230 THE ZEMSTVOS DURING THE WAR
similar depots in Lvov, Tiflis, and Pskov. After the retreat of the
Russian army, the Warsaw depot was transferred to Minsk and that
at Lvov to Kiev. At first these wholesale depots merely distributed
equipment and supplies to the zemstvo detachments formed im Mos-
cow. As no accurate information regarding the requirements of
these detachments could be obtained, the work of supply was car-
ried on in accordance with the original plan, that is to say, they
received underwear, clothing, hospital equipment, medical goods,
surgical instruments, dressing material, and canned food. In Febru-
ary, 1915, the Warsaw depots had in stock about 200 carloads of
goods, valued at 1,000,000 rubles.
When the organization of the Union of Zemstvos for the work in
the army was first created, that is, when its agencies were attached
to military units, the depots were transferred to the places where
these agencies had their headquarters, and they continually moved
with the bgadquarters of the respective armies. In course of time it
was found necessary to go even farther. New depots were opened
from time to time, and by the end of 1916 they numbered about
three hundred.** In addition to these general depots, special depots
of medical supplies were created.
The successful operation of the depots depended on three condi-
tions: (1) proximity to the institutions which they were intended to
supply; (2) mobility; and (8) adequacy of stock. Under the condi-
tions of the war of maneuver which prevailed during the first half
of the hostilities, proximity to the respective institutions would have
exposed the warehouses to the constant danger of enemy attacks and
they would always have had to be prepared to beat a hasty retreat.
This is why the zemstvo depots in the early days generally tried to
establish themselves near railway stations. They would organize mo-
bile branches in freight cars which could always be attached to de-
parting trains at the last moment. It was not always possible, how-
ever, to use the railways in this way, for the troops, and with them
also the institutions of the Zemstvo Union, were often too far away
from the railway lines, not to mention the fact that the efficiency of
the railways was gradually deteriorating. It was necessary under
these circumstances to provide independent transport facilities for
the needs of the depots, enabling them to remove their goods as well
32 On November 1, 1916, the number of depots on the western front was
116; on the southwestern, 75; on the northern, 23; and on the Caucasian, 58.
