The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-10
(By Associated Press.)

vice in Russia is that of mounted
scouts, an organization peculiar to
the Siberian corps. There are one
hundred of these scouts to each
regiment, and harder, more dar-
ing 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 i'm
portant part in the Japanese war
whereby 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 reorgan-
lied by Captain Benjamin Pessotsky,
who became their commander. Dur
ing the recent months while the
Russians and Germans have been
facIrg 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 staff,
consisting of two generals. a doctor
and six nome commissioned officers.
A CT lionel and many soldiers were
killed in the action.
The following incidents concern
ing the scouts activities earlier in
the war were given by an officer at
the front who participated in events
related
At o'clock on the afternoon of
September 10Th the last companies
tions before Warsaw to take up
others behind the defences of the
city The entire defence of the city
was left to the Siberian scouts.
Commander Pessotsky, who had re-
manned with the scouts, took upon
himself to- order his men to spread
out and occupy the left wing of the
positions between Yulanova and
Novo Ivitchni, in front of woods.
The Germans began to advance
on Novo Ivitchni, sending flying
column in front. Pessotsky order
ed his men to open fire. The Ger
man column to their surprise began
to fall back, firing. Pessotsky got
on TOP of small house and through
his glasses observed the enemy, or
deriug changes in position to give
the impression that 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 say
ing that he was holding the posi-
tion and asking that reinforcements
be sent. The enemy began pressing
forward in force. but Pessousky's
heroic action had given time for the
whole Russian column to move for.
ward again and by a flanking move.
ment, to drive back the Germans
This was the beginning of the Ger.
man retreat that ended at theil
frontier.
1t may also be said that during
this war the Russian Red Cross ha'
done more than ever could hav,
been expected of it. The doctors
surgeons and sisters, on the ont
hand and the volunteer organiza
tions on the other have worked will
marvellous efficiency.
One of the most interesting
phases of the work is the operation
of TIE flying columns, which NOV
along with the army and worl
while engagements are in progress
In each flying column there is al
officer in charge with all the right
of a military commander of sep
come from civil life. Besides hir
there are two or three aides. Tn
medical side of the organization
represented by three surgeons, eigh
students and two sisters. One hun
dred and eighty men to each col
umn are assigned and trained to tn
work required of them, for the rank
of enlisted men. The column ha
also large number of sanitary car
riages. several field kitchens, fiel
operating rooms and in case of nee
essity 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, a
near as possible to the trenches
Sometimes they locate in. tn
trenches themselves. Very ofteI
when trenches or positions chang
hands the flying column has to sta
on until the dast, to take away tn
wounded in spite of the danger @
falling into the enemy's hands. Tw
columns have been entirely destroy
ed By the fire of the enemy, and sew
eral have been captured, to sa
nothing of individual losses anon
other columns. Not only have the
to bring first aid to the trenche
but frequently they must transpol