is discussed in the chapter on the Austro-Serbian
campaigns, while the fighting forces of Russia are discussed in the
chapter on the Russian and German campaigns.

Much has been said, and justly, in criticism of Russia's army at the
outbreak of the war and afterward, but there is no disputing the fact
that it had been improved wonderfully as the direct result of the war
with Japan. In the strenuous years that followed that war, with
revolution an ever-present menace, the establishment of a constitutional
monarchy, and the granting of religious toleration to the many creeds
and sects which helped to make up the population, awakened its diverse
people to a new unity, inspired the people with hopefulness and
activity, and the _morale_ of the Russian army improved accordingly.

The army, at the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, on a peace basis
included about 50,000 officers and more than 1,200,000 men, which
included about 1,000,000 actual combatants. In recent years preceding,
the annual contingent had been about 430,000. At the end of July, 1914,
the ukase, which proclaimed a general mobilization, summoned to the
colors five classes, or about two million men. The total number was
increased by other reservists and volunteers to 4,100,000.

[Illustration: Pictorial Map of Russia.]

There had been a wave of reform in every branch of the military service.
The men who were conscripted to form the main strength of the army were
young and possessed more initiative than had the recruits of years
before. Every effort was made to encourage this initiative under the new
field service regulations.

In creating a new army with real fighting spirit, cohesion, and ability,
Grand Duke Nicholas, who was made Generalissimo, was conspicuous. Each
year the progress made under his direction has been displayed at the
autumn maneuvers. Another member of the imperial family, Grand Duke
Sergius, was largely responsible for the excellent showing made by the
Russian guns and gunners after war began.

For purposes of administration all of European Russia was divided into
eight military districts--the Caucasus, Kazan, Kiev, Moscow, Odessa,
Petrograd, Warsaw, and Vilna. There were also four Siberian districts,
making twelve in all. To each district were assigned two or more army
corps. In war, these were grouped in varying numbers from three to five
to constitute an army or army group.

The equipment of the Russian infantry soldier comprised