THE CZAR’S SHOT-PROOF CARRIAGE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 50, 12 December 1891, Page 671

THE CZAR’S SHOT-PROOF CARRIAGE.

When the Czar travels in Russia the precautions taken for his safety could not be greater were he in the enemy’s country. A battalion of infantry is detailed for every two miles of distance, and, allowing 500 men as the strength of each battalion, every spot of ground on both sides of the track is covered by sentinels within easy distance of each other. The Czar is suddenly whirled off to the station, accompanied by the chosen twelve of his bodyguard, without pomp or circumstance, swiftly and silently. The Czar always travels in a train of five carriages. His carriage is built in a peculiar way. The windows, while ample for light, are high, so that a person sitting down is invisible from the outside, and the sides of the car are fortified with plates of steel concealed in the ornamental woodwork, but amply strong to resist a bullet. There are two sentry boxes in the carriage, one at each end, and each looking out at an opposite side from the other. The guardsmen on duty in these apartments are shut in from any observation of the interior of the carriage, but at intervals of about two feet the whole length of the saloon are electric buttons communicating with the guard chambers, as well as with the two carriages, one containing the suite and the other in the rear, occupied by the guardsmen not on duty. So far as the train itself is concerned, the Czar could be no more secure in St. Petersburg. The train speeds on to its destination without a halt, except on account of accident. At a distance of not less than five miles ahead is a pioneer train, in which the Imperial Director of Railways and the chief engineer of the particular railway on which the Czar is travelling, always ride. As the pflot train whizzes by, the reserves along the line rush to arms and guard the sides of the railway, waiting until the Imperial train has passed, so that the spectacle is presented of continuous lines of soldiery for hundreds of miles.

Arrived at the end of his journey, the Czar is escorted to the quarters intended for the Imperial family. The streets are guarded by special constables in the attire of citizens. Every property owner has been called upon to supply one or more of these men at his own expense to do duty when the Sovereign makes a public appearance. The constables average one in ten of the crowd that throngs the streets, and, being in ordinary dress, they can mingle with the people, note what is said, and perhaps do something that will obtain them regular employment among the secret police. With one tenth the population engaged as spies upon the remainder, with troops enough concentrated to stand a formidable siege, and his faithful guardsmen dogging every step, the Czar goes through the forms of a visit to the ancient capital of Russia, or whatever city he may choose to honour.