Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/408

 RUSSIA.

37 2

6,435,000/., are administered separately from the imperial ex- chequer ; but the special budgets of Poland ceased in 1867, on the final incorporation of the kingdom with Russia.

Army and Navy.

1. Army. The land forces of Russia are formed of two descriptions of troops, different from each other in many respects — the regular troops, pro- perly so called, and the feudal militia of the Cossacks and similar races. Some corps of the latter have been brought into regular form and training, and are occasionally employed like the rest of the army, although in manv respects they differ entirely from the regular troops. The regular army is recruited from the classes of peasants and arti- sans, 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 levies, which take place alternately in the eastern and western divisions of the empire, are ordinarily in the proportion of one or two to every 500 males ; but during war the proportion is at least as two or three to 500, and sometimes as much as four or even five to 500. This last, however, may be taken as the maximum levy, and is rarely exceeded. The number of recruits to be furnished by the empire in general, and by each district in particular, is fixed accord- ing to the results of the preceding census. The nobles nominate such of their dependants as they please to complete their quotas, the only conditions being that they should have a good constitution, and be of the requisite size, and not less than 18, nor more than 40 years of age. The contingents supplied by some of the great landed pro- prietors are very large, sometimes amounting to 3,000, to 5,000, and even to 6,000 and upwards. The recruits are first sent to the recruiting establishments, and thence forwarded to the corps to which they are assigned. Nobles, magistrates, clergymen, and students are exempted from the service. Merchants and traders enrolled in the different guilds are also exempted ; as are the only sons of peasants, and peasants with more than three children. The levies furnished by the Cossacks are regulated by pai-ticular treaties ; and many half-savage tribes are excused, partly on account of their diminutive size, and partly because of their great aversion to a mili- tary life. Generally, it is found that a levy of two on every 500 males produces a supply of about 90,000 or 100,000 men. Substitutes are admitted in the event of the authorities being informed and not objecting to their employment.