Part of the Czar's Millions
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Part of the Czar's Millions

Image Not Available
Photograph

Keystone View Company

American, 1892–1963

Part of the Czar's Millions

ca. 1916
Gelatin silver print, printed later
Each Image: 7.8 x 7.5 cm (3 1/16 x 2 15/16 in.)
Mount: 8.6 x 17.7 cm (3 3/8 x 6 15/16 in.)
Gift of Donald K. Weber, 2011
2010.1013.0011
Inscriptions recto (printed in black): Keystone View Company / Manufacturers / COPYRIGHTED / MADE IN U.S.A. / Publishers /
Meadville, Pa., New York, N.Y. Portland, / Oregon. London. Eng., Sydney, Aus. /
14506-Part of the Czar's Millions.
verso (printed in black): 3 / 14506-Part of the Czar's Millions / In July, 1914, at th etime the Russian troops / started to gather on the western border, the / Czar's military rating from a standpint of / efficiency was very nearly equal to that of the / countries of western Europe. At the begin- /ning of the war Russia's active army consisted / of approximately 1,800,000 men. Mass was / said to be the chief characteristic of the Czar's / army. Here we see part of the "Mass."There / were millions of men like these at his com- / mand. /
Bravery was ever dominant but intelligence was lacking. The Russian soldier had been well trained and much ceremony in the way / of salutes between officers and privates was / observed. A religious atmosphere pervaded / the army and every regiment had its Chaplain. / Whenever possible services were held Sundays / and when moving into action the Chaplain / was always found at the head of his regiment / with cross uplifted. /
March, 1917, however saw the abolition of / the monarchy and the Czar deposed. Since / that period there has been much confusion / among the governing bodies and reconstruc-/tion has been begun with difficulty. This nat- /urally has in turn affected the rank and file of / the army. /
The general physical condition of the Rus-/sian soldier is as a rule good. The average / home life does not offer much in the way of / comforts and therefore camp life to the Rus-/sian does not present the inconveniences and / hardships it otherwise would. The main food, / whether in the army or at home, consists of / black rye bread.

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