233,413,503 roubles On December 27, 1893, the Treasury had in cash :- Silver. Paper and obligations in paper roubles. II. LOCAL FINANCE. The actual annual receipts of the provincial assemblies (the zemstvos), which were 32 million roubles in 1881, reached 47,291,233 in 1887, of which 26,916,181 roubles were levied in land taxes (out of 43.8 millions foreseen in the estimates), 5,982,565 from various other taxes, and 5,760,580 only from taxation of trade. Of the 585,300,000 acres which pay the land tax, 235,000,000 acres belonging to peasants pay an average of 63 copecks per acre, while the 351,000,000 acres belonging to landlords pay an average of 3.3 copecks per acre. The aggregate expenses of the zemstvos reached the same year 44,131,775 roubles, that is, an average of 16 rouble per male of popula tion. Of that, 11 per cent. was spent for the administration of the zemstros, 23 per cent. for hygiene and medical help, 17 per cent. for education, and 37 per cent. for obligatory expenses. The aggregate budgets of the towns of European Russia and Poland reached in 1887 48,570,494 roubles of income and 49,517,111 roubles of expenditure. Only 5 towns have each an income above one million roubles. The aggregate debt of all towns reached in 1882 26,842,177 roubles. The expenses of the village communities have been tabulated for 46 provinces of Russia proper for 1881; they reached the sum of 32 million roubles; that is an average of 1r. 16c. per male soul of population. Defence. I. FRONTIER. Russia has an extensive frontier both by sea and land, protected by numerous fortifications of various classes. On the west, Poland is defended by a system of four strongholds, sometimes called the Polish Quadrilateral-Novogeorgievsk on the right bank of the Vistula; the fortifications of Warsaw; Ivangorod on both sides of the Vistula; Brest-Litovski on the Bug. As the Vistula line remained unprotected on the rear from a possible invasion through Eastern Prussia, new fortifications have been raised in the rear of these fortresses. Western Poland, to the west of the Vistula, remained also quite unprotected, but new fortifications are being raised now about Kielce, at the foot of the Lysa-Gora Mountains in south-west Poland. There are numerous other fortified places, mostly neglected, on the Vistula and Bug. Between Poland and the Duna is the citadel of Vilna, while other works are being carried out on the river Nieman. The river Duna is defended at its mouth, at Riga, Dunaburg, and Vitebsk. On the west frontier, south of Poland, are several old fortified places which are being restored. The lower course of the Dniester is defended at Bendery and Akkermann; behind this line are Bobruisk and Kieff; the entrance to the Dnieper and the Bug is defended by Kinburn and Ochakov. The Baltic coasts are defended at Riga, Dunamunde, Reval, Narva, Cronstadt, Viborg, Fredericksham, Rochtensalm Island, Sveaborg Islands, Hangœudd, Abo, and the Aland Islands. The Black Sea coast is defended by the batteries of Odessa and extensive strong works at Nikolaieff; in the Crimea Sebastopol has been refortified, and the Isthmus of Perekop has various lines of defence, while small fortifications are found at Kertch, Yenikalé, Kaffa, Azov, and Taganrog. There are numerous fortified posts on the Caucasian coast, the chief of which is Poti, at the mouth of the Rion. Batum has now a large arsenal and is fortified. The Caucasus itself has numerous fortifications of varying importance: Yekaterinodar on the Kuban; Adagan, Krymskaya, and Bakan on affluents of the left bank of that river; Vladikavkaz on the Terek, and Nalchik on one of its left affluents; Derbend on the Caspian; Gunib and Deshlagar in Daghestan; Tiflis; Akaltsik, Alexandropol, Erivan, and the recent annexations Kars, Ardahan, and Batum. In the Asiatic dominions are Krasnovodsk and Chikishlar on the Caspian; Chat, Kizil-Arvat, Askabad, and Sarakhs on the Persian frontier; Nukus and Petro-Alexandrovsk on the Khiva frontier; on that of Bokhara, Katykurgan and Samarkand, Ura-tube and Khojent; on that of Kashgar, Karakol and Naryn. In the interior of Russian Turkestan are several fortified places, as at Kazalinsk, Karamakchi, and Tashkent. All these latter are earthworks, of importance only against the Asiatic neighbours of Russia. On the Pacific coast there are fortifications at Nikolaievsk, at the mouth of the Amour, and Vladivostok. II. ARMY. Since January 13, 1874, military service has been rendered obligatory for all men from their 21st year. With the modifications introduced in that law on October 30, 1876, and June 26, 1888, military service is organised as follows:-Out of about 870,000 young men reaching every year their 21st year, about 260,000 are taken into the active army, and the remainder are inscribed partly in the reserve and partly in the 2nd reserve, or Zapas.' The period of service is, in European Russia, five years in the active army (in reality reduced by furloughs to 4 years), 13 years in the reserve, and 5 years in the Zapas;' 7 years in active army and 6 years in the reserve in the Asiatic dominions; and 3 years in the active army and 15 years in the reserve in Caucasia. In case of need the Minister of War has the right of keeping the men for another six months under the colours. Certain privileges are granted on account of education, and clergymen are exempt, as also doctors and teachers. In 1892, of the 881,681 young men liable to military service (out of whom 50,224 Jews), 29,894 (8,385 Jews) did not appear; 167,653 were found too weak for military service; 187,250 inscribed in the 2nd reserve as being single workers in their families, and 260,307 (15,438 Jews) were taken into the army, besides 2,400 Caucasian natives, out of 18,279 liable to service. The contingent for 1893 was 264,300 men, besides 2,400 Caucasians. The men inscribed in the reserve troops are convoked for drill six weeks twice a year. The 'Opoltchenie,' formerly a simple militia, was reorganised in 1888 and 1891 (April 27th), and the duration of the service prolonged to 43 years instead of 40, for the soldiers, and from 50 to 55 for the officers. It is divided into two parts. The first part (pervyi razryad) has the character of reserve troops, and includes all those who have passed through active service, as also those who have not been taken into the active army, though able-bodied. It is intended chiefly to complete the active troops in time of war, and enables Russia to call out, in case of need, 19 classes of drilled conscripts. 'Cadres' having been formed in the 'Opoltchenie,' the men called out in case of war will find ready battalions, squadrons, &c., wherein to enter, and these parts will be provided with artillery. Drilling of some parts of the militia has been introduced. The second part, or vtoroi razryad (including all able-bodied men who have served in the first division, as also those liberated from service as not fully able-bodied, or being single workers in their families), can be called out only by an Imperial manifesto, and only for organising corps of militia. The Cossacks, who constitute 11 separate voiskos (Don, Kuban, Terek, Astrakhan, Orenburg, Ural, Siberia, Semiryetchensk, Transbaikalia, Amur, and Usuri-the latter erected to a separate voisko in 1889), are divided into three classes: the first in active service; the second on furlough with their arms and horses; and the third with arms but without horses. Each voisko is bound to equip, clothe, and arm its soldiers. Part of the Cossack cavalry is incorporated in the field troops, together with regular cavalry. The obliga tions of each voisko are regulated by separate laws. The indigenous troops, which number in time of peace 23 squadrons and 2 companies, are organised from Caucasians. By the law of December 18, 1878, which came into force on January 1, 1881, personal military service is declared obligatory in Finland. The Finnish troops form 9 battalions of riflemen, each with 18 officers and 505 men, and number in all 4,833 and 1 regiment of dragoons. In 1886 obligatory military service was extended to the natives of the Caucasus, but, according to the law of June 9, 1887, the Mussulman population of Caucasia has had a tax imposed of 528,000 roubles, to be paid from January 1, 1890, instead of military service. The Russian army is divided into: (a) field troops; (b) fortress troops; (c) local troops; (d) reserve; (e) second reserve or Zapas; (ƒ) auxiliary corps. Its numerical forces, both in time of peace and war, are as follows: (A.) FIELD TROOPS : (a) Infantry.—193 regiments (12 of the guard), divided into 48 divisions; each regiment has 4 battalions (of 4 companies each) and 1 detachment of non-combatants. Total, 772 battalions, 351,074 combatants, 13,510 officers, and the musicians; 20 regiments of army riflemen of 2 battalions each 40 battalions, 23,580 combatants, 660 officers; 8 battalions of riflemen (4 guard, and 4 Caucasian), 3,584 combatants, 152 officers; and 6 battalions of Cossacks 4,410 combatants, being thus a total of 818 battalions of infantry, 382,648 combatants. = (b) Cavalry.-58 regiments (4 of cuirassiers [4 sq. each], 2 hussars, uhlans, and 50 dragoons), of 6 squadrons each-the 6th squadrons being 'cadre troops 340 squadrons, 69,740 combatants: 1 Finnish dragoon regiment, 870 men; and 37 Cossack regiments (221 sotnias or squadrons), 34,790 combatants; being a total of 519 squadrons, 84,926 combatants of cavalry. 4 squadrons of Crimea Tartars and Ossetians, being a total of 1,424 combatants, must be added to the above. The cavalry is divided into 21 divisions (2 of the guard and 14 of the army, which includes 1 Cossack regiment each), 1 Caucasian (4 regiments of dragoons), and 4 Cossack divisions (16 Cossack regiments). All the cavalry is kept in time of peace on the war-footing of 144 armed men in the squadron, ready to be moved at once after the addition of a few harnesshorses, while 56 squadrons (one in each regular regiment) remain for the formnation of reserves. The 32 Cossack regiments have with them 14 mounted batteries incorporated into the cavalry divisions. Two new dragoon regiments have been formed in July 1891. (c) Artillery.-51 field artillery brigades, 96 heavy, 194 light, and 15 mountain batteries of 8 guns each. Of these 30 are kept on a war footing of 8 guns cach, and 276 have horses for 4 guns each=1,240 guns, 63,143 combatants; 43 mounted batteries, including the 14 above-mentioned mounted Cossack batteries=258 guns, 6,794 men; 5 sortie batteries, 2 guns each, 560 men; and 12 field mortar batteries in 3 regiments, 8 guns each, both in time of peace and war 96 mortars, 2,067 men; thus being a total of 355 field batteries, 1,408 guns, and 96 mortars, 72,664 men. (d) The Engineers' Corps, reorganised in 1888, comprises: 17 battalions of sappers, each of 5 companies (about 125 men each); 8 battalions of pontoneers, each of 2 companies, having each 102 carts and one bridge 700 feet long; 17 field telegraph companies (40 miles wire and 2 stations in each); 1 telegraph instruction company; 4 battalions of railway engineers; 8 torpedo companies; 1 aeronautic park; and 6 engineer trains (parks) divided into 60 sections, each of which has the tools, &c., necessary for an infantry division ; being a total of 34 battalions (5 brigades), with trains and 23 parks=19,325 men. (e) The Train comprises: 5 train cadre battalions= 20 companies=1,995 men; 48 flying artillery parks, of 4 divisions each; 15 mobile artillery parks for cadres, 4 divisions in each; 3 siege-parks, 2 in European Russia (12 8-inch guns, 60 heavy and 144 light 6-inch guns, 116 4-inch guns, and 130 mortars in each), and 1 Caucasian (320 guns and mortars); 2 siege engineer-parks, being, together with the hospital detachment, a total of 35,130 men. The total of the Field Troops of the European Army is thus 619,173 combatants, and about 28,000 officers. (B.) The COSSACKS, first calling under arms, comprise Don Cossacks: 19 regiments, 110 squadrons of cavalry, 8 mounted batteries, 48 guns; and 1 reserve battery, 3 guns; total, 17,792 combatants. Kuban 11 regiments and 3 squadrons of cavalry=69 squadrons; 4 battalions, of 4 sotnias each, and 10 cadre detachments (220 men); and 5 mounted batteries, 20 guns; total, 13,575 combatants. Terek: 4 regiments and 1 squadron = 25 squadrons and 1 mounted battery, 8 guns; total, 3,759 combatants. Astrakhan 4 squadrons, 602 combatants. Orenburg 6 regiments and 3 squadrons=33 squadrons, and 3 horse batteries, 14 guns; total, 6,232 combatants. Ural 3 regiments and 2 squadrons=19 squadrons, 2,808 combatants. Transbaikalia: 1 regiment=6 squadrons and 2 horse batteries, 1,983 com batants. Amur: 2 squadrons, 655 combatants. Usuri (formed in 1889, formerly part of the Amur Voisko): 2 companies, about 240 combatants. Total, 288 squadrons, 20 infantry companies, and 20 horse batteries= 52,184 combatants; out of which 4 battalions, 185 squadrons, and 14 batteries (32,736 combatants) must be deducted. That is, 103 squadrons and 6 batteries, 19,448 combatants, after the deduction of the Cossack forces incorporated into the field troops. (C.) The RESERVE TROOPS have been reorganised in 1889, so as to have 100 battalions ready to muster as many regiments in case of mobilisation; while those of Caucasus have so been reorganised (partly by re-forming the local militia) that the Caucasus military district, which formerly could muster but 10 regiments for the field, will have 16 regiments fit for action outside Caucasia. They comprise now :-Infantry:-23 regiments = 46 battalions (12 Cancasian and 2 fortress artillery) and 101 battalions (10 Caucasian and 24 fortress artillery), being a total of 147 battalions, 73,933 combatants and 754 horses Cavalry-65 cadre squadrons, 8,422 men. Artillery-6 heavy and 31 light batteries, and 2 batteries of Zapas, 148 guns, 7,668 men; 56 fortress artillery battalions and 8 companies of the same (about 23,500 men.1 Engineers:-9 companies and 4 half companies of fortress sappers; 6 fortress telegraph parks; 2 ballooning parks, and 10 torpedo companies, 4,113 men. The three armies of the Asiatic dominions are seen in the following table, in which the total peace-footing of the army is recapitulated : |