A RUSSIAN GENERAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 10526, 2 December 1916, Page 11

A RUSSIAN GENERAL.

FATHER OF HIS SOLDIERS. THE PRICE OF VICTORV. The relation of the Russian peasant to his superiors is extraordinary, writes Stanley Washburn. Never is there the slightest degree of self-consciousness or embarrassment on the part of the soldier, no matter how high or exalted be the rank of the officer who addresses him. Again and again soldiers whose haggard features ind glazing eyes denoted the gravity ot Their wounds called to General Monkivitch in faltering voices "How goes the fight., Excellency?" or "Did we take the trench, my 'General?" And always he would ctop and reply: "All goes well my children You have done superbly. lam proud of you. Go back now to the rear and get well; you have behaved like hcroe* " Another groaned audibly as ho raised himself to ask : "Have more of my brothers fallen than of the Austrian. The General replied quickly, raising Ins voice that all might hear: "For each one of you here, my children, there are live Au/trians to pay for it, so rest contented that you have done your duty well One mere stripling, shot through the stomach, called to his chief: "I did my best, Excellency: I killed all I could,' and then sunk back, groaning, on his bed ot Stiaw. And thus it went on as we entered building after building where lay the price q victory. One badly wounded lad called to tho General, who immediately went to his side and listened to the high, feverish voice telling of the assault, of capture, of escape andf bullet through the abdomen. With »ho quick compassion characteristic ot the tu4ns, the General suddenly turned the contents of tho cigarette case into the outstretched hands ot the soldier. . Amornr the wounded were many Austri"who. with stricken, pallid features, lay Bido bv side with the Russian., receiving the same kmd words and gentle treatment as th« Russians themselves. Outside, under the, trees, was a row o stretchers each reverently covered with a S sheet. The Uncial halted tor a moment as he uncovered hi i hca • Our dead." he murmured, reverently an.l then u,-;*L-lv "Shall we move on? b Tin s in « wonderful afterglow ot a hot ,ummer day wo strolled with hun andl beheld tho man in his changing moods General of hi. soldier,, mourner for Ins dead-each phase merging from the. other Ssthedffferent sights we.saw brought them out.