SOLDIER'S SANG-FROID

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3614, 18 November 1924, Page 7

SOLDIER'S SANG-FROID

CUTTING HAT UNDUE FIKE. I I I A good war story is told in an article iu the London ‘ Times ’ by General Lukomsky, Chief of Staff of the Russian army during the war. The occasion was the opening of the “ Brussiloff offensive ” iu the spring of 1916, which ended in the crushing defeat of the Austro-Hungarian army. On June 3, the eve of the date set for our assault on certain fortified positions of the enemy (writes the general), 1 made a round of the front line trenches of the 32ud Division. While going down the line of the Rylsk Regiment, where our wire entanglements were interwoven with those of the enemy, I stopped for a moment to study the enemy’s position through a periscope. Next to me stood a private. From the expression of his face it was plain that he was anxious to tell me something. So I encouraged him to speak by asking what he thought of the Austrian position. “ I dare say, pretty strong, your Excellency,” the soldier answered in the simple speech of the peasant. “ But we are goin<r to take it to-morrow just the same, and then I’ll get lots of nice hay for our horse.” “What hay? What horse?” I asked this queer fellow. “ Why, I am the company stableman, your Excellency, and in front of the Austrian trenches there is such nice fresh grass.” I could not help telling him that he was a “Molodets” (fine, brave fellow) for looking after his horse like this; and, although I never thought of taking his words seriously, I wished him good luck in harvesting Austrian hay. At daybreak on June 4 fire was opened on the appointed targets by every piece of artillery massed along the sector of my division. There was no lack of artillery in this instance; I had more than 100 heavy guns and about 100 lighter pieces. After the cannonade our division went forward. The units of the adjoining 11th Division likewise charged the enemy. Our success was decisive; the entire Austrian fortified line was taken, and all the surviving defenders captured. Watching the attack of our division through my field glasses, I had my attention drawn to a figure just behind our advancing lines, where enemy shells were bursting on every hand; this figure appeared to bo busy—mowing grass ! I rubbed my eyes in amazement. To make sure, I asked the commander of the artillery, who was standing beside me, to take a look for himself. He at once confirmed what I had seen ; yes, there was a soldier out there swinging a scythe! On the evening of the same day I saw the stableman of the Rylsk Regiment, happy and unharmed, elated at having cut some nice grass for his horse. This soldier never suspected, it seems, that he iiad shown bravery of the highest kind, for it it so much easier to attack the enemy, gun iu hand, in a line of other soldiers than to bo mowing imperturbably in an inferno of exploding shells, dealing death and destruction all around, some “nice fresh grass for the company horse.”