Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1914-10-17
C0SSACKS FEARED
BY EVERYBODY
Inc Mention of Them Strikes Tenor
to Hearts of Austrians and
Germans.
BY 2. Nj. SARI.E.

LONDON, Sept. 25. (By Mail to
New York; October 13.-If YOU want
to strike terror to the heart of an
austrian or German these days, say
CcssacF The very word seems to
mold a 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, Asutrians
and Germans shudder when they think
OF the COssacks invading their coun-
tres. The COssacks 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 repu-
tatlons. The reason was clear enough
as they were marauders 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 band
its to protect the frontiers during
wars WiWth Turkey and Poland. And
later when Russia started her long
march towards the East and linked
up wits the Mahometan races of
Central Asia, a cossack "Voisko" was
formed also close to the new Asiatic
frontier Of the Russian Empire.
The Cossacks cost Russia nothing.
The Empire endowed them with spe-
cial privileges for which In return,
at a certain age and under special
conditions they have to give military
service
The total CDssack population now
is about 100000 of which, 100000
are women. The Cossacks own about
46,500,00O 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 IA
wien lie JOINS dill organization SIM
liar to the Boy Scouts.
Active service the Cossack does
for three years in the preliminary di-
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
service 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 Skobelaff
called the white General" His
hatred of Germany was SO great that
Bismark feared him and paid great
of serious attention to him.
One year before Alexander II was
assassinated in 1880, Skobelef at
tempted to put through his plan Of
organizing troops among these half
wild men. He we'll knew the terrible
part they would play in an invasion
Of Germany. Alexander II, however,
objected to the plan and it fell
through.
Alexander III formed an alliance
with France and it looked as though
Skobeleff's plan might be adopted. 1t
had attracted attention in high diplo-
matte circles. But about this time
a young German actress whom Skobe-
left was paying attention to poison
him in a hotel in Moscow. 1t was be-
lived she was in the pay Of the Ger
man government. But Skobeleff $
scheme finally worked out as recent