Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-04-21
RELATED or THE cossAcKs
Organization and Mobilization Of the
Rough-Rider Soldiers Of
Russia.

Inc latest ana probably the most ac-
curate description of the Cossacks has
been published recently in Paris by Col.
de la Panouze, who is now retired from
active service, after a brilliant career
as French officer of cavalry and military
attache to French embassies in such Eu-
ropean countries, states the Hartford
Times. He says, among other things:
"On the opening of hostilities there
would be at first a naval phase. Then
would come the operations on land. The
small forces of cavalry which Japan
would land would be employed only for
the service of o~utposts, and could not
combat the superior forces of Russian
cavalry assembled in Manchuria. That
cavalry, composed of Cossacks, amounts
to such a figure that the total of the
Japanese cavalry, were 1t possible to
disembark it in Manchuria, would be
still out Of proportion to the Cossack
cavalry of Asia.
I'm Europe the Cossacks operate o
jointly with the ordinary cavalry, but
in Asia they are the only mounted
troops of the Muscovite empire. 4.
In exchange for Q homestead and other
privileges the Cossacks are bound to
military service, and to furnish their
horses and equipment, uniforms, etc.
There are, according to the official sta
tistics published in 1900 by the I'M
perial commission, $50 regiments Of
mounted Cossacks, three divisions. So
sotnias or squadrons, Is battalions of in
fantry and A batteries of light artil-
lery; in all, 1870, 1000 soldiers and non
commissioned officers.
1.-THE mobilization of the Cossack forces
is rapidly made, without great expense
Of ink and paper. The military posts
In the immense steppes, not being con-
nected by telegraph lines, are served by
COMFY or couriers, having the best Of
horses. and who stay permanently near
the province governors in order to carry
their orders to the log dwellings Of the
Cossacks. When the mobilization Or
der reaches the central military admin
~istration Of the provinces each gonetz
starts, carrying in his right hand a small
flag In daytime and a red lantern at
night, crying: The car calls you!
Mobilization In a moment all the viii
lage Is up. On the high pole in front
Of the municipal building a red flag in
daytime or a red lantern at night is
hoisted. All the men, accompanied by
women and children, start for the rally
ing place. All the men are clothed In
their finest c~aftans, of all colors. Mo-
body is missing; even sick men refuse to
remain behind. Those who would vol
UNFAIRLY remain behind would not dare
to return to the village; their mothers,
wives or sisters would gouge out their
eyes. as has happened several times.
THE whole Russian Asiatic region
from the Ural mountains to Vladivostok
Is colonized by these Cossacks, to whom
could be Joined the thousands of con-
verted Mongols living along the from
tier of Mongolia and Manchuria. Innu-
merable requirements in cavalry can
be drawn by Russia to push toward the
east. 1t is calculated that there are So
900 horsemen along the railroad line
of Mukden-New-Chwang. There would
be greater danger for Japan II there
was truth in the theory. advanced by
Gen. Prjevalsky, that '25, 0 Cossacks
would be sufficient, If need be, to con-
Quer the Chinese empire"