RUSSIAN GENIUS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2858, 24 August 1916, Page 5

RUSSIAN GENIUS

006 SACK HORSES AS PARAPETS,

(Charles Towers, in tho "Daily Mail")

The "Berliner Tageblatt's" special correspondent on tho Eastern front draws a; remarkable pioturo of tho ; achievements of the Cossacks, who liavo upset all 'preconceived Austro-German ideas of tho employment of cavalry. The correspondent says that the Austrian and German papers frequently report apparently sonsoloss charges of Russian cavalry against ontrerichedl infantry. What really happens is tho following: "Tho Russian infantry attack advances to within 3500 yards of our .positions and shovels up a thin protection while lying flat. Whiloour artil- ' lery.is getting the rango lines of cavalry appear behind them, and with heads down close to the horses' necks charge between tho infantry. It looks as if they intend to attempt; to, charge right through our barbed wire.' Somotimes they do oven roaok it, but their orders apparently-are. to dismount about 2000 yards from our lines. Their tough little horses.lie- down instantly at tho command and protect tho riders, who open a rapid nro with rifles and car- .' bines. I"'. '' , ; "Our guns now open .on tho dismounted cavalry,.but while wo are getting the xango the infantry, are' in .action again and they. dash forward to f'covor tho cavalry, thus, gaining noarly 2000 yards at ono rush." The corre- ' spondent explains how the Russians have again succeeded in crossing rivers under a terrific fire thanks to their as^ / tonishing cavalry. "Picked men and expert swimmers hurl themselves stark' naked: into tho stream, carrying rifles and ammunition cither on their heads or on miniature rafts ■ towodl behind them-.: Their horses swim besido them. 'After landing 'they try to cut our com.munications with the rear by'breaking up ammunition columns or destroying bridges and railways. Sometimes they clear fordable points of our protecting . troops, : thus enabling Russian pioneers to throw bridges, across. The Cossacks : have thus swum'tho rivers Pruth, Moldava, Strypa, Styr, Stochod, and'even, the broad Dniester." ..