The daily gazette., 1877-05-29

The Czar is reported to have called the
Cossack soldiers into the field. They
rank among the best fighting men in the
Old World. The Russian army is now es-
timated at I 100000 men of all arms, in
cluding the reserves and not counting
local troops and garrison battalions.
There are about 130 900 Cossack soldiers,
and revolvers, or with Berdan rifles, and
are good shots, though their firearms are
interior. Out of some 900, 900 Cossacks,
about 170, 900 are capable of bearing arms
From sixteen to forty-five they serve
in the army, or are liable to serve. In
consideration of their exemption from
taxes, general or local, they perform mill
tary seryice--the obligation being that
they shall be in the field within ten days
of receiving the Cars summons that
each shall equip, clothe, and arm himself
at his own expense, also providing and
keeping his horse. While ON service
beyond the frontiers of his own country
the Cossacks receives small amount of
pay, with sufficient rations of food and
prOvender. Not only are the Cossacks
exempt from taxation, but the Russian
government pays them an annual tribute
besides making them a pecumary allow
ance for the widows and orphans of those
who have fallen lin battle. Thel Cossack,
though a formidable soldier, possessing
the Invaluable merit of never knowing
when he is beaten, is small in stature, Of
the figure and muscle known as "wiry,"
and is the reverse of gaudy, or even gay,
in his attire. He generally wears, not
ouer, but literally as his uniform, long
gray overcoat of the Ulster species, be-
meath which he carries perfect armory
of smaller firearms in various belts. On
horseback his prominent weapon is a
long and tough lance, made of seaso ned
wood. Whoever expects to see the Cos
sacks mounted on stately war-steeds will
be disappointed at the reality. The Cos
sack rides ON an understood horse or
pony, whose lbs can be counted through
the skin, so that he looks better adapted
for the knacker than the battlefield,
But this "rat of horse" has great
strength and speed, with wonderful
powers of enduring fatigue and want of
food. The CossackS in the Russian rank
with the Uhlans in the German army,
who carry lances also. The Uhlans were
originally Tartar cavalry, mounted on
light and active Tartar horses. Russia,
Prussia, and Austria are the only powers
which possess Uhlan regiments, which
are recruited in Western Prussia, Poland
and Galioia In the cavalry of England
the place of the Uhlans is occupied by
twelve regiments of Hussars, who make
very snowy appearance, but are not to
be compared for efficiency in,battle with
Life Guards and Heavy Dragons, noun
ted on large and powerful horses, whose
impetus in a charge, from sheer weight,
has been found very dangerous. There
are six regiments of Lancers in the
British army, fancifully and expensively
attired, armed with lances after the man.
of the Uhlans and Cossacks, but the re-
sembance scarcely extends beyond the
principal weapon. 1t is the Don Cos
sacks (so-called from the river which
runs through their country that the
Gear has now called into service. But,
in addition to these 'braves," there are
on the Orenburg and Siberian lines the
Bashkir Cossacks, numbering some 200.-
900 men, who can supply thirty to forty
thousand of the best cavalry soldiers
Press.