The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-10-19
COSSACKS ARE
FEARED By ENEMIES
The Very Name Of Russian Soldiers
Sends Terror to the Germans
and Austrians.
IBy p. M. Sarle. United Press Stan
Correspondent

Correspondent
LONDON. Sept. %. (By mail to
New York.)-Ir you want to strike
terror to the heart Of an Austrian or
German these days. say "Cossack.''
The very word seems to hold horror
for the kaiser's men and also for
Francis Joseph's troops.
Remembering their exploits against
Napoleon and their wild warfare dur
ing the revolt of Hungary, Austrians
and Germans shudder when they think
of the cossacks invading their coun-
tries. The cossack's cruelty during
the Russian revolution Is well known
and their operations in China in 1900
were criticised not only by all the
world outside Russia but by Russians
themselves.
In the Russo-Japanese war the cos
sacks did not live up to their reputa-
tons. The reason was clear enough
as they were maruaders by origin
Their reason for being in warfare is
to enrich themselves by It.
The cossack's social position IN
Russia makes them so. Originally the
cossacks were formed from bandits
to protect the frontiers during wars
with Turkey and Poland. And later
when Russia started her long march
towards the east and linked up with
the Mahometan races Of Central Asia.
a cossack ''Voisko" war formed also
close to the new Asiatic frontier OF
the Russian empire.
| The cossacks cost Russia nothing.
The empire endowed them with spec
ial privileges for which in return, at
| certain age and under special con-
ditions they have to give military
service.
| The total cossack population now
| is about 5000 900 Of which 100000 are
women. The cossacks own about
LAG, 100000 acres OF land. Military
service is obligatory for all men for
twenty years, beginning at the age OF
eighteen. Practically the cossack
youth starts his military career at
fourteen when he joins an organiza-
ton similar to the boy scouts.
Active service the cossaclk does
for three years in the preliminary d.
vision. The next twelve years he is
! in active service and the last five
he is on the reserve list. Every cos
sack is bound to provide his own uni
forms, equipment and horse, the gov
eminent furnishing the arms
| Every cossack troop on active serv
ice is divided into three equal parts
according to age and the third only in
real service, while the two others stay
at home They are bound to march
out Just as soon as the order is given,
however.
Quite recently there was formed in
Transkaspia three troops Of half
wild Turkomans. These are now be-
ing employed IN the invasion OF Aus
tria. They are the creation Of the
famous Russian general, Skobeleff,
hatred Of Germany was SO great that
Bismark feared him and paid great
deal Of serious attention to him.
One year before Alexander II was
assassinated, in 1880, Skobeleff at
tempted to put through his plan OF
organizing troops among these half
wild men, He well knew the terrible
part they would play in an invasion
of Germany. Alexander II, however.
objected to the plan and 1t fell
through.
Alexander III formed an alliance
with France and it looked as though
Skobeleff.s plan might be adopted It
had attracted attention in high diplo-
matte circles. But about this time a
young German actress whom Skobe-
leff was paying attention to poisoned
him in a hotel in Moscow. 1t was be-
ilieved she was in the gay OF the Ger
man government But Skobeleff's
scheme finally worked out as recent
events show.
Stops itching instantly. Cures