THE COSSACKS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11806, 18 September 1916, Page 1

THE COSSACKS.

| In view of the important work being 1 accomplished by the Russian Cossacks in the great offensive against the Austrian forces in the Bast, especial n interest attaches to the following aceormt of a tvpicpl Cossack exploit reported in the Petrograd Novoe Vremya and forwarded by the Petrograd correspondent of the "Central News : It became necessary, for the accomplishment of the Russian plans, to capture the rilhffo of S del, which was strongly held bv German* infantry ana artillery. For this purpose it was decided to employ three sotmas of Lossacks to take the village by storm. biS hundred vards from the village the CosBacks formed up for the charge on MM outskirts of a wood, and dtfnng this operation they were detected by clio Germans, who promptly opened a strong artillery fire on them. Witß shrapnel bursting; around them <n® Cossack detachment galloped to tM charge. On their way they encountered an unexpected obstacle m the shape of a small stream. fcome managed to clear tho stream in a leap, some forded it, and others crossed bv-a small bride©. Thev dashed through the German fire screen, and in a very minutes they entered thevillage »ith S loud shouts of TJra! Then flowed ian awful- scene of carnage m the I .streets of the village. The Cosswkj dashed into the ranits of the German I infantry, and scores were transhxed by j the long Cossack lances M in | themselves overwhelmed, the Germane took refuge in the buildings, hiding n\ garrets and cellars. . After cuthng, down all the Germans in the streets the ! Cossacks dismounted and entered the ! houses, and in almost ereij house i there were fierco duels. Gradually ■■ i German garrison melted away, ana | then the Russian infantry came up j and occupied the village, i The Cossacks then counted their ' losses and gains. . The captured Ger- | mans, who numbered some hundreds. ■ were taken to the rear, and the lvu.s- ---* i;ian bootv included many hundreds ct i rifles, with helmets, overcoats, satchels \ and other equipment. Prisoners stati ed that the German force in the vilI lafje was a battalion strong, armed > I with machine guns. The Cossack losses I amounted to twenty-iwo men and j ! twenty-eight horses. J | A little later on the same Cossack j j contingent not-iced r.n enemy tr«nsj>oi t I on the move, and stealthily approached lit from three sides. They fofind that j t.he transport was a very la rge one, ! and strongly escorted, but without the j least hesitation they rushed it. There : was a short, fierce struggle, which roi suited in the capture of the whole transport, with fttty-wven soldiers and two officers. The transport consisted of tour three-inch 'gun*, with carriages and harness, « spore three automobiles, and iifty-one carta and sixty horses, carrying supplies of arms, and annnnnition. 5