Arizona republican., 1916-08-23
C0SsACKS MAKE
 RIDE WHICH |S MARVEL IF ARMY
[Republlcan A. P. Leased wirel

X E,T.rRoGRAD. August 22LThe re- fnarkable ride by a squadron of Cos sacks who succeeded in effecting a Junction between the Russian troops in sthe neighborhood of Kermanshah and she Brjtishson the Tigris, was made at .the rate of 24 miles a day. for seven and one -half days. over 1S0 miles of -extremely nountainous- region which made the achievement an exceptional One,
 The squadron, or sotnia consisted of Tive officers, ll0 men and l25 horses, and left Mahidasht. 90 miles southwest # Ker1nanshah, on the evening of May and arrived at Ali Charbi on the TigTis on the 18th. there having been, in addition to the actual riding time, two and a half days halt.
 The track was frequently difficult even for pack transport, and a num- Der of rugged passes-some of them more than 5000 feet high-had to be negotiated;. enemy forces were likely to be met with at any moment and the entire country traversed was infested with warlike tribes whose attitude at best was decidedly doubtful. Never
 theless no actual opposition was en- countered though stray shots at long range did occur, and on one occasion
 the sotnia entered village just half an hour after a superior hostile force lad left it. This force is said to have numbered about lS0 mounted tribes men accompanied by German officers.
 Three days rations were carried to
 start with. and. when these were con
 tuned the troops lived entirely on the country purchasing barley, flour. rice
 md sheep from the villagers. No sick
 lcss occurred among the men, but two
 horses fell over precipices and five ithers died of exhaustion. or of thirst during the last 25 miles of desert be-
 tween the foothills and the river Tigris.
 Throughout the whole enterprise mo- ,ility played a role Of paramount im- portance. and the high degree of this quality displayed by the Cossack on this as on other occasions may be as- cribed te q variety of Causes. He Is d hardy man who has spent his life roaming about the steppe on horse | back. This has tacght him to rough it to look after himself and 10 become an | 'xpert forager. He habitually eats | title and is accustomed to long | marches on short commons
 | (n his person he has his rifle his | 'aber, his waterbottle, his haversack | md sixty rounds of ammunition His | ;reatcoat. waterproof sheet and horse | 1lanket are carried rolled behind the | iaddle while the food for his mount is | contained in pair of wallets that will | ake i5 pounds of grain The remain | fer of his outfit consists of 240 rounds | lf ammunition. four horse shoes, one l lays bread. three days groceries one pound of bully beef a shirt, pair of | drawers curry comb and brush. all
 of which go into two saddlebags att | tached behind the stirrup- feathers. He rides with a straight leg on a
 narrow saddle much lighter than or
 dinary. On arrival at Ali Charbi the | Cossacks were warmly welcomed by
 he British troops and made as com | sortable as the exigencies of war per l mitted and it is noteworthy that al- | .hough they reached camp after night :
 all the Cossacks disported themselves
 with song and dance until a. m. be- l fore seeking their rest.
 After couple of days respite from
 their long journey. tne commander of
 he squadron and two of his officers | were invited to Basrah to meet Sir | Percy Lake. commanding the army in | Mesopotamia. During their stay al
 Basrah the officers were decorated
 with the British Military Cross by or
 Ter of King George.