The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-01-13
DARING fellows,
RUSSIANS SCOUTS
Some Picturesque Exploits
Have Been Performed
by Them.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE RUS
SIAN ARMY OF THE CENTER, Dec.
%. Correspondence of The Associa-
ted Press)-one of the most perilous
branches of army service in Russia
is that of mounted scouts, an organ
ization peculiar to the Siberian corps.
There are one hundred Of these scouts
to each regiment. and harder, more
daring lot of rough riders would be
hard to find. They are for the most
part plainsmen, whose life has been
spent in the open and on horseback,
This organization played an impor-
I-tant part in the japanese war where,
by their impetuous attacks, they saved
the Russian troops in many instances
from heavy losses. After the Japan
csc war they were disbanded. but with
the outbreak OF the present conflict,
were reorganiZed by Captain BENJAMIN
Pessotsky, who became their comman'
der. During the recent months while
the Russians and Germans have been
facing each other in the trenches,
these scouts frequently have raided
the German lines and during the last
week in November on the eastern
front they bagged a German stan, con.
sisting Of two generals, q doctor ana
six non.commissioned officers, a col
onel and many soldiers were killed IN
the action.
The following incidents concerning
the scouts activities earlier in the
war were given by an ofricer at the
front who participated in events re-
lated.
At 8 o'clock on the afternoon OF
September 29th the last companies OF
the first division left their positions
before Warsaw to take up others be.
hind the defenses Of the city. the
entire defense OF the city was lett TO
the Siberian scouts. Commander PES
sotsky, who had remained with the
scouts, took upon himself to order ms
men to spread out and occupy the lett
wing OF the positions between Yula'
nova and Novo Ivitchni, In front Oh
woods.
The Germans began to advance on
Novo IYitchni, sending flying col
umn in front. Pessotsky ordered his
men to open fire. The German column
to their surprise began falling back,
firing. Pessotsky got on top Of small
house and through his fieid glasses %
served the enemy, ordering changes III
position to give the impression tnat
the trenches were fully manned. The
Germans began Smelling the village
and the house where he was. In face
of this. he sent an officer to the rear,
saving he was holding the position and
asking that achievements be sent.
The enemy began pressing forward In
force. but Pessotsky's heroic action
had given time for the whole Russian
column to move forward again and by
a thanking movement, to drive back
the Germans. This was the beginning
Of the German retreat that ended at
their frontier.
II NAV also be said that during the
war the Russian Red Cross has done
more than ever could have been ex'
pected OF 1t. The doctors, surgeons,
and sisters on the one hand, ana the
volunteer organizations on the other,
have worked with marvellous etticien-
cy. .4,.. ,,,,asaz
of the work is the operation OF inc
flyinR columns which move along Win
the army and work while engagements
are in progress. In each flying column
there is an officer in charge with al
Inc rights Of military commander
Of 4 separate military unit, although
he may come from civil lie. Besides
him 'there are two or three aides. Tho
medical side Of the organization y rep;
resented by three surgeons, eight SUI
dents and two sisters. One hundred
and eighty men to. each column are
assirned and trained TO the work re-
auired of them, from the ranks OF en-
listed men. The column has also
number Of sanitary. carriages, several
field Kitchens, field operating rooms
and in case OF necessity, tents 70 llYe
in. ,, d d,yIded
into three sections. The commander,
either mounted or afoot, moves / i tos.
ward with me sanitars, as near as pos
sible to the TRENCH Sometimes tney
Very often when trenches or positions
change hands the flying column has 70
stay, oI1 until the last, TO take away;
the wounded IN spite of the danger OF
falling into the enemy's hands. lW9o
columns have been entirely oesttoye91.
nv the fire OF the enemy. and several
have been captured, TO say nothing ot
.indiyiduaI losses among other col
yumns. Not only have they TO bring
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