the Russian army. The enemy must be crushed, for without that peace is impossible. "With firm faith in the inexhaustible strength of Russia, 1 anticipate that lie Governmental and public institutions, Russian industry and all the faithful sons of the Fatherland, without distinction of ideas and classes, will work together in harmony to satisfy the needs of our valiant army. this is the only and, henceforth, the national problem to which I must be directed all the thoughts of united I Russia, invincible in her unity." Change Not Unexpected. " The removal of General Sukhomlinoff from the Ministry of War was not unexpected. 'I hat he was hard working and energetic he showed in the war with Japan, and his wonderful capacity for grouping unpleasant facts attractively and persuading his hearers saved the army for some years from political interference in the chambers. About three years ago the opposition to General Sukhomlinoff in the Duma and the press became so powerful that his colleague, General Polivanoff, who was then Under-Secretary for War. was expected to succeed him on grounds of real merit. General Polivanoft's qualifications for the post were recognised bv all who were competent to form an opinion, and during ten days while General Sukhomlinoff was absent on a visit to the lear in Li\idia, it was generally assumed that arrangements were being made for the change, which has been effected. Fine Russian Cavalry. It is interesting, in view of all we still expect of the Russian soldier, to hear an unbiassed appreciation of his character. Colonel Robert McCormick, of the United States Army, son of a former Ambassador to Petrograd, and A.D.C. to the Governor of Illinois, has spent a couple of months with the Russian Army, and he writes: — What I have seen of the Russian cavalry lends confirmation to the story of unbroken successes in modern conflicts recounted by officers of all branches of the service. At the beginning of the Galician campaign the Russians were almost invariably successful in cavalry encounters. Of their opponents the Russians speak highly only of the Hungarians. The Austnans they regard as poor, and the Prussians as worst of all. Praise for the Infantry. " The Russian fhfantryman is the most splendid physical specimen of the war. Owing to her immense population, Russia has not resorted to universal conscription. Only the best and strongest are chosen. The Russian soldier is very much bigger and very much more athletic than the English Tommy, mainly, I believe, be cause the bulk of the Russian population is agricultural, while the English is manufacturing.

I have often read of the Russian soldier as being clumsy. Nothing could be furtlio** from the truth. While at the front 1 was in a state of continual admiration over the agility and grace of tho soldiers' movements. Perhaps our ideas of Russian soldiers' clumsiness come from the pictures of the high boots they wear. They look heavy, but are not.

" There are two great generalities which overshadow all details. The first is that war found the Russian Army in course of reorganisation—a process which has been continuing through the war. The losses of battle are easily refilled by the enormous population, and the army is getting better as the war goes on. " Second,, the war is enormously popular. Eye-witnesses have described the extraordinary scenes which marked its outoreak. I have seen the calm, determined attitude of the soldiers in the ranks. The most severe actions of the war have been along this front, the losses on both sides have far exceeded those of any war in history, and yet Russia, in the words of our greatest sea fighter, who was also an admiral in the Russian feet, ' has not begun to fight.' "