Brave to a Fault.

Evening Star, Issue 7613, 16 May 1888, Page 4

Brave to a Fault.

The following incident is recorded by Lieutenant Schoenmaker, an officer of the Dutch East Indian forces :—Near a fortified post of our foremost lines the Achineae had planted their flag upon a hill, while on the outskirts of a wood in the immediate neighborhood a strong force of the enemy was posted to prevent the flag from being removed. The flag was only put there to entice us out, which naturally exasperated our soldiers. Several attempts to remove it, organised by the commandant, had entailed considerable losses, so that further attempts had to he renounced. Nevertheless volunteers were constantly presenting themselves for the work of taking down the piece of red cloth emblazoned with the Achinesc arms (a crescent with two crossed curved swords in the middle), but permission was as constantly refused. Hereupon the enemy came forth from their wood to taunt and revile us. So things had gone on for some days, when one morning a European fusilier stole unnoticed over our entrenchments and directed his steps towards the aforesaid hill. Firo was at once opened on him, sending our officers to the bastion to learn what it was all about. In vain they called the daring fellow hack. Appearing to be deaf, he tramped forward with the greatest coolness while the enemy directed an uninterrupted fire upon him. At every moment it was expected that he would fall. At last he reached the hill, stopped for a moment:, ami, «.;.h iff- ...•inis behind Ills leek, contemplated tdc ilc v- :i ki. !; ■. o 1.- !. -,i; v,-. f-oun- ■■siwi In.in 'm; wi'n which l.c rubbt-.l ids hai’.il.-'., d.-mbm-d up the staff, ton; off the Achineae flag, drew from under his coat the Dutch flag, and fastened it to the pule. Then he lot himself to the ground, turned towards the enemy, wiped his hoots with the captured flag, and hurst into a laugh of derision, while the fire from the wood was still kept up. When he got back again he was put under arrest for fourteen days for disobedience to orders, but ho soon afterwards received the cross “ for valor and loyalty.”