Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-29

"The members of the Cossack brigade
are the only real soldiers Persia has
said Col Newton. at was organized un-
der the Russian mission which undertook
to reorganize the Persian army at the
request of the government. 1t has al
ways been commanded by Russian Off
GERS, and costs about $4,000 q year.
Under the circumstances it is plain that
the Cossack brigade would have been of
little use in opposing a Russian attack
when Ali Mira threatened to become
troublesome i'm his effort to overturn the
constitutional government and it was
generally supposed that Russia did not
look uukindly upon his efforts. the Per-
sian government called for volunteers
among the Armenians, and the Fidais
went into the field. They were headed
by Yeprem, an Armenian leader whose
name would be Ephraim in English.
HE is a man now about SO years old,
who had no military training, but sprang
up from the people
.Arches in honor of Yeprem were
erected in many parts of Teheran, and
in final recognition of his services he
was made chief of the Persian police.
He has had no hand in the fighting at
Tabriz and Reslt, but I am convinced
that the Fidais in those cities are COM
manded by Armenians who are emulat-
ing his example"
Col. Newton said that while the total
annual expenditure for the army
amounts to about one-third of the total
revenues of the government, the pay of
the ordinary soldiers has to pass through
so many hands b9fore it reaches the
soldier that he is fortunate if he gets 10
cents month. The soldiers are accord
ingly obliged to have some other means
of livelihood, and are not very useful
when called on for actual service. They
are unframed, and in most cases have
No uniforms. They know nothing of dis
ciplihe
The Fidais are not mountaineers or
rural tribesmen, as many people seem
TO Think" said Col Newton. During
the late revolution and at the present
time they sprang up in the cities and
larger towns. The ex-shah sent many
emissaries to them, promising to give
them a substantial voice in the govern
ment and asking them what business
they had to interfere in a fight between
Mohammedans. They told him they
were fighting for the constitution, irre-
spectiye of religion, and when Ali Mirzs
found they couldn't be moved he as
sured them that terrible things would
happen to them when he regained his
throne.
IF the massacres have been as seri-
Gus as reported in Tabriz and Resht,"
said Col. Newton. / am convinced that
the Fidais have suffered less than the
Persians. The Armenians are acute
enough to conceal themselves when there
is danger of Il massacre, but the Per
sian fatalists, who think no harm can
come to Mohammedans, are easy vic
tins
The uniform of the Fidais, said Col.
Newton, usually includes the bandolier
of crossed bands of yellow leather pass
ing over each shoulder, tight military
trousers and loose shirt, the costume
having a certain amount of red in its
makeup. While some of the soldiers
wear the regulation Persian lamb cap
others wear a jaunty triangular head
piece which is decorated with tassels on
each corner. Thus attired, the Fidais
are far less dangerous in appearance
than in action.-New York sun.