It is said of the grand duke Michel, uncle of Alexander II., that he was a most rigid disciplinarian. His great delight was in parades, and he never overlooked the least irregularity. Not a button, not a moustache even, escaped his notice, and whoever was not en regle was certain to be punished. He is reported to have said,—
“I detest war. It breaks the ranks, deranges the soldiers, and soils their uniforms.” [[F]]
The land forces of Russia are formed of two descriptions of troops—the regular troops properly so called, and the feudal militia of the Cossacks and similar tribes.
The regular army is recruited from the classes of peasants and artisans partly and principally by means of a conscription, partly by the adoption of the sons of soldiers, and partly by voluntary enlistment. Every individual belonging to these classes is, with a few exceptions, liable to compulsory service, provided he be of the proper age and stature. The nominal strength of the Russian army, according to the returns of the ministry of War, is as follows:
| 1. Regular Army. | Peace-footing. | War-footing. |
|---|---|---|
| Infantry | 364,422 | 694,511 |
| Cavalry | 38,306 | 49,183 |
| Artillery | 41,831 | 48,773 |
| Engineers | 13,413 | 16,203 |
| ---------- | ---------- | |
| Total | 457,875 | 808,670 |
| 2. Army of First Reserve. | ||
| Troops of the line | 80,455 | 74,561 |
| Garrison in regiments | 80,455 | 23,470 |
| Garrison in battalions | 19,830 | 29,862 |
| ---------- | ---------- | |
| Total | 100,285 | 127,925 |
| 3. Army of Second Reserve. | ||
| Troops of all arms | 254,036 | 199,380 |
| ---------- | ------------ | |
| General total | 812,096 | 1,135,975 |
Among the irregular troops of Russia, the most important are the Cossacks. The country of the Don Cossacks contains from 600,000 to 700,000 inhabitants. In case of necessity, every Cossack, from 15 to 60 years, is bound to render military service. The usual regular military force, however, consists of 54 cavalry regiments, each numbering 1,044 men, making a total of 56,376. The Cossacks are reckoned in round numbers as follows:
| Heads. | In Military service. | |
|---|---|---|
| On the Black Sea | 125,000 | 18,000 |
| Great Russian Cossacks on the Caucasian Line | 150,000 | 18,000 |
| Don Cossacks | 440,000 | 66,000 |
| Ural Cossacks | 50,000 | 8,000 |
| Orenburg Cossacks | 60,000 | 10,000 |
| Siberian Cossacks | 50,000 | 9,000 |
| ---------- | ---------- | |
| Total | 875,000 | 129,000 |
The Russian navy consists of two great divisions—the fleet of the Baltic and that of the Black Sea. Each of these two fleets is again subdivided into sections, of which three are in or near the Baltic and three in or near the Black Sea, to which must be added the small squadrons of galleys, gunboats, and similar vessels.
According to an official report, the Russian fleet consisted last year of 290 steamers, having 38,000 horse power, with 2,205 guns, besides 29 sailing vessels, with 65 guns. The greater and more formidable part of this navy was stationed in the Baltic. The Black Sea fleet numbered 43; the Caspian, 39; the Siberian or Pacific, 30; and the Lake Aral or Turkistan squadron, 11 vessels. The rest of the ships were either stationed at Kronstadt and Sweaborg or engaged in cruising in European waters.