Excerpt from Recent Experiences and Impressions in Russia Russia has called to the colors since the war began not less than men. This constitutes the largest army assembled by any one nation in the history of the world. Of this vast number it is estimated that fully have already been killed or have died as the result of wounds or diseases occasioned by the war. Another are today prisoners of war in Germany, austria-hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey. Another may. Be classified as permanently ineffective, chiefly those who have been seriously mutilated in warfare or shattered by disease. This leaves men as comprising the total strength of the Rus sian army of today. Some authorities whom I consulted give a somewhat lower figure, but more would place it even higher. Of this army of today probably are to be found in the seventy corps on the European front and the five on the Asiatic front; in the depots or reserves; in connection with garrisons and communications-athus leaving a little over in training, on leave or otherwise not immediately avail able for military operations, but potentially a most important asset. On this vast host of Russian men and boys rests the tre mendons responsibility of maintaining and pressing the war on the long drawn out eastern front. The effectiveness and faith fulness with which they perform this critical duty will determine, far more largely than we in America have realized, the extent of the exertions and sacrifices, and the laying down of life and substance, of the American people in connection with the great struggle. Whatever can be done, therefore to ensure and develop the highest working efficiency and truly triumphant spirit of the Russian soldiers has a most direct, practical, and vital bearing on the destiny of America and the other Allies. As a member ofthe Special Diplomatic Mission to Russia which had been charged by President Wilson with the responsibility of studying ways in which America and Russia might best cooperate in the war, I gave not a little attention, in accordance with the wish of our Chairman, Mr. Root, to the consideration of this large and press ing problem. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.