Page:Emile Vandervelde - Three Aspects of the Russian Revolution - tr. Jean Elmslie Henderson Findlay (1918).djvu/202

 correct discipline that would have made the Potsdam guard or the guard of Buckingham Palace green with envy. Frenchmen who were present, and who had seen this military ceremony at Tsarskoïe Selo, under the former régime, told us that this review was exactly like these used to be. The troops marched in companies in impeccable lines, singing their battle songs. These choruses, set for several voices, with each rank singing its part in the strong, beautiful voices peculiar to the Russians, keep admirable time with their march. After the march past the men presented arms, keeping their orderly lines so exactly that the men in the second rank had the point of their bayonets just at the neck of the leaders of the file.

To listen to our speech, the troops then formed a square with remarkable rapidity, and during the whole meeting remained at attention, without moving a rifle, without a man stirring. But immediately the parade was over, when we were to have a conference with the Soviets of the two regiments, the military authorities who accompanied us the—Chief of the Rou-