The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-11
RED CROSS FLYING COL LUMNS DO BRAVE
 SERVICE FOR GEAR
With Mounted Scouts Flying Columns of Doctors and Nurses Encounter Brunt of Charges by the Enemy.

Headquarters of the Russian Army of the Center, Jan. Hone Of the most periIous branches of army ser vice in Russia is that of mounted | scouts, an organization peculiar to the Siberian corps. There are 100 Of these scouts to each regiment, and a hardier, more daring lot of rough riders would be hard to find. They are for the most part plainsmen, t 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 Fthey bagged a German staff, consisting of two gen erals, a doctor and six non-comnfs- stoned officers. A colonel and many soldiers were killed in the action.
  the scouts activities earlier in the war were given by am officer at the front who participated in events related
 At 3 o'clock on the afternoon of Sept. 29 the last companies of the first division left their positions be- fore Warsaw to take up others behind the defences of the cty. The entire defence of the city was left to the Siberian scouts. Commander Pessto- 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 Nova Ivitchni, in front of a woods.
 The Germans began to advance on Novo Ivitchni, sending a flying col umng in front. Pessotsky ordered his : men to open fire. The German col l umn to their surprise began to fall ! back, firing Pessotsky got on top of a small house and through his glasses observed the enemy, ordering changes in position to give the impression that the trenches were fully manned. The Germans began shelling tho village and the house where he was. In face of this, he sent, an officer to the rear saying that he has holding the posi- ton and asking that achievements ] be sent. The enemy began pressing forward in force, but Pessotsky'9 heroic action had given time for the :.
 
 ward again and by hanlking move nent, to drive back the Germans. This ! was the beginning of the German re- treat that ended at their frontier
 It may also be said that during this { war the Russian Red Cross has done { more than ever could have been sex- pected of it. The doctors, surgeons ! and sisters, on the one hand and the ! volunteer organizations on the other { have worked with marvellous efn- ciency.
 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 ten- agreements are in progress. In each z flying column there is an officer in charge with all the rights of a mill tary commander of separate mill tary unit, although he may come rom ?, civil life Beside him there are two or three aides The medical side of 7 the organization is represented by | three surgeons. eight students and ! two sisters One hundred and eighty 1 men to each column are assigned ana trained to the work required OF them, ' from the ranks of enlisted men The column has also 8 large number of 2 sanitary carriages several nelQ kitchens, field operating rooms and ln case of. necessity tents to live in.
 During battle the column ta dtytdeA into three SecL1OnS- tCOAAA-AAs@HAS-- either mounted OF afoots moves 11r- ward with the sanitars, as near as possible to the trenches. Sometimes they locate in the trenches them selves. Very often when trenches or positions change hands the flying coi- urnn has to stay on until thel ast to take away the, wounded in spite Of the danger of failing into the enemy hands. Two columns have been en- tireIy destroyed by the fire of the enemy, and several have been cap tured. to say nothing of 1ndivla9aL only have they to bring first aid to the trenches, but frequently they must transport the wounded in their sani- tary carriages through the zone of artillery fire. A
 During battle tee olumns also op- Eanize 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 De moved.