The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-08-08
RIDE BY COSSACK
TROOP.
In Effecting Junction With British
Rode 187 Miles in Seven
DAYS


Petrograd, August 5.-The remark
able ride by squadron of Cossacks
who succeeded in effecting a junction
between the Russian troops in the
British on the Tigris, as has previous
ly been mentioned in these dispatches,
! was made at the rate of "a miles day,
for seven and half days, over $50
miles of extremely mountainous region
which made the achievement an excep-
tional one.
The Squadron-or sotnia-consisted
of five officers, ITO men and 125 horses,
and left Mahidasht, 20 miles southwest
of Kermanshah, on the evening of May
2, and arrived at Aid Charbi on the
Tigris the 18th, there having been
in addition to the actual riding time,
two and half days halt.
The track was frequently difficult
even for track transport, and a number
of rugged passes-some of them more
than 5000 feet high-had to be nego-
tlated; 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 Nevertheless
no actual opposition was encountered
though stray shots at long range did oc-
eur, and on one occasion the sotnia en-
tered a village just half an hour after
a superior hostile force had left it.
This force is said to have numbered
about $50 mounted tribesmen accom-
panied by German officers.
Three days rations were carried to
start with, and when these We're con
sumed the troops lived entirely on the
country purchasing barley, flour, rice
and sheep from the villagers. No sick
ness occurred among the men, but two
horses fell over preeipiees and five 9th
ers died of exhaustion, or of thirst dur
ing the last 25 miles of desert betweel
the foothills and the river Tigris.
Throughout the whole enterprise mo
bility played role of paramount i'm
: portance, and the high degree of thi
quality displayed by the Cossack o.
!. this and other occasions may be as
cribed to variety of causes. He is
hardy man who has spent his life roam
ing about the steppe on horseback. Thi
has taught him to rough it, to loo
after himself and to become an exper
forager. He habitually eats little an
is accustomed to long marches on shor
commons.
On his person he has his rife, his So
BILE his waterbottle, his haversack an
: 60 rounds of ammunition. His great
: coat, waterproof sheet and horse blank
:, ct are carried rolled behind the saddl
: while the food for his mount is cor
tanned in a pair of wallets that wi
take IS pounds Of grain. The remainde
Of his outfit consists of 24O rounds o
ammunition, four horse shoes, one day
bread, three days groceries, one poun
of bully beef, shirt, q pair of drawer
a curry comb and a brush, all of whic
hind the stirrup-leathers.
He rides with straight leg on
% narrow saddle much lighter than ord
: nary. On arrival at Ali Charbi tn
Cossacks were warmly welcomed by tn
British troops and made as comfortabl
as the exigencies of war permitted an
; it is noteworthy that though the
!. reached camp after nightfall, the Co
II sacks disported themselves with son
v and dance mtil l a. M, before seekin
their rest.
After couple Of days respite fro
their long journey, the commander {
the squadron and two of his office
% were invited to Basrah to meet s
V Percy Lake, commanding the army
r Mcsopotamia. During their stay at Ba
o. rah the officers were decorated with tt
British Military order of King Georg