Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-25
THE TERRIBLE COssACKs.
Are Clans of Born Fi1hteFs-Russta
Rules Them Lightly.

Are Clans of Born Fighters-Russia
Rules Them Lightly.
From the London Express.
No wonder the foreigner finds 1t difficult
to comprehend the exact position of the
Cossacks In the Russian army. They are
not quite regular troops, nor are they real
ly conscripts, as other Russian soldiers
are conscripts.
And yet Russia cannot afford to do with
out them. or. foF the matter Of that. to
allow them to do without her. Bully whom
he will, the great bear of Europe has to be
polite to his Cossack-I
Barring the fact that they are not noun
taineers, the Cossacksuare the Highlanders
Of Russia-intrepid, proud, ungovernable by
anybody but their own leaders. Add the
typical qualities of the Arab to those Of
Scottish clansman and you have the Cos
sack.
In the old days the .Cossacks had their
own elected head. king or president-a lit
tie of both; they called him hetmann
Mazeppa, In the nursery story and the pic
lures, became a Cossack hetmann after
his exciting experience.
Now, the heir apparent to the Russian
throne is hetmann general Of the COssacks
But his dignity is only nominal-the sub
ordinate hetmanns Of the Cossack clans are
the real powers among the Cossack people;
the chiefs of the most important clans be-
ing a sort of minor Russian kings. with
the car for suzerain. One OF the most
If not the most powerful of these chiefs is
the "Starost Hetmann' OF Ukraine, who
has the title of "excellency" and the rank
in the Russian army Of lieutenant general
The COssacks, who live principally in the
south and southeast Of Russia, pay no
taxes, and In return act as an irregular
force in the Russian army. The non-pay-
ment OF taxes is only one of their privi-
leges, which include the right of free hunt
ing, fishing, brewing and distilling The
Russian government also makes mysteri-
Gus subsidies to the clans, for the support
and appointments Of the various Cossack
functionaries. Each Cossack Is liable for
military service between the ages of eigh-
teen and fifty. and must provide his own
horse. This is not a difficult task, for a
foal is set aside for each Cossack baby
boy at his birth, and by the time he Is
fourteen he Is not only superb rider, but
has several horses of his own taken from
the half-wild herds belonging to the clan
and broken in by himself.
The Cossack uniform is a blue coat and
trousers. the former lined and faced with
the color of his clan In the regular Cos
sack regiments of the Imperial Guard the
coat. however. is red. The cap is invariably
of black astrachan, the high boots are OF
soft leather. without spurs. His arms are
lance of bamboo without q butt and tip
ped with steel point, not barbed, and a
yataghan, or curved saber with no hilt
OF protection for the hand Among his
weapons must be counted his whip, the
bone. To this is hung a steel rod, leather
wrapped, and with an angular patch OF
leather at it's end. A glance at the Cos
sack whip explains the lack of necessity
for spurs. On his back, in a shaggy goat
skin cover, the Cossack carries his service
rife. the "three-line' magazine, which
takes, by convention, the same ammunition
AZ the French Lebel. His horse is ridden
Portable high-peaked. cushioned saddle
with a deep cross slit in it resembling that
In hygienic cycle saddle. but turned the
other way.
of course, always Cossacks-no others
would be obeyed. Typical crack" caval-
rymen they are. too, and gamble deeply
drink vodka as deeply: are smart clubmen
they are, though and after a spell of gar
rison duty has got on their nerves-there
are always Cossack attachments in Rus
sian garrisons - they will ride amuck
through the town, whOoping and smashing
windows with pistol shots like the pictur-
esque barbarians they are at bottom.
Cossack regiments have no bands, unless
a couple Of tambourine, players and bell
STAIR can be dignified by that title. Aided
by these, the Cossacks march to the wall
ing minor of their own songs. Not that
they are dismal mortals; on the contrary.
they are gay vivacious beings, and patient
of hunger and pEivation to an almost in
credible extent.
BY religion they are OF the Greek Church.
and carry with them little leaden image
of their family saint
Three divisions account for the Cossack
soidiery. those on active service, those on
short furlough and those on longer leave
In all. some 10000 men. There are many
Cossack towns and villages innumerabIe
where a little agriculture and much hunt
ing and horse and cattle breeding ia car
ried on. The Russian government keeps a
respectful distance from Cossack tndenend-
ence, and the clan chiefs and military Off
GERS keep going separate kingdom with
In the Russian empire, owing only to the
great white car the service of the sword
Kfnship and common interests bind the
clans together. and over all, at moments of
friction or danger, Is the powerful chief
tainship of the hetmann Of Ukraine