Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-02-03
MOUNTED SCOUTS
ARE DARING LOT
OF ROUGH RIDERS
Siberians, Merry and Hardy
Have Often Defeated Ten
Times Their Number

Headquarters of the Russian Army
of the Center, Jan. 2S.-(Correspond-
ence of the Associated Press.)-One
OF the most periious branches of army
service in Russia is that of mounted
scouts, an organization peculiar to the
Siberian corps. There are one hun
dred 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 plains
men. whose life has been spent in the
open and on horseback.
This organization played an import
ant part in the Japanese war where by
their impetuous attacks they saved
the Russian troops in many instances
from heavy losses. After the Japanese
war they were disbanded, but with
the outbreak of the present conflict,
were reorganized by Captain Benja-
min Pessotsky, who became their
commander. During the recent
months while the Russians and Ger
mans 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 q Ger
man staff, consisting of two generals,
doctor and six noncommissioned
officers. A colonel and many soldiers
We're killed in the action.
The following incidents concerning
the scouts activities earlier in the war
were given by an officer at the front
VINO participated in events related.
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 en-
tire defense of the city was left to the
siberian S, scouts. Commander Pessot-
sky, who had remained with the scouts
took upon himself to order his men
to spread out and occupy the left wing
OF the positions between Yulanova and
Move Ivitchni, in front of woods.
The Germans began to advance on
Novo lv1tchni, sending flying column
In front. PessotslSy ordered his men
to open fire. The German column to
their surprise began to fall back, fir
ing. Pessotsky got on top of a small
house and through his glasses observ-
ed the enemy, ordering changes in
position to give the impression that
the trenches were fully manned. The
Germans began shelling the village
and the house where he was. In face
of this, he sent an officer to the rear,
saying that he was holding the posi-
ton and asking that reinforcements
be sent. The enemy began pressing
forward in force, but Pessotskys
heroic action had given time for the
whole Russian column to move for
ward again and by flanliing move
ment, to drive back the Germans. This
was the beginning of the German re-
treat that ended at their frontier.
1t may also be stated that during
this war the Russian Red Cross has
done more than ever could have been
expected of it. The doctors, surgeons
and sisters, on the one hand and the
volunteer organizations on the other
have worked with marvellous effi-
cheney.
Red Gross Flying Columns
One of the most interesting phases
Of the work is the operation of the
flying columns, which move along
with the army and work while en-
sagements are in progress. In each
flying column there is an officer In
charge with all the rights of a military
commander of 4 separate military unit
although he may come from civil life.
Besides him there are two or three
aids. The medical side of the organ
ization is represented by three sur
geons, eight students and two sisters.
One hundred and eighty men to each
column are assigned and trained to
the work required of them. from the
ranks of enlisted men. The column
has also a large number of sanitary
carriages. several field kitchens, field
operating rooms and in case of neces-
sity tents to live in.
During battle the column is di-
vided into three sections. The COM
mander. either mounted or afoot,
moves forward with the sanitars, as
near as possible to the trenches
Some times they locate in the
trenches themselves. Very often
when trenches or positions change
hands the flying column has to stay
on until the last, to take away the
wounded in spite of the danger of
falling into the enemy's hands. Two
columns have been entirely DESTROYED
by the fire of the enemy. and several
have been captured. to say nothing of
individual losses among other col
umns. Not only have they to bring
first aid to the trenches, but frequent
ly they must transport the wounded
in their sanitary carriages through
the zone of artillery fire.
During battle the columns also
organize field feeding points and
bring to the trenches not only first
aid. but food for the wounded who
often must lie for hours before they
can be moved.