ABSTRACT
Before speaking of the development of the war, the author should like to give some account of the officers of the Russian Army. As to the remainder of Russia's enormous Army, the difficulty of providing it with the necessary quantity of officers was very great. The expansion of the Army in war-time naturally demanded many more officers; the Empire did not possess any real Reserve, apart from those regulars who had retired and were again called to the colours. One-third of the vacancies for regimental commanders in Russia regimental commanders were not necessarily former officers of the regiment in question. Throughout the Army were reserved for officers of the Guard, whereas the number of eligible candidates in the line, as compared with the Guards, was greater than the allotted proportion of two to one. The lack of officers was filled by "Ensigns of the Reserve".
