Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/411

 ARMY.

Roubles Administration of army ..... 9,460,419

Remount of cavalry ..... 596,737

Medical department — ■

Regimental hospitals. . 221,209

Medical department. . . 1,037,394

Medico-chirurgical academy. 220,386

1,478,989

375

Military instruction and miscellaneous expenses 5,386,869

There are at Petersburg schools for pages, engineers, officers of artillery, and sub-officers of the guard, the rank of ensign being given to pages who have gone through a certain course, and to gentlemen cadets who have been two years in the service. But the principal establishment for the education of officers is that of the ' Corps des Cadets,' at Petersburg, founded in 1731. It has about 700 pupils, the sons of noble parents, or of those who have attained to the rank of captain in the civil or military service. The pupils are divided into five classes, and on leaving school become ensigns in regiments of the line. This school has materially contributed to diffuse information among the inferior nobility, and to supply the army with able officers. There are also schools for cadets at Moscow, Woronesch, Polotsk, Tula, Tamboff, and other towns. The pupils leave after a fixed time, and are ranked as ensigns. By a decree of the Emperor, dated Oct. 22, 18G3, various new rules Avere laid down for the entrance of officers into the army, with the view of facilitating the entrance of young men leaving public schools, and supplying the increased military forces of Russia with a sufficient number of officers. Young men who have gone through the course of studies in the high schools will be at once admitted into the army as non-commissioned officers, without examination, and after three months' service, and passing the examination, will be promoted to the rank of officers. All these young men will be promoted without waiting fur vacancies. Youths who have pursued their studies in the middle schools receive the rank of officers after the expiration of six months. All other volunteers desirous of entering the army, whatever be their origin — whether noble or plebeian — may be promoted to be officers at the expiration of one year's service, and after passing the necessary examination. If, notwithstanding this measure affording additional facilities and inducements to enter the army, the necessary number of officers should not be obtained, the period to be served by non- commissioned officers who have risen from the ranks before they can take rank as officers will be reduced — in the guards to seven, and in the line to eight years.

The pay of the officers in the Russian army is very small com-