MOWING THEM DOWN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3873, 9 March 1915, Page 5

MOWING THEM DOWN.

STORIES OF THE RUSSIAN CAMPAICN. TERRIBLE MISTAKE OF MASSED FORMATION. ARTILLERY OFFICER’S GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION. “IT WAS NAUSEATING.” (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) (Received March 8, 6 p.m.) LONDON, March 8. A Russian artillery officer, writing of the Germans’ temporary advantage in East Prussia, says: “If I had been in authority, I would simply have hanged their commanders because of senseless and criminal sacrifice of troops at the figlit. We drenched them, charging massed columns, Avith shrapnel and still they came on. Tlien Ave used case shot, keeping up an incessant fire until the dead Avere piled in heaps of from three to four thousand. “Half an hour later a second attack Avas repulsed and before dusk a third—Avith the same result. “The slaughter caused nausea and avo marvelled at the stupidity of the efforts -to face our fire against Avhich they Avere powerless. They Avere sAvept away like the ash from a cigarette.” GERMANS DRIVEN BACK. OFFICIAL RUSSIAN REPORTS. GREAT BATTLE DEVELOPING. (Received March 8, 9.20 p.m.) PETROGRAD, March 8. An official communique says the Germans have been driven back behind the Sopozkine-Lypsk front" and the Russians have also had further successes at Mlava, Avhere five hundred Germans Avere taken prisoner. A great battle is developing near Pilica. The Austrians tried to cross to the right bank of the San south-Avest of Lut-ovisk, but the units which crossed were annihilated.

IN BUKOVJNA. AUSTRIANS IN FULL RETREAT. ROME, March 7. The Austro-Hungarian army at BukoAvina, under two German generals, is in full retreat. Men are deserting and being taken prisoners in hundreds. BRITISH FOOD PRICES. LABOR PARTY’S ATTITUDE. (Received March 9, 1.45 a.m.) LONDON, March 8. _ Dissatisfied Avith the Government’s attitude regarding food prices, the Labor Party War Emergency Committee has summoned a national con-ferenc-e for Frida)’ to discuss the matter. Although there are no strikes in London, there is Avidespread discontent OAving to the dearness o 4 ' food. THE GARIBALDIANS 5 \ CHARGE. THROUGH A HAIL OF GRAPE SHOT. (“DaiU Ncavs” Special.) PARIS. The death of Lieutenant Bruno Garibaldi in the affair of the BelleEtoile in the Argonne, where the Garibaldians received their baptism of fire, has evoked many expressions of sympathy and admiration. The President of the Republic lias sent a moving message to General Ricciotti; Geileral Joffre has sent by telegraph his condolences to the families of the Garibaldians Avho fell in the fight, and the general commanding operations in the Argonne lias sent two Army Orders to Colonel Giuseppe Garibaldi, praising the valor of the Italian Volunteer Brigade. How Bruno fell Avhile leading the Italian Volunteers to the assault of a German trench in the Argonne is told in a letter to the “Gorriere della iSerra” :

“Garibaldi (i.e., Colonel Giuseppe Peppino Garibaldi), drawing himself up to his full height, gives the order for the attack: ‘Forward, my lads! We are sons of Italy. Forward for France!’ A thousand voices reply: ‘Vive Garibaldi! ' Bravo Garibaldi!’ The trumpeter Galli springs forward, sounding the charge with all the strength of his lungs, and the Garibaldians follow, with Peppino at their head, pointing the way with his cane. “The brothers Costante and Bruno Garibaldi, who were with the 3rd battalion of reserves, on hearing the charge sounded, sprang forward together. They crossed the open, and were just passing the line of the last French trench, when several men around Costante fell wounded. Bruno, who was at the head of his own platoon and a portion of the men of the 6th Company, was wounded in the arm. He hound up the wound, and, rifle in hand, returned to the charge, ■followed by some fifty men. “They encountered a hail of grape shot. Many men dropped. Bruno was struck by two proiectiles, which entered his left side and came out under the right arm pit. He became deadly pale, and leaned against a tree, beside a wounded comrade. To a soldier who stopped to help him he said in a weak v.oice: ‘I am wounded. On! still on ! sons of Garibaldi!’ The soldier Casali also ran up, and several other comrades, heedless of the bullets, looked hack, unwilling to leave him to his fate, hut lie repeated : ‘I cannot walk. Go on, lads!’ With his last breath he added: T send a kiss to my father, mother, and all my brothers.’ A TUNNEL TO THE BODY. “The 'struggle was a fierce hand-to-hand one, the Garibaklians and the Germans fighting with equal stubbornness. At last the Germans blew up a portion' of their own trench, causing severe loss to the Italians. It was not till after the fight that Peppino heard of his brother’s death. He ordered that Bruno’s body should he recovered. The next day the brothers Ricoiotti, Costante, Santo, and Ezio went out to try and bring it in. Ricciotti pushed on far enough -to recognise his brother’s body lying only a few yards from that part of the enemy’s trench which they had failed to carry. “The fire .of the’Germans made it impossible to go further without sacri r ficing several lives. Ricoiotti determined to burrow his way to the spot. By six o’clock that evening the tunnel was finished. Lieutenant Pattarino and Corporal Salgemma undertook to bring in the body., Even then it was a. risky business, carried out under the bullets of the enemy, who were on the alert.”