the figures for 1913, 1918 and 1919. These figures should
be constantly borne in mind by any one who wishes to realize
how catastrophic the shortage oflabor in Russia
actually is, and to judge how sweeping may be the
changes in the social configuration of the country if that shortage
continues to increase. Here are the figures:


Workmen in Moscow in 1913............159,344
Workmen in Moscow in 1918 ...........157,282
Workmen in Moscow in 1919............105,210


That is to say, that one-third of the workmen of Moscow

ceased to live there, or ceased to be workmen, in the course
of a single year. A similar phenomenon is observable in
each one of the big industrial districts.


What has become of those workmen?


A partial explanation is obvious. The main impulse of the
revolution came from the town workers. Of these, the metal
workers were the most decided, and those who most freely
joined the Red Guard in the early and the Red Army in the
later days of the revolution. Many, in those early days, when
there was more enthusiasm than discipline, when there were
hardly any experienced officers, and those without much