Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/412

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RUSSIA.

pared with that of the other European nations. It is as follows : — lieutenant-general, 1,116 roubles, or 159/. a year; major-general, 838 roubles, or 119/. ; colonel, 5G0 roubles, or 80/. ; lieutenant- colonel, 419 roubles, or 59/. ; major, 336 roubles, or 48/. ; captain, 307 roubles, or 43/. ; second captain, 282 roubles, or 40/. ; lieu- tenant, 238 roubles, or 34/. ; second lieutenant, 224 roubles, or 32/. ; ensign, 209 roubles, or 29/. ; and non-commissioned officers, 10 to 123 roubles, or 1/. 10s. to 17/.

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 fifteen to sixty years of age, is bound to render military service. The usual regular military force, however, consists of fifty-four cavalry regiments, each numbering 1,044 men, making a total of 56,376. The number of Cossacks is computed as follows: —

On the Black Sea

Great Russian Cossacks on the Caucasian Line Don Cossacks ......

Ural Cossacks ......

Orenburg Cossacks .....

Siberian Cossacks ......

Total

Heads

In military service

125,000

150,000

440,000

50,000

60,000

50,000

18,000 18,000 66,000

8,000 10,000

9,000

875,000

129,000

The Cossacks are a race of free men ; neither serfage nor any other dependence upon the land exists among them. The entire territory belongs to the Cossack commune, and every individual has an equal right to the use of the land, together with the pastures, hunting-grounds, and fisheries. The Cossacks pay no taxes to the Government, but in lieu of this they are bound to perform military service. They are divided into three classes: — first, the minors or ' Maloletniye,' up to their sixteenth year; secondly, those on actual service, the ' Sluzhiliye,' for a period of twenty-five years, therefore until their forty-second year ; thirdly, those released from service, the ' Otstavniye,' who remain for five years, or until their forty- seventh year, in the reserve ; after that period they are regarded as wholly released from service and invalided. Every Cossack is obliged to equip, clothe, and arm himself at his own expense, and to keep his horse. AVhilst on service beyond the frontiers of his own country, he receives rations of food and provender, and a small amount of pay. The artillery and train are at the charge of the Government. Instead of imposing taxes on the Don Cossacks, the