ADVANCING RUSSIANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16309, 16 August 1916, Page 8

ADVANCING RUSSIANS.

DARING TACTICS ADOPTED. NEW ROLE OF CAVALRY. ADMIRATION OF ENEMY. 1 The following tribute to the Russians j comes from a German source, and is pub- I lished in the New York Herald of July i 13: — Russian ingenuity lias invented new tactics, huh arc extensively used j against the Austrian? and Germanstactics which won the ungiudging aannra- | lion (~• German otfaceis. J: or some time the correspondents in Berlin have been hearing ui me astonishing u.-e ui liussiau cavaity on the trout south of the swamps ana getting repeated tales ul charges oi masses oi horsemen j against trenches and unoiokcn nriantry j uuuer conditions which would make them j I appear the height of madness. An ex- j | pianation has now been received, showing ; 1 that there is method in this madness aua I i that the Russians have devised new . j tactics, which are employed, not to press j ! home an assault, but to advance a line oi j ! skirmishers rapidly across the danger zone I I before the actual charge is started. | The role of the cavalry is played when the infantry lines reach a point some live hundred yards irom the Austro-Germau trenches. A swarm of cavalry in widelyi extended lines is then fiung forward j through the intervals of the infantry lines. I The horsemen dart iorward at headlong I speed. Soon they fling themselves to the i j ground and open a rapid tire against the I enemy. The Cossack horses are trained to participate in this manoeuvre and lie down at the word of command and form a . 'living breastwork for the riders. Under | ! cover of the heavy hie from the dis- j j mounted horsemen the infantry lines ad-' vanre across the intervening country. j Men or horses, maddened by excitement, j often refuse to halt at the destined posi- | tion, but tear on against the trenches and ! entanglements in an unpremeditated charge. j The Cossack? are being largely used in ; ! attempts to force slightly guarded river I crossings, though the Russian pioneers have devised a new scheme for the crossing of the infantry where more resistance is looked for. Long slender rafts are moored along the banks of the narrow ] j rivers with which this swampy country is i ! intersected. concealed by overhanging j bushes. At the proper moment the up- : i stream end, of each raft is released and i the current swings it across the river. i forming a series of narrow bridges for j storming parties.