INCIDENTS IN THE TRENCHES BEFORE SEBASTOPOL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7636, 8 January 1887, Page 3

INCIDENTS IN THE TRENCHES BEFORE SEBASTOPOL.

J A French officer was having an opera tion. performed, in the trenches when Lord' Stratford was there ; a rifle ball was extracted from his leg, and he suffered excruciating torture when it was being searched for. As soon as he saw the hall he took possession bf.ib. , - - '.'lf. I get back to the trenches, Milford," he said to the Ambassador, ,who had been expressing his sympathy, " this ball shall be returned through the head of the first Russian that comes 'near me in a sortie." .-'-',• '-• : My informant told mo that ho had previously served in the Free-shooters, or, as the French call them, Francs Tireurs, and ho related some curious particulars about them. They. form two companies' of volunteers from the Zouaves and the Chasseurs, only the best shots being accepted. They dig holes in the; front of the trendies, not larger, than is 'required for one man, and they sit there picking off every one who appears at tho em : brasures. In the first week of their service no less than five hundred Russian artillerymen were killed by them. Guns were loaded with grape, and fired at bno of these pits, which had been fatal to several gunners successively, in the hope that the Free-shooter would be hit by at least one ball. The cessation of his firo proved that he had been shot. Another of them ran forward from the trench, pulled out the dead body, and took its place. He suffered a similar fate. - A Chasseur was leaving . the trench to go ■to the. pit, when his captain ordered him to remain where he was. . "If you prevent my going, captain," he said, " I must blow my brains out." " Why must you do that ?" "Because tho two men killed were Zouaves, and if no Chasseur goes tho Zouaves will think they are braver than we are." " You may go," said the captain. The Chasseur was soon killed, and another of them was going. The captain ordered him not to go. lie replied that ho must, and he was told that he would be shot on the way for disobedienco of orders, and that his death would be reported in France as having been, caused ■by his deserting to the enemy; i " None of us would go under such a threat,", replied the man, "but- 1 can make a higher and thicker earth-work round tho pit in tho night, and occupy it to-morrow." . A Free-Shooter saw a shell fall close to his pit and fall into it from behind. Ho jumped out and threw himself Hat on the ground. Shots were fired at him, but without effect. Tho shell exploded, but ho did. not move. The Russians then aimed at another pit, supposing the man to bo dead. As soon as they lired ho got into the holo, making " un pied (fc nes " at them, and resumed his ride practice. In one of the French trenches the figure of a Zonavo in uniform stuffed with straw, was nailed on a plank, which was hold up and moved to' ami fro like a sentry, cannon balls were discharged at him, knocking him about, but still ho walked up and down on his beat. At last ho was torn to pieces, and another figure precisely similar appeared beside him, walking in the same stiff manner. A Russian officer stood up on tho parapet, and called out in French that the dolls might be taken down, as he was not to be deceived a second time. Tho Freo-Sliooler halted; aimed bis ride, and fired, bringing down Ithe officer, and then jumped into ■ tho trench, . 1