SONS OFFER TO DIE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12695, 15 November 1915, Page 7

SONS OFFER TO DIE.

Touching devotion was displayed by the sons of a Polish official whom the Germans had condemned to death. hen the enemy entered Kalish, a town close to the frontier, which has suffered a fate similar to Louvain, they sought out the Russian fui'.ctionaries. and seized M. Novikoff. who was sent to prison. Kvery day he was questioned concerning the Russian troops and mobilisation. Although these questions were put under torture, M. Novikoff maintained silence until, infuriated. the Hermans hauled him before a court-martial, by which he was sentenced to death. Jiy chance, M. Novikoff's two sons, one a student, the other a collegiate, learned the hour appointed for their father's execution, and they resolved, at any risk, to be present. They reached the scene when their father was already standing, with bandaged eves, before a file; of soldier?. The elder son, Serge, rushed forward, and pushing his father aside, faced the Soldiers, shouting, 'Fire at me! He is ihe father of a large family. It i- easier for me to die." Then the second son, Ivor, seized hold of his brcther, crying, "1 will die for my brother: fire at me, you dogs!'' The effect of this dramatic incident upon the soldiers was such that they were undecided what to do. and their officer helplessly dropped his sword. After consultation with other officials, the officer commanding the detachment announced that the execution was postponed, and ordered his mei". to take the two boys to prison. When the soldiers went to raise M. Novikoff they found that he had been driven insane by the terrible strain; nevertheless, he, too, was removed to prison. The boys are now threatened with trial by court-martial for interfering with a German military order.