The huge Russian army makes continual progress, and its varied composition and little-known development make it very difficult to describe. It may be said to consist of several armies: the European, the Caucasian, the Turkestan, and the Amur force; the first of these organized like other European armies, and the constitution of the others varying in conformity with local requirements. Moreover, the strength of each varies according to the necessities of the situation, the troops being on the ordinary peace footing, on the higher peace establishment as in the frontier districts, or on the war footing as in Asiatic Russia. There are 13 greater military districts, the Trans-caspian district, and the territorial region of the Don Cossacks. There are 25 army corps in Europe and the Caucasus, 2 in Turkestan, and 2 in the Amur district.

The peace strength has been given as follows:

Of these forces the active army numbers 731,000 in Europe and the Caucasus, and 87,000 in Asiatic Russia. Baron von Tettau, in a volume on the Russian Army (1902), gives the peace strength, including Cossacks and Frontier Guards, as 1,100,000.

It must be understood that in regard to the preceding estimate and in what follows concerning the distribution of the Russian forces, considerable doubt exists. The troops were moved secretly in view of the war with Japan, and very various statements have been made as to the force actually available in the Far East.

An Imperial order of November 12, 1903, gave instructions for the formation of 2 new brigades.

The Cossack forces have a special constitution. Every Cossack becomes liable to serve as soon as he has completed his eighteenth year. For the first three years, which are looked on as "preparatory," his service is, however, purely local; but for the next twelve years he is considered as belonging to the "front" category. This category consists of three bans, the first of which is formed of men actually serving, and the two others of men who have been granted unlimited leave. The last five years are spent in the Reserve category. There is, however, a still further category, for which no limit of age is fixed: this comprises all able-bodied Cossacks not otherwise classified. These have to supply and maintain their own horses, besides providing their own clothing and equipment. The peace effective of the Cossacks is stated to be 65,930, with 52,400 horses, but it is probable that not more than 54,000 are permanently with the colors. The war strength is given as 182,065, including 4,275 officers, and there are 173,150 horses. This gives a percentage of 13.2 to the male population liable to Cossack service.

In the Russian Empire considerably over a million men annually attain the age for joining the army. In 1902 the number liable to serve was 1,122,000, and 315,832 were embodied in the standing army. Seventy per cent, of the men so entered are illiterates. About 5,000 enlist annually as volunteers, and 16,000 join the Cossacks. The period of liability to personal service lasts from the twenty-first to the forty-third year of age. Those who join the standing army spend five years with the colors (four in the infantry), thirteen in the reserve, and the remainder in the Opoltchenie, or militia. In some instances, however, the War Minister has power to retain men for a longer period with the colors; whilst, on the other hand, this period is shortened by one, two, three, or four years for those possessing a superior education. The Opoltchenie, which has been developed from a simple militia into a first reserve formation, now embraces two different classes: (1) Men between 21 and 43 years of age, who have never served; (2) men who have completed 5 years' service with the colors and 13 years in the reserve. The ages of the men vary between 39 and 43 years.

The Finnish Military Service Law, whereby the Finnish army has lost the independence guaranteed by treaty, was promulgated on August 1, 1901. The offices of Finnish commander-in-chief and staff have been abolished.

The war strength of the Russian forces consists of about 56,500 officers and 2,855,000 men, including 1,792,000 infantry and 196,000 cavalry. These form the active army of all classes. To these figures must be added the available reserves, estimated at 1,064,000; frontier battalions, 41,000; Cossacks, 142,000. There are besides these the Territorial Reserves, some 2,000,000 men, and the Opoltchenie, 1,300,000, which could be employed in case of emergency. Gen. Redigers, a well-known authority, estimates the trained reserve to be 2,700,000. It is expected that under new organization the Opoltchenie, or militia, in time of war will form 40 infantry divisions, 640 battalions; 20 regiments of cavalry, 80 squadrons; 80 batteries of artillery, and 20 battalions of sappers; but owing to the vast distances to be covered, and the want of railway accommodations, the mobilization of this great force would be neither easy nor rapid. In regard to the embodiment of the reserve force in the event of war, great advances have been made by the establishment of brigade commands and the organization of reserve brigades.