'Russia and India in 1903' [‎9r] (17/68)

THE RUSSIAN ARMY OF TO-DAY.
15
The Russian infantryman is also a real “ handy
man.” There are few things he cannot do, or will not
try to do, if taken the right way. As for food, he
never had much, even when growing, and as he is rarely
under twenty-three or twenty-four years of age, if on
a campaign, he escapes many of the constitutional
dangers of extreme youth.
Mounted Infantry .—But it is in Mounted Infantry
work that the world military is now humbly following
the ancient lead of Russia. Wholly apart from the
sixteen regiments, with ninety-six sotnias, of Cossacks,
the finest mounted infantry in the world—equally good
on horse or foot, dare-devils to whom riding and horse-
mastership are as much second nature as to the old
Boers of the Transvaal—there are fifty-six regiments
of dragoons. Concerning these I wrote in 1877 from
the Imperial camp at Kishineff:
“ The dragoons will render especial service. They
are in reality mounted rifles, and for their employment
this campaign is peculiarly adapted. Alone of all the
Powers in Europe the Russians have recognised the
great utility of mounted infantry. They move in
threes, 1 the centre file holds the horse of his comrade
on either side when the order to act on foot is given.
The horse detachment remains under the command of
the senior subaltern. He is directed to keep under
cover, yet near at hand, that the word 'To horse!'
may be immediately put into execution to charge dis
heartened infantry, to meet cavalry face to face, to
seize a position, or to retire swiftly before superior
numbers.”
Would that these words had been written by a
stronger hand. We have learnt the Russian lesson,
1 The Russians contend that “ threes ” are infinitely better than
“fours” for mounted infantry. True, a rifle is lost in each
section. But the centre file can manage a led horse on each side,
whereas No. 1 horse usually manages No. 3, i.e., the horseholder,
of the section of “ fours.”