The Calumet news., 1914-09-15
COSSACKS ARE
WHIPLASH OF
CARS ARM Y
Fearless Riders and Fighters Have
an Interesting History

The most famous cavalry in the
world Is undoubtedly that great force
which fights for the czar, and whose
daring, resourcefulness and swift
sudden attacks are "A constant harass-
meut TO any of his enemies-the Cos
sacks. Long before the Russian arm
les We're ready 10 attack Germany
and Austria, almost as soon as war
had been declared, the first dispatch
as from the front told of attacks on
outposts by the COssacks. Ii the Rus
sian army should be defeated. the vis
itors would lind in their pursuit that
the Cossacks would hang like wolves
on their fanks and make every move
ment full of danger, while after a Rus
sian victory these tireless pursuers
would pile disaster on disaster.
Ii was the Cossacks who turned Ma
poleon's retreat from Moscow into a
rout. Ii is the Cossacks who hold the
Russian eagle supreme over the great
siberian steppes and carry Russian law
far down into Mongolia. The first
sight of an enemy has of Russian sol
diers Will in most cases be a flashing
glimpse OF a fast gallopiug body Of
these horsemen and he will DO luck il
his first glimpse is not his last. The
uutposts at night win often spring to
arms too late TO stop a dash of mount
cd raiders; the supply trains far inI
the rear of the armies viii go under
heavy guard for fear of their sudden
rushes The Cossacks will take part i'm
the great battles. but they will be the
lash 10 the whip OF the Russian arms,
a constant irritation and menace to
the foes of the ear.
For FIVE centuries now the Cos
sacks have been a terror in European
warfare. Since King stephen Bathori
of Poland first organized AN army Of
them I'm his wars with the Turks in
the sixteenth century, they have taken
part i'm every great contest. For CEN
turtles they were free lances selling
their services where they wished and
often making war ON their own aC-
count for booty and glory Ii was
only gradually that they came under
the Russian eagles. and their coming
gave the Little White Father control
at last of all the vast regions Of the
Nogra, the Ural. the Don and the Dni-
epcr They have spread far since
then. and today the Cossacks hold vast
territories in eastern Europe and spill
over into Asia. They form the best of
the cars troops.
OF Motley Origin.
The origin of the Cossacks is still
somewhat disputed. They are now GER
tainly Of mixed race, mostly Slav, but
with a dash Of the blood OF many ma
tions. Finn and Tarton Teuton ana
Turk, each leaving its mark Their
very name, taken from the Turk word
"Kazak," means freebooter or out
law" And freebootcrs and outlaws
they have been from the dawn Of their
history.
The Cossacks first appear in record
ed history about 1900 A. D.. when a
body Of Slavs had fed from the in
roads Of the Tartars. who We're over
running Europe and established them
selves on an island fastness along the
Duieper. They were az first fisher
men and sailors and their early raids
were made like those Of the Norsemen,
ln long rowing gaIcys These swept
down the Black sea and even took
urizes in full sight Of the muezzius
watching from the spires in Constau-
tiuople. They made successful resist
aurA TO the Tartar Khan and their in
dependence and kept free of Tartar
rule the country behind them. ti'l Rus
d f..F