A COSSACK HEROINE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2793, 10 June 1916, Page 11

A COSSACK HEROINE

On one section of the Bessarabian front, ever since the Russian , offensive of December and January, fighting has been incessant, although it litis developed into, a. kind -of guerilla warfare, especially' on the sector between Mahula and Bojan (writes the Budapest correspondent of the "Morning Post"). These minor combats which- the soldiers on that front call "Indian battles," are going on day after day...between tho forces of Colonel Pap on ono side and those of tho Russian General Kitchenko on the other. The Russians opposing the Austro-Hnngarian troops .on this sector of the front are Cossacks and Caucasian Russians. Tho ter-.rain.is,-smooth,and.-almost as : flat- as. the Hungarian lowlands, and the fighting.-, is therefore most severe, and is character.ised by, minor .night attacks, fights'of patrols,*, and .reconnaissance work. '

,-. A -correspondent who was allowed\to visit this section of the 1 Bessarabian front a few_ days ago, gives an interesting idescription of /events. Ho writes.:—'"Tho chief, interest centred, for - many months iii a Russian ' reconnaissance patrol. In daring and initiative they were supreme on the Mahala-Bojan front. Tlicy lyere in evidence month after month., night after night, ,and could always reach the 'Austro-Hungarian lines, and get away-'af-ter causing a number of casualties, firing a salvo into a trench near by, or capturing a patrol or a look-out group. Though surrounded dozens of times they always evaded capture, and succeeded: in .carrying their dead or. wounded with, them. This Cossack patrol soon gained ,a legendary fame among the Hungarians, who called them "eagles," from their manner of swooping down and disappearing ...beforo a shot could bo fired. «• •

Tho' leader of the patrol was known ;'to bo a young Cossack corporal, who was not only a fine soldier, but also wild and brutal in his ways, relentless and unpardoning, who seemed to bear an inhuman hatred for. the enemj'. : -.- ■.... Last week our men succceded in catching, two of .the-Cossacks in this famous patrol, and theso gave away some of the secrets of tho legendary corporal. They said they were willing to swear beforo tho Cross that th'o corporal who led them was not a man but a woman. Other prisoners also confirmed this, statement, and it slowly leaked out' that tho dangerous patrol leader was tho daughter of a Major .Glustchenko, who was killed .at tlio front a few months ago, and that she had gone .to, tho place to revenge her father. Sho arrived at the front some tiino in September, and sinco then the.General.has recommended her'six times for a decoration. Tho Cossacks worship her, .and thero is a superstitious feeling among them that whoever, fights with her will bo rewai-ded in heaven. '-They .kiss her hands always when they-J see her.,

. Tho men,'of Major Rusz are. very keen in'taking h£r and-patrol 1 , prisoners,' and every nig'-t-they: are:out in small groups on.'this:err'and, but so far.they-liavo not succeeded. 'A'. Russian official 'account ,'of ono of- her. exploits is being; circulated among the men on the- Bojah, front,- in which it is stated that :,.'• South-of Mahala our reconnaissance, patrols succeeded ; iri attacking and surprising'tho enemy,- causing great losses to them. The leader of the patrol was Corporal Glustchenko Tcherniawska, who though' twico ■ wounded-managed'to bring the party safely back to our lines." ~ The article ends with tho statement on the part of the major who commands the regiment at the Bojam scction, in which he pay 3 a high tribute to the fine qualities of the • girl-leader, and • hopes to bo able to shake hands with her once. "Sho never received such an ovation fr.om the Russians as she would receive from my men, if she once falls into our hands," said the major.