SOLDIERS' MYSTICAL TALES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 431, 10 August 1915, Page 3

SOLDIERS' MYSTICAL TALES.

FROM THE TRENCHES IS

FRANCE. (Reprinted by Sperm! Request.) Tho mystical tale*. “The Comrade in White." anil the "Any li<- Guard at Mons,” which «•■■■■ puhli-hc< l in the “Tribune” early in July allrni i m; threat an interest as to t ans*' m i» ho deluged with applications tor copie-; ol the issues tn uhieh they appeared. The requests jo,- copies ot the papers come : ‘R rsirts ••I tiu> Dominion. an 1 one- who is gisxvtly impre s ed by the stories. ask-; tor It"i copies for disti '.hution among hi* friends. Supplies of the papers containing llm mystical tales nave out some weeks ago. ami wo now have pleasure in acceding to the many request,, that have been made to us to republish them. It is of interest tn note that the English files which arrived by a recent mail contain the report of a sermon preached hy the Rev. Dr. Holton, the eminent congregathmalist. at Broughton in which he recountt'd the store's prai-ti rally word tor v .•: <! a- tm-y are published here. In introducing ihe *iibj<s-t Dr. Horton said-"l’here are wondortul stories coming to us in this time 01 war — some of them verified am! som< of them floating about and difficult to verify and to nx -hut they are storiewhich show quite distinctly how men to-dav are kept in the secret places ol the Mo«t High, uiid.-r the shadow ol the Almighty, in the midst of unexampled peril.”

COMRADE IN WHITE. FRIEND OF THE WOCNDED. “EE WILL COME FOR MF. TO-MORROW ' [Th is mystical tale item the trenches is taken horn "Life and Work." the Church of Scotland magazine. X« writer’s nam<- is given.] “Strnngi tales reach u* in the trenches. Rumours raced up and flow n that 300-miic line from Switzerland t< the sea. A\ <■ knew neither the m.iiio of them nor the truth ol them. They came quickly. ami they went quickly. Yet somehow 1 irmiil"'" the very hour when George Casey turned to me with a queer look in hi' blue eyes, ami asked if 1 had seen the Friend ot th • Wounded.

“And then he told me all he knew. After many a hot engagement a man in white had Iw'en sis-n bending over the wounded. Snipers sniped at him Shells fell all around. Nothing had power to touch him. H ewas either heroic beyond all heroes, or he was something greater still. This mysterious one. whom the French called dm Comrade in White, seemed to !►»> everywhere at once. At Nancy. in the Argonne, at Sois.sons and Ypres, everywhere men were talking of him with hushed voices.

“But some laughed, and said the trenches were telling on men’s nerves. J, who was often reckless enough in my talk, exclaimed that for me seeing was believing, anti that I didn’t expect any help but a German knife if 1 was found lying out there wounded. "I WAS SHOT. “]t was the next day that things got lively on this bit of the front. Our hig guns roared from sunrise to sunset, and began again in the morning. At noon we got word to take the trenches in front of us. They were LW yards away, and wo weren't well started till we knew that the big guns had failed in their work of preparation. It n«>eded a stont heart to go on, hut a man wavered. We had advanced !*><• yards when wo found it was no gool. Our captain calk'd to us to take <-ovor. and just then I vias shot through both legs.

“By God’s mercy 1 fell into a hob- or some sort. I suppose 1 fainbxl, fo> when I opened my eyes 1 was all alone. The pain was horrible, but I didn’t dare to move lest the Germans shook I see me, for they were only .">*» yards away, and I did not- expeet mercy. There were men in my own company who would run any risk in the darkness if they thonght a comrade viastill alive.

‘‘The night fell, anti soon I heard a step, not .stealthy, as I expected, hut quiet and tirni. as if neither darkness nor death could check thus.' untroubled feet. So little did I guess what was coining that, even when I saw th--gleam of white in the darkness. ] thought it was a peasant in a white stnocK. or perhaps a. woman deranged. Suddenly with a little shiver, of joy or fear. I don’t know which, I guessed that it was the Comrade in White. And at that very moment tinGerman rifles began to shoot. “The bullets could scarcely miss stub a target, for ho flung out his arms as though in entreaty, and then drew them back till he Mood like on-- of those wayside crosses that we saw s-> often as wo marched through France. And he spoke. The words sounded familiar, hut all 1 remember was the beginning: ‘lf thou hadst known,’ and the ending, ‘but now they are hid from thine eyes.' Anti then he stooped and gathered me into his arms—me, thbiggest man in the regiment—and carried me as if 1 had b-.-.-n a child.

“I MUST HAVE FAINTED." “I must have fainted again, for I woke to consciousness in a little cave by a stream, anti the Comrade in White was washing my wounds and binding them tip. It seemed foolish to say it, for I was in terrible pain, but I was happier at that moment than evar I remember to hare been in all my tife before. I can’t explain it. hut it seemed as if all my days I had l-s ii waiting for this without knowing it. As long as that hand tour-he-1 me ami those eyes pitied me I -lid not seem to care any more about sickness, or health, about life or death. And while he swiftly removed eiery tract' of blood and miro I felt as if my whole naturwere being washed, as if al! the grime and soil of sin were -going, and as li 1 were once more a little child. “HE. TOO. HAD BEEN WOUNDED." “I suppose 1 slept, for when I awoke this feeling was gone. 1 was a man. and I wanted to know what 1 <•• add de; for my friend to help him or to serve him. He was looking towards the stream, and his hands u.-r- clasped in prayer; am! then I saw that In-. t-«». had been wounded. 1 emild mi- as it were a shot-wound in his hand .and ahe prayed n drop of blood gathered and fell to the gi--i:nd. 1 cried out. J could not help it. that wound of his seemed to m< a mote aw ltd thing than any that bitter war laid shown lue.

"Y-Xl are K oiind I too.” I >aui ly. Perhaps !■■• me, [•••rhap - it was the i-“-k my l.mu Im answered gentlv. ’Th.- is ar: ■ ***: •■-.■:-i-l. but it ha.' tro'ib) -I ;n- oi ! :t. And then I nui<—- -row t-ill-v that dusamc cruel mark w.-s on his f.-f. Y <>u will won-1. -■ thri 1 did not kn-.-v. soen-.-r. J uor.d'-r my-‘•lf. |»nt it »n- oni. -.th-’-n i sa* His teet that 1 krw i liit.i. “HE WILL COME I OR Ml TO-MORROW ” “ ‘T)-'* Living Clii-i«t’ I li.i ■! I. th? chaplain --ay -t a •••«’ 1.-.-r-. but r-O’.r I I.!-- '. II n- H-- h : I cot..-- to me- t"> Ui - who hud pit’ Hi"- o'*' «’t my In. iii (!, ■1- t i-’ -: - --I my yooth. I longing to spe .k and tc thank him. but no words <-:iin>-. Ard then !.»■ rose swittlv. and said. 'Li-' le-r*- to-da.v l-y the i will come lor you tv morrow. 1 lue' work ivr you to do. ami you will -Io It >.-r me.' • “fit a m- rn» nt Ho was gene. And while 1 wait for Him I writ-- this down that 1 may >ml hr-- the memory ot it. I «.;d ami l--ii--li. amt my pain iwr*;i---s, I •:t 1 have Hi protrii---. 1 know that Ho will <-011-0 t-r me t->-mt-rrow.”

ANCELIC GUARD AT MONS. HOW THE BRITISH LEFT WAS SAVED y; tI.DIERS’ MYSTICAL SToRIES “A TROOP OF ANGELS." A I Inst-tigs l.'dy. greatly impre;-cd wiib tin- story ot "I he Comrade in White” was nun h ::*i,mi*hcd to receive !•' tin* last. English mail :i copy of a Bath pap' r <•<.n t,ii r■ ng another rem.'trkable story, which, rhe writer stated, is a w ell authentii n.’ed account of what hail actually occurred ami had been told to him by a friend. It is as follows : - -

Las' .Sunday 1 met Mi-* Marrnbl-' idangh'er r>! tin- veil known Canon Marrahlej. She told me sin' knew two officer*. both of whom had tlmm-s‘-l:.es seen the Angels who saved the-ir h'ft wing from the Germans. wh»»n tli!'/. came right upon them during our retreat from Muns. 'I bey expected anpihiiation. as they were almo-t helpless. when, to their a max 'in.-ni th-' Gcrir.-ins stand like di;- I mei. t.evi s,. •iii'.ih :is touche,! thiir guns or stirred till wo had turned round and e-ciiped by som ■ roads. One of Miss Marrable’s tri<‘ii«L. who was no: :i religions man. T.,1.1 iter that he -aw a troop of Angles between them ai.d the enemy. Ilf has been a changed man ever since . The otlwr she met in London la*t He is a Christian. She asked him ii he had heard tho wonderful su.ry of the Angels, and he said hi' had seen them liimsell. While bo and al- < otiii'tiiles v.ere retreating th -y hoard the G< tin;>n envalrv tearin alter them. They ran for a place i her- they thought a stand might be niii'it-. but before th“v could reach it. the Germans wore upon them. So tin v turned and laced the enemy, exnecting instant death, when, to their wonder, they saw. between them and the Genn.uo, a whole tniop of Angels. ’J ho hoi'e-s it the Geira.ns tinned round and regularly stamped!,!. He swore he saw the A'ngids whom the horses saw plainly enough. and it gave them film' to real h their shelter in safety. By tin- s.nii!' mail which brought tim pan t con’aining the above story, the L istings lady ••••■■•ix!"t two ii iters i:i which, tfo ii ei.mely different sources, the st>>l ies told by .soldier* of troops Ol angel* appearing ami saving the British troops ;iir re< tailed. V e publish them exactly as they ar<- handed to

At .1 meeting oi th" Rescue Prevention So- i-'ty. out president (Mrs. Carr-G! ii Hold Us a story of th" Angei ilo*t standing • isdily between th' onslaught of German cavalry an I our retreating, f'ut unbeaten, aiai'v. M's. (’-G. s stow was from an officer, who asked a German cavalry oEii-'r iprisoner> why they had stoppo 1 slii.n't wln'ii they could easily liav« uot : l.’-ough to Palis? ills reply wa-. "Hi- could mu- -not i umn dT-01. W'e ' ihe Ang- l*. I'h.- horse-, saw tin in. and stopped <1 nd.' Ido not disheli.-ve this. The Angels an' not dead ai d are (hors ministers now as in day- of old. And fiotk spb-s s.iw them, a* you v JI see. Tim cl.'-e!; to tlm G‘ rmai) advam" o: 1 Pari* has .'ever sn'ii explained, or tin' reason why tlmy swung round vv len «»n)v ?*' miles from the city. A i woiideriul lelivoram" it’." a mighty, 01..', I find no difficulty in heliciing it.

Extract from the .w>ml letter, tintton by a »■>•! known Hav.lte's B.:y «£«-n--tlcman now resident in LondonDear G— -When writing from - Boulogne to you some weeks ago, 1 think I mentioned we heard Bishop Taylor fl'haplain t.rnerah preach a f:n.- address to the crowd <-t soldiei - present. Hi- text was front tin- lesson lor the day. 11. Kin -. chan. ft. Verse hi, ••JV.tr lint lor they that be with its are tillin' than they that be with them." Also si-' verse !«. “Behold the mountain was mil oi horses and chariots ol lire round about jvli-hrt." Xow tor the scipiol. A lady v. ho has many military niends was tolling that at- otficei -a itt;:i> t or ,-ol.tnel - told her •hat v. hen hard pre-setl lc. (o'riaaiis, ar; o erwhelm■ im.'. number arrayed against the tain wry t'lill. •il .tish lute. he looki hack and saw nnentrllyf rows c.i trenches lull of British troops where he knew no trenches or troops were. Others also saw it, and he said the Germans must hate seen it. too. because they withheld tln-ir advance. A young officer also told her that the Germans complained that then troops being destroyed by some unfair nicthod ot warfare —not the usual weajHins of war. This officer saw in front ot our troops and between ours anil the Germans, rows ami rows ot men arrayed with tows ■nil 1 t'l iow s fighting the enemy. When lalit tic Briti-h advanced to : h> trenches they loiiikl dead Germanv. ith no marKs of wounds on them and t's if tiny had been asphyxiated 1 ie'se “visitors'’ are much talked of Tt.ev have been semi bv manv ot otu

soldier-. ‘ MA Nt H EST ER G CARDIA N S ’ Commenting on the statements made by th.- Rev. Dr. Horton in liis seriQou at Broughton, the “Mam hester Guardian” says;—

“Dr. Horton believes these narrative-- and our Manchester correspoii-d<-:r. a hardheaded person who has long ben in t!ii' closest touch with the grimmest realities of lit--, declares that the evidence has convinced him als-,. The evidence upon which they ie|y inot l.eior - it': ami, whil- we desire to tieat these touching mtrralives with the utmost respect, we arc bound to say that the,--- is at preM-nt no better reason for crediting the presence ot Russian troops in England. On that -x-easjon ah > many p -rs-ms -l.x-lared th-'-tns.'lves 1., li.li .- ho- n eye-ivitnes.es. There is no limit to the possibilities 01 th- human iimigimuion. especially i. l —l th- menial la--i-.lti- < art- excited by fatigue. hunger .amt thirst, am! th-' w-'uKm-ss iron. w. nm|s. The tuinii in sm-ii <-ircuntstat.ci. m-ier iar remoted from ludlucinathm. or i-vrn delirinm. Smiisnive organism- w i..>n exeit.sl l-y misiortimc or --rr-nv. «•-. en a: Ute pl:ysj,..,| strain, are peeidiarli • e-.i ot psn-hi al impiessjon Ta-- British soldier would m-t :,<s-m to b- a ia > .--;r,ilde sidij.-i 1 : >1 impressions ot this kind and. s (l j-• vi > ■ know, tii--. - 1- 1,-. a> tual i-vid.-m-' that he r.--i i-iv.-d tl-.-m. T’lji s.. stori- - at all ev.-nt-help ns t > inid.-'.-stand some 0/ the legend- or th.- miracidotis whi-h hate eomc dull 11 to it- ti-mi th.- past, and -■>■-•11 some which ar>‘ -piit.- modern to 11ml-r-tatiil. i>>o. ilmr t'.ie v.-arning for li-dde . OUI-I- Icm with the oilier w-.rld tdiii-h is comm-m'y stipp..- -.Dt-i he mti-tim-d to pi r'ohs or pei-iiliat pi -ty. may sotm-tim-'s 1 sn-nd to tho-.- v. h->s.-itm.ginati nis ;ue not n-.'-!ily att’tm-d to th-- -pi.itiial s|i!,.-r'.. '