Show Soldiers of the Czar It is a relief to turn from the Russian Russian Rus Rus- sian officer to the Russian soldier says Thomas F. F Millard in Scribners Ivan poor fellow with all his Ignorance ignorance ignorance ance and stupidity is a man to love love His simple kindly nature unswerving loyalty to Czar and country who have done so little for him unquestioning obedience to officers who take such I little care for his welfare never failing falling fall fail ing patience under reverses unflinching unflinching I ing courage in the presence of the enemy enemy en en- emy generally uncomplaining attitude in misfortune and d diet t endurance of oil poor food and excessive sive fatigue make him an almost heroic figure Unaccustomed to what what- he would ordinary comforts ts he does not miss them knowing nothing better better bet bet- bet ter he is contented with his lot Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps Per Per- haps it is his deeply religious nature that enables him to bear so well the hardships put upon him He would rather enter battle without feed than without the blessing of the regimental priest whose picturesque flowing gown and long uncombed hair are to tobe tobe tobe be met even on the firing line Many priests wear the St. St George cross given given en only for gallantry under fire As a soldier Ivan is fairly well drilled in ordinary marching evolutions and the manual of arms for which he must thank his noncommissioned noncommissioned noncommissioned non commis officers but but he apparently gets very little instruction in modern fighting fighting fighting fight fight- ing tactics Entirely destitute of personal per per- initiative he is apt to become practically helpless if he loses his of of- He has a fairly good weapon though inferior to the rifle used by the Japanese but has been given little instruction instruction instruction in in- how to use it Target practice practice practice tice is expensive and int in an an army the size of Russia's the men get the mini mini- mum In this war it has been noticeable noticeable no no- that such infantry fire control control control con con- as is displayed by the Russians is directed almost entirely by the noncommissioned noncommissioned noncommissioned non non- commissioned officers and its efficiency cy falls far below that of the Japan Japan- ese The Russian soldier too Is poorly supplied and clothed in comparison to those of most armies His rations depend depend depend de de- pend largely upon his foraging ability When the war began his clothing was unsuitable for the requirements of modern conflict but as time has gone by efforts are being made to remedy this |