Imperial Valley press., 1914-10-16
COSSACkS FEARED
BY THEIR ENEMIES
(By p. NJ. sarle)

London, Sept. 25 (By mail to New
Yorl;)--If you want to strike terror
to tbs heart of an Austrian or GeH'
man these days, say "Cossack." The
very word seems to held a horror for
the Nais2r's men and also fer Francis
Joseph's troops.
Remembering thcir exploits against
Napoleon and their wild warfare dur
in@ he revolt of Hungary, Austrians
and Germans shuddar when they think
Ct the Cossacks invading their ccun-
tries. The Cossacka' crurl-y during
the Ru25;an revolution is well known
ard their operations in China n 1900
were criticised, not caIy by all The
world outside Russia, bat by the Rus
slams themselves.
IN the Russo-Japancse war the Cos
sacks did not live up to their regu-
tatioas. The reason was clear enough
as they were maraudnrs by origin.
Their reason for being in warfare is
to enrich themselves by it.
The Cossacks' social position in Rus
sia makes them so. Originally the
Cossacks were formed from bandits to
protect TIE frontiers during wars with
Turkey and Poland. And later, when
Russia started her long march toward
tie East and linked un with the Ma
homadan races of Central Asia, Cos
sack "Voisko" was formed also close
to the new Asiatic frontier of the Rus
sian empire.
The Cossacks cost Russia nothing.
The empire endowed them with spe
eial privileges for which in return, az
: certain age and under special con
1itio1s, they have to give military
service.
The total Cossack population now
S about 100000, of which 100000
IRE women. The Cossacks own about
lac, 100000 acres of land. Military
service is obligatory for all men for
-wenty years, beginning at the age
# 18. Practically the Cossack youth
,tarts his military career at IA, when
ie joins an organization similar to
he Boy Scouts.
Active service the Cossack does for
hree years in the preliminary divis-
on. The next twelve years he is in
ctive service and the last five he is
IN the reserve list. Every Cossack is
pound to provide his own uniforms,
.quipment and horse, the government
furnishing the arms.
Every Cossack troop on active serv-
ce is divided into three equal parts
to age and the third only
s in real service, while the two others
5tay at home. They are bound to
march out just as soon as the order
5 given, however.
One year before Alexander II was
,ssassinated, in 1880, Skobeleff at
empted to put through his plan of
troops among these half
Wild men. He we'll knew the terrible
,art they would play in an invasion
If Germany. Alexander II, however,
to the plan and it fell
through.
Alexander III formed an alliance
With France and it looked as though
plan might be adopted.
t had attracted attention in high
diplomatic circles. But about this
ime young German actress whom
;kobeleff was paying attention to
,oisoned him in a hotel in Moscow.
It was believed she was in the pay
# the German government. But Sko-
1eleff's scheme finally worked out,
Is recent events show.
An incident, humorous and yet
,ravely significant, occurred on the
occasion of the Kaiser's visit to st.
before the FrancoRussian
.lliance. Several Cossack troops were
lrawn up for inspection by the Kais-
n. AS he viewed them he was at
ractad by a beautiful sword carried
1y a Cossack officer.
"May / see it," he inquired. 81
snow that the swords of the Cos
sacks are excellent. Is it an heir
DOM ?"
eyes, your majesty" replied the
at is a very old one"
The Kaiser took the sword and read
,he engraving on it. Then, with a
smile, he returned the sword. The
was:
"God give me opportunity to lead
my horse to drink from the Spree
(the river on which Berlin is located).
81 hope you will be successful" T"
iii 4Io Ka;a.a, Hopd fulIv nccnmnli c n