RUSSIA’S PREMIER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9632, 12 April 1917, Page 2

RUSSIA’S PREMIER

PRINCE GEORGE LVOFF RUSSIAN PATRIOT AT THE HELM. The Allies can feel tremendously pleased that a man of the type of Prince Geo iso Lvoff is to direct the activities of their powerful Ally, Russia. ior years he has been recognised as the most popular and capable man in Russia, lie is still in the prime of life. Although above the average in height, his figure is rather slight, but he walks and talks with that alertness that marks him for a man of energy and determination. He "wears no uniform whatsoever; in lac , his mode of dress is noticeable tor its plainness and absence of any decorations or other insigna of office. When appearing before His Imperial Majesty the Czar ho wears the ordinary IrocJt coat It was not so long ago that ho was elected Mayor of Moscow so unau.iuouslv that the Czar refused to confirm the election. His ability and integrity, however, were recognised, and when he became the head of the Zemstvos Union fie was assured the support of the_ Crown To offset any possible error, it might be well to say that Prince Lvoff is not a member of tlio Imperial tamily. -in general, the title “Prince has been adopted in Russia by all the families who have been large landowners loi generations. In medieval history they took upon themselves the defence ot their lauds and the title of “Prince was gradually applied to the heads ol these families. In later years the Crown recognised the title and made it hereditary. While the titles “Prince' and “Princess" are very common in Russia, it indicates, nevertheless, that the boater of such a title is a-member of an old and probably distinguished family. When applied to a member of the Imperial family the title is always His Imxjcrial Highness Prince So-and-so, as tho case may be. Prince Lvoff, therefore while not a member of the Imperial family, is the head ol a family which has been prominent fqr generations It is a Polish title, and readers may remember in Poland the city of Lvoff; tho tier man name for this city is Lemberg. In the great drive of the Russian army in the summer of 1915, Lvoff, or Lemberg, was twice occupied and twice lost, and is now, of course, in the hands of the Gormans.

ZEMSTVOS UNION. The Zemstvos Union, of which Prince Lvoff is the distinguished president, is an organisation in Russia which has no exact counterpart in any other Government in the world. It is really a union of the various District Governments throughout all Russia. Its function in each district is hi general a function of supervision. It supervises the collection, of taxes and the collection of conscripts; it builds the roads; it runs the schools and the hospitals; and it assists the peasant in taking up land and in developing the same. It is every bit as representative and as helpful to the people as the Duma itself. It is not to he supposed, however, that the Zemstvos Union has any power in malting the laws. In carrying out' all this work for the Government, it was only natural that the organisation eventually became semi-official. Since the outbreak-of the war the Russian Bed Cross turned to the Zemstvos Union and solicited its assistance. When the writer was last in Russia the Zemstvos Union had hospitals totalling over 200.000 beds. The writer had the privilege of presenting the American Ambassador ajnd Ambassadress, with his secretaries and naval attache, to His Excellency Prince Lvoff for a brief inspection of the work of the Zemstvos as carried on in the general headquarters at Moscow. At that time also a visit was made to one of their largest hospitals in that city, where the work could be seen in its practical application. It is natural also, therefore, that in this work they should come into very close contact with the peasants themselves. The Zemstvos Union - itself is entirely in sympathy with the peasants. Prince Lvofl himself, being the owner of large estates, originated • and is still carrying out a large scheme for the breaking up of large sections of his lands and permitting the peasant actual ownership. He assists them in the purchase of' seeds, and in the purchase of equipment to plant and harvest crops. His precedent has been followed by many other members of distinguished families, and the people, in showing their appreciation, have made him the popular idol. The headquarters of the Zemstvos Union is in Moscow, and in Moscow the writer for over a year hod the privilege of working with the Zemstvos Union, and more especially with Prince Lvoff himself. Being of a very progressive mind. His Excellency was always interested in any suggestions which would lead to greater efficiency in solving the problems of the great work the Zemstvos Union was carrying on. In connection with their army work they had occasion to use large numbers of ambulances, some of which from, time to time would come within range of the enemy's fire. The American representative of one of the largest automobile producers in America made him the suggestion of sending motor-cars all of the same make and identical in construction to any one point at the front. That is to say, if 100 ambulances were needed for any particular division, 100 absolutely identical in construction would be sent. The advantage would he that one motor-car could be taken down to. supply parts for any other cars that might be damaged. Also, mechanics could be made more efficient if they were trained to look after one particular make of car. The general system in Russia had been “hit or miss." A hundred cars would be sent to fill a need at some point in the battle line, all of different makes, and the mechanics to take care of these ears p'erhaps had never had an opportunity of seeing 10 per cent, of them. Prince Lvoff was quick to recognise the efficacy of this suggestion, and immediately adopted it. Later it was adopted, in so far as possible, by tho whole Russian, army.

Prince Lvoff was one of the first in Russia to recognise the efficacy of innoculation for the prevention of infectious diseases. With the exception of Russia, every army in the field to-day practises innoculation against lockjaw. Almost before a man's wound is cleaned and dressed he receives a dose of tetanus antitoxin for the prevention of lockjawIt is commonly known, however, that the numbers of wounded in Russia were so large, and the supply of medical men so small, that it was impossible to carry out this wise precaution. Prince Lvoff, however, inaugurated this system, so far as his own medical corps is concerned, which prevented thereby many unnecessary deaths. AN ARDENT PATRIOT.

He has always been an ardent patriot, with never a selfiish thought. He has not solicited Imperial honours or favours, but has worked unceasingly, and tirelessly for the eventual victory. He has been as well aware as any other prominent man of the pro-Germanism which has existed in the -past among the members of the Russian Cabinet. Time and again they have sought to put him down from his high position, and yet they feared the result of such a procedure. During times of great stress, when he has been forced to appear before the Council of the Empire for needed appropriations, ho has been compelled to spend every night in railway cars. Working one day in his readquarters at Moscow, he would travel that night to Petrograd. and all that dav present evidence and arguments of the necessity of this or that course of action before the Ministers and before the Council of Hie

Empire, sleeping again that night in the train on his way back to Moscow; that day directing the affairs of his great organisation, and that night back again to Petrograd. The writer has often received telegrams from his 1 xcelicncy making an appointment for such and such an hour, on such and such a train. While it was practically impossible for a civilian to purchaso tickets on those particular trains, the showing the telegram invariably procured the ticket without further expense. At the appointed hour the writer would preseilt himself at the compartment of his Excellency, and be duly admitted. Perhaps, fatigued with his heavy day's work, he would already bo in bed, and the interview would be carried on sitting on. the edge of his Excellency's bed. No words can express the high devotion to duty of tills splendid character, who has now' come into his own and under whose leadership the power of Russia will be more folt than ever.