Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-11
Incidents Are Related.

The following incidents concerning
the scouts activities earlier in the war
we're given by an officer at the front
who participated in events related:
At O'Clock on the afternoon of
Sept. % the last companies of the first
division left their positions before
Warsaw to take up others behind the
defenses of the city. The entire de-
Tense of the city was left to the Siber-
ian scouts. Commander Pessotsky,
who had remained with the scouts,
took upon himself to order his men to
spread out and occupy the left wing OF
the position between Yulanova and
Novo Ivitchni, in front of woods
The Germans began to advance on
NOvo Ivitchni, sending flying column
in front. Pessotsky 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 Obsery-
ed the enemy, ordering changes in
position to give the impression that the
trenches were fully manned. The Ger
mans began Smelling 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 that reinforcements 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
fianking movement to drive back the
Germans. This was the beginning of
the German retreat that ended at their
frontier.
Red Gross i Active.
1t may also be said that during this
war the Russian Red Cross has done
more than ever could have been eX-
pected Of it. The doctors, surgeons
and sisters, on the one hand and the
volunteer organizations on the other
have worked with marvellous efficiency.
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 engagements
are in progress. In each flying col
umn there is an officer in charge with
all the rights of military commander
of separate military unit, although
he may come from civil life. Besides
him there are two or three aides. The
medical side of the organization is
represented by three surgeons, eight
students and two sisters. One hun
dred 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 necessity tents to
/ live in.
| During battle the column is divided
( into three sections. The commander,
either mounted or afoot, moves for
ward with the sanitars, as near as pos
sible to the trenches. Sometimes they
| locate in the trenches themselves.
| Very often when trenches or posi-
lions change hands the flying column
has to stay on until the last to take
away the wounded in spite Of the dan
ger of falling into the enemy's hands.
{ Two columns have been entirely de-
strOyed by the fire of the enemy, and
several have been captured, to say
nothing of individual losses among
other columns. Not only have they
to bring first aid to the trenches, but
| frequently they must transport the
wounded in their sanitary carriages
/ through the zone Of artillery fire.
During the 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