In the debate on the military Budget in June last, M. Gutchkoff, the leader of the Centre, made an attack on the bureaucracy which has seldom been equalled for boldness in the Duma. He plainly told the Grand Dukes, who at present hold all the profitable appointments in the army, to get out and make for men who know their business.
Yon ask the nation to-day," he said in effect, "for " lot of money for military requirements. You ask us to make great sacrifices. Well, we are ready to do so; but we ask you also to make some sacrifices and to leave some of these high army posts which you mono-police to be occupied by professional soldiers who are not Grand Dukes."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.