RUSSIAN GENERAL’S ESCAPE

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17329, 18 November 1916, Page 12

RUSSIAN GENERAL’S ESCAPE

FT.TGHT TO RUMANIA. The Petrogrnd correspondent of the London “ Daily Telegraph ” states that General KornilofT, commander of tho Forty-eighth Division, who, in April of last year, sacrificed liis freedom in an heroic rearguard action to cover the retreat of his unit from the Dukla Pass, in the Carpathians, has reached Kief! from Rumania, whither he had succeeded in escaping from Austrian imprisonment. Many of the incidents of his romantic flight from the enemy’s hands must naturally be kept secret, as the publication of them might prejudice the chances 'of other prisonbreakers, but several interesting details of the adventure have been made known. Soon after he was captured the general began to turn over in his mind projects of escape, but fifteen months elapsed before he could put them into execution. Last spring, while he was quartered in Esterbazy Castle, in the Hungarian town of Laepka, he had all in readiness for a dash for freedom when his preparations were noticed and stricter surveillance imposed. A month before his escape ho secured transfer to a lazaret at Kessek, where he managed* to re-dress in ranker's uniform and get dear away. He and a Czech soldier were being pent out with a working party. They took advantage of the momentary inattention of the guard and slipped away, boarded a train, and travelled without impediment to the station at Karashevesh. Hero the fugitives obtained civilian clothes, in which they continued their journey on foot. They were much helped on their way by their perfect knowledge of the German language. About this time the general’s flight was advertised by the enemy with an offer of a largo reward for his recapture. It became too dangerous for them to travel except by night, and till the evenings they hid in woods. They suffered much from hunger, and for days together had nothing to eat but. berries. At last the soldier ventured into the village for food, but he was surrounded by gendarmes and shot. The general was rapidly approaching the point, of complete exhaustion, but he continued on his wav alone, and on the twenty-second day of his. escape came across a party of Rumanian shepherds, who treated him very kindly and guided him across the frontier. . General Korniloff will have to retire to bis bed for some time to get over tho consequences of his privations and exertions. There is much rejoicing over his escape, as he has the reputation of being one of the most, fearless men in the Russian army, and liis exploit with the, Forty-eighth Division was onlythe culmination of a career of gallant’deeds.