Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-23
Nothing to Fear From Ro.
mantle Blades ThatShotD
Opposing Soldiers
No Mercy.

Haunting the river fats in South
Russia. an army of mad riders. the
greatest light cavalry the world has
ever seen. is preparing for another
winter campaign. With their pointed
hoods drawn over their heads against
the bitter cold of the steppes, these
romantic blades drive furiously along
the river flats in the faint snow
phosphorescence; alone or in brigades.
they silently push forward, the real
defenders OF the land of Russ.
Cossacks: a name that Is a mystery
to all except themselves. In their wild
charges they have never known re-
pulse. The crack Uhlans of Hungary
and Germany have been spitted upon
their lances. But in many a little
German cottage twinkling on the
snowy hills of East Prussia the women
folk gather around the hearth. and
impart to the little frauleins of how
the great bearded Cossacks swept in
from the wastes and through the little
German villages. crushing all resist
ance. And how, when the military was
conquered. these mysterious horsemen
fed famished children from their own
rations and furnished fuel to many a
hausfrau. The frightened maidens
soon discovered that they need not
fear these great overgrown boys;
hymn singing supermen from the
wilderness. Atrocities there are in
plenty to recount Of the Russian in
vasion. but these Cossacks have found
n real place in the hearts of many a
German household.
Contrary to general belief, the Cos
sack is big. good-natured fellow, en-
tirely unselhsh to the last piece of
dried horsenesh.
Like the folk stories of Robin Hood
in England. the origin of the Cos
sacks is recounted. They were once
known as the defenders of the poor
and needy; the rich or unduly pros
porous came in for their share of Cos
sack attention only whom the larders
of the poor became empty They be-
longed to an ancient order OF chivalry.
sort of Kazachestrvo (Ilnights of
Freedom), rustic. but whole heartedly
sincere and useful, indeed, to many a
Gear on the occasion Of Tartar inya-
sion.
KAYAKS SOUGHT FREEDOM
IN WILDERNESS OF SIBERIA
The name KAYAK is of Tartar origin,
and the meaning, while somewhat OBJ
scure. is taken to be "Freemen."
These KAYAKS first came into ex-
istence during tho eleventh century.
Russians. Slavonians. Poles and n very
few Tartars. oppressed by the civilian
ton of the day and annoyed and CALLED
by INSCRIPTIONS overlords, these men
took to the life Of tho wilds that thew
might live the free and untrammeled
existence they yearned for. AS the
lone wanderers gradually became more
plentiful. they began to form small
groups and tribes; nomadic and fierce
in war and kind and unselhsh in peace.
they lived their lone life on the
steppes.
During the thirteenth and fourteenth
centuries some dcgree of organization
began to take place; the DEVELOPMENT
into communities began, and political
exiles. criminals and oppressed men
plunged into the wild lifo for solacc.
and In tho wild environment these
communities developed personality
all their own. They paid their taxes
with sword and pistols In repelling
invasiona for the Tsar. The men took
vows of celibacy, and for law code
the instincts OF right and wrong served
well; death was the penalty for, all
offenses. They actually invaded Con-