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diff --git a/old/10967.txt b/old/10967.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f10d3a0 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10967.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1740 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Four Weeks in the Trenches, by Fritz Kreisler + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Four Weeks in the Trenches + The War Story of a Violinist + +Author: Fritz Kreisler + +Release Date: February 6, 2004 [EBook #10967] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOUR WEEKS IN THE TRENCHES *** + + + + + + +FOUR WEEKS IN THE TRENCHES + +by Fritz Kreisler + + + +To My Dear Wife Harriet + +The Best Friend And Stanchest Comrade In All Circumstances Of +Life I Dedicate This Little Book + +In Humble Token Of Everlasting Gratitude And Devotion + + + + +Preface + +This brief record of the fighting on the Eastern front in the great war +is the outcome of a fortunate meeting. + +The writer chanced to be dining with Mr. Kreisler soon after his +arrival in this country, after his dismissal from the hospital where he +recovered from his wound. For nearly two hours he listened, thrilled +and moved, to the great violinist's modest, vivid narrative of his +experiences and adventures. It seemed in the highest degree +desirable that the American public should have an opportunity of +reading this narrative from the pen of one in whose art so many of +us take a profound interest. It also was apparent that since so little +of an authentic nature had been heard from the Russo-Austrian field +of warfare, this story would prove an important contribution to the +contemporary history of the war. + +After much persuasion, Mr. Kreisler reluctantly acceded to the +suggestion that he write out his personal memories of the war for +publication. He has completed his narrative in the midst of grave +difficulties, writing it piecemeal in hotels and railway trains in the +course of a concert tour through the country. It is offered by the +publishers to the public with confidence that it will be found one of +the most absorbing and informing narratives of the war that has yet +appeared. + +F. G. + + + + + +Four Weeks In The Trenches + + + +I + + + +In trying to recall my impressions during my short war duty as an +officer in the Austrian Army, I find that my recollections of this period +are very uneven and confused. Some of the experiences stand out +with absolute clearness; others, however, are blurred. Two or three +events which took place in different localities seem merged into one, +while in other instances recollection of the chronological order of +things is missing. This curious indifference of the memory to values +of time and space may be due to the extraordinary physical and +mental stress under which the impressions I am trying to chronicle +were received. The same state of mind I find is rather characteristic +of most people I have met who were in the war. It should not be +forgotten, too, that the gigantic upheaval which changed the +fundamental condition of life overnight and threatened the very +existence of nations naturally dwarfed the individual into +nothingness, and the existing interest in the common welfare left +practically no room for personal considerations. Then again, at the +front, the extreme uncertainty of the morrow tended to lessen the +interest in the details of to-day; consequently I may have missed a +great many interesting happenings alongside of me which I would +have wanted to note under other circumstances. One gets into a +strange psychological, almost hypnotic, state of mind while on the +firing line which probably prevents the mind's eye from observing +and noticing things in a normal way. This accounts, perhaps, for +some blank spaces in my memory. Besides, I went out completely +resigned to my fate, without much thought for the future. It never +occurred to me that I might ever want to write my experiences, and +consequently I failed to take notes or to establish certain +mnemo-technical landmarks by the aid of which I might now be able to +reconstruct all details. I am, therefore, reduced to present an +incoherent and rather piecemeal narrative of such episodes as +forcibly impressed themselves upon my mind and left an +ineradicable mark upon my memory. + +The outbreak of the war found my wife and me in Switzerland, +where we were taking a cure. On the 31st of July, on opening the +paper, I read that the Third Army Corps, to which my regiment +(which is stationed in Graz) belonged, had received an order for +mobilization. + +Although I had resigned my commission as an officer two years +before, I immediately left Switzerland, accompanied by my wife, in +order to report for duty. As it happened, a wire reached me a day +later calling me to the colors. + +We went by way of Munich. It was the first day of the declaration of +the state of war in Germany. Intense excitement prevailed. In +Munich all traffic was stopped; no trains were running except for +military purposes. It was only due to the fact that I revealed my +intention of rejoining my regiment in Austria that I was able to pass +through at all, but by both the civil and military authorities in Bavaria +I was shown the greatest possible consideration and passed +through as soon as possible. + +We reached Vienna on August first. A startling change had come +over the city since I had left it only a few weeks before. Feverish +activity everywhere prevailed. Reservists streamed in by thousands +from all parts of the country to report at headquarters. Autos filled +with officers whizzed past. Dense crowds surged up and down the +streets. Bulletins and extra editions of newspapers passed from +hand to hand. Immediately it was evident what a great leveler war +is. Differences in rank and social distinctions had practically +ceased. All barriers seemed to have fallen; everybody addressed +everybody else. + +I saw the crowds stop officers of high rank and well-known members +of the aristocracy and clergy, also state officials and court +functionaries of high rank, in quest of information, which was +imparted cheerfully and patiently. The imperial princes could +frequently be seen on the Ring Strasse surrounded by cheering +crowds or mingling with the public unceremoniously at the cafes, +talking to everybody. Of course, the army was idolized. Wherever +the troops marched the public broke into cheers and every uniform +was the center of an ovation. + +While coming from the station I saw two young reservists, to all +appearances brothers, as they hurried to the barracks, carrying their +small belongings in a valise. Along with them walked a little old lady +crying, presumably their mother. They passed a general in full +uniform. Up went their hands to their caps in military salute, +whereupon the old general threw his arms wide open and embraced +them both, saying: "Go on, my boys, do your duty bravely and stand +firm for your emperor and your country. God willing, you will come +back to your old mother." The old lady smiled through her tears. A +shout went up, and the crowds surrounding the general cheered +him. Long after I had left I could hear them shouting. + +A few streets farther on I saw in an open cafe a young couple, a +reservist in field uniform and a young girl, his bride or sweetheart. +They sat there, hands linked, utterly oblivious of their surroundings +and of the world at large. When somebody in the crowd espied +them, a great shout went up, the public rushing to the table and +surrounding them, then breaking into applause and waving hats and +handkerchiefs. At first the young couple seemed to be utterly taken +aback and only slowly did they realize that the ovation was meant +for them. They seemed confused, the young girl blushing and +hiding her face in her hands, the young man rising to his feet, +saluting and bowing. More cheers and applause. He opened his +mouth as if wanting to speak. There was a sudden silence. He was +vainly struggling for expression, but then his face lit up as if by +inspiration. Standing erect, hand at his cap, in a pose of military +salute, he intoned the Austrian national hymn. In a second every +head in that throng was bared. All traffic suddenly stopped, +everybody, passengers as well as conductors of the cars, joining in +the anthem. The neighboring windows soon filled with people, and +soon it was a chorus of thousands of voices. The volume of tone +and the intensity of feeling seemed to raise the inspiring anthem to +the uttermost heights of sublime majesty. We were then on our way +to the station, and long afterwards we could hear the singing, +swelling like a human organ. + +What impressed me particularly in Vienna was the strict order +everywhere. No mob disturbances of any kind, in spite of the +greatly increased liberty and relaxation of police regulations. +Nor was there any runaway chauvinism noticeable, aside from the +occasional singing of patriotic songs and demonstrations like the +one I just described. The keynote of popular feeling was quiet +dignity, joined to determination, with an undercurrent of solemn +gravity and responsibility. + +I had stopped in Vienna only long enough to bid good-bye to my +father, and left for the headquarters of my regiment in Graz. I +reported there for duty and then went to join the Fourth Battalion, +which was stationed at Leoben, one hour away from Graz, my +orders being to take command of the first platoon in the sixteenth +company. My platoon consisted of fifty-five men, two buglers, and +an ambulance patrol of four. + +In Leoben my wife and I remained a week, which was spent in +organizing, equipping, requisitioning, recruiting, and preliminary +drilling. These were happy days, as we officers met for the first +time, friendships and bonds being sealed which subsequently were +tested in common danger and amidst privation and stress. Many of +the officers had brought their wives and soon delightful intercourse, +utterly free from formality, developed, without any regard or +reference to rank, wealth, or station in private life. Among the +reserve officers of my battalion were a famous sculptor, a +well-known philologist, two university professors (one of mathematics, +the other of natural science), a prince, and a civil engineer at the +head of one of the largest Austrian steel corporations. The surgeon +of our battalion was the head of a great medical institution and a +man of international fame. Among my men in the platoon were a +painter, two college professors, a singer of repute, a banker, and a +post official of high rank. But nobody cared and in fact I myself did +not know until much later what distinguished men were in my +platoon. A great cloak of brotherhood seemed to have enveloped +everybody and everything, even differences in military rank not +being so obvious at this time, for the officers made friends of their +men, and in turn were worshipped by them. + +My wife volunteered her services as Red Cross nurse, insisting +upon being sent to the front, in order to be as near me as could be, +but it developed later that no nurse was allowed to go farther than +the large troop hospitals far in the rear of the actual operations. +Upon my urgent appeal she desisted and remained in Vienna after I +had left, nursing in the barracks, which are now used for hospital +work. In fact, almost every third or fourth house, both private and +public, as well as schools, were given to the use of the government +and converted into Red Cross stations. + +The happy days in Leoben came to an abrupt end, my regiment +receiving orders to start immediately for the front. + +We proceeded to Graz, where we joined the other three battalions +and were entrained for an unknown destination. We traveled via +Budapest to Galicia, and left the train at Strij, a very important +railroad center south of Lemberg. It must be understood that the +only reports reaching us from the fighting line at that time were to +the effect that the Russians had been driven back from our border, +and that the Austrian armies actually stood on the enemy's soil. Strij +being hundreds of miles away from the Russian frontier, we could +not but surmise that we were going to be stationed there some time +for the purpose of training and maneuvering. This belief was +strengthened by the fact that our regiment belonged to the +Landsturm, or second line of reserves, originally intended for home +service. We were, however, alarmed that very same night and +marched out of Strij for a distance of about twenty miles, in +conjunction with the entire Third Army Corps. After a short pause +for the purpose of eating and feeding the horses, we marched +another twenty-two miles. This first day's march constituted a very +strong test of endurance in consequence of our comparative +softness and lack of training, especially as, in addition to his heavy +rifle, bayonet, ammunition, and spade, each soldier was burdened +with a knapsack containing emergency provisions in the form of +tinned meats, coffee extract, sugar, salt, rice, and biscuits, together +with various tin cooking and eating utensils; furthermore a second +pair of shoes, extra blouse, changes of underwear, etc. On top of +this heavy pack a winter overcoat and part of a tent were strapped, +the entire weight of the equipment being in the neighborhood of fifty +pounds. The day wore on. Signs of fatigue soon manifested +themselves more and more strongly, and slowly the men dropped +out one by one, from sheer exhaustion. No murmur of complaint, +however, would be heard. Most of those who fell out of line, after +taking a breathing space for a few minutes, staggered on again. +The few that remained behind joined the regiment later on when +camp was established. We wondered then at the necessity of such +a forced march, being unable to see a reason for it, unless it was to +put us in training. + +Night had fallen when we reached a small monastery in the midst of +a forest, where the peaceful surroundings and the monastic life, +entirely untouched by the war fever, seemed strange indeed. Camp +was established, tents erected, fires were lighted, and coffee made. +Soon a life of bustling activity sprang up in the wilderness, in the +midst of the forest which only a few hours before had been +deserted. + +It made a weird and impressive picture in the wonderful starlight +night, these soldiers sitting around the camp fires softly singing in +chorus; the fantastic outlines of the monastery half hidden in the +woods; the dark figures of the monks moving silently back and forth +amongst the shadows of the trees as they brought refreshments to +the troops; the red glow of the camp fires illuminating the eager and +enthusiastic faces of the young officers grouped around the colonel; +the snorting and stamping of the horses nearby; an occasional +melodic outcry of a sentinel out in the night; all these things merging +into an unforgettable scene of great romanticism and beauty. That +night I lay for a long while stretched near the smoldering ashes of +the camp fire, with my cape as a blanket, in a state of lassitude and +somnolence, my soul filled with exaltation and happiness over the +beauty around me. + +The rest, however, was of very short duration, for at six o'clock in +the morning we were aroused, camp was broken up and soon +afterwards we started on a forced march of twenty-two miles without +a halt, during which we twice had to wade knee-deep through rivers. +By midday most of the men were so exhausted that they could +hardly crawl along. It was remarkable that the comparatively +weaker and more refined city-bred people who had done little +physical work in their lives, most of them being professional men, +withstood hardships better than the sturdy and, to all appearances, +stronger peasants; the only explanation for it being perhaps that the. +city-bred people, in consequence of their better surroundings and by +reason of their education, had more will power and nervous strength +than the peasants. + +At half-past two we reached a clearing in the midst of a wood +through which a river flowed. Here camp was again established and +a half hour later all the hardships of the march were once more +forgotten in the bustle of camp life. This time we had a full rest until +the next morning at four o'clock, when suddenly orders for marching +were given. After we had been under way for about three hours we +heard far-away, repeated rumbling which sounded like distant +thunder. Not for a moment did we associate it with cannonading, +being, as we supposed, hundreds of miles away from the nearest +place where Russians could possibly be. Suddenly a mounted +ordnance officer came rushing with a message to our colonel. We +came to a halt and all officers were summoned to the colonel who, +addressing us in his usual quiet, almost businesslike way, said: +"Gentlemen, accept my congratulations, I have good news for you, +we may meet the enemy to-day and I sincerely hope to lead you to +the fight before evening." We were thunderstruck at the sudden +realization that the Russians had penetrated so deeply into Galicia. +The despondency which followed this startling revelation, however, +was quickly replaced by the intense excitement of meeting the +enemy so soon. We hurried back to our companies, imparting the +news to the men, who broke forth into shouts of enthusiasm. All the +fatigue so plainly noticeable only a few minutes before, suddenly +vanished as if by magic, and every one seemed alert, springy, and +full of spirit. We energetically resumed the march in the direction of +the distant rumbling, which indicated that the artillery of our advance +guard had engaged the enemy. My regiment then was part of the +main body of a division. A second division advanced on the road +parallel to ours, about a mile and a quarter to our left. Both columns +belonged to the Third Army Corps and kept up constant communication +with each other through mounted dispatch bearers and motor cycles. + +The cannonading had meanwhile come perceptibly nearer, and in +the midst of the dense forest we again came to a short halt. Orders +were given to load rifles, and upon emerging from the woods we fell +into open formation, the men marching abreast, the companies at a +distance of three hundred yards, with the battalions at a distance of +about a thousand yards. We were slowly entering the range of the +Russian artillery. About a mile ahead we could see numbers of +harmless looking round clouds, looking like ringlets of smoke from a +huge cigar, indicating the places where shrapnel had exploded in +mid-air. Our men, not being familiar with the spectacle, took no +notice of it, but we officers knew its significance, and I daresay many +a heart beat as wildly as mine did. + +We marched on until the command was given for us to deploy, and +soon afterwards the first shrapnel whizzed over our heads. It did no +harm, nor did the second and third, but the fourth hit three men in +the battalion in the rear of us. Our forward movement, however, +was not interrupted, and we did not see or hear anything beyond +two or three startled cries. The next shell burst right ahead of us, +sending a shower of bullets and steel fragments around. A man +about twenty yards to the right of my company, but not of my +platoon, leaped into the air with an agonizing cry and fell in a heap, +mortally wounded. As we were advancing very swiftly, I only saw it +as in a dream, while running by. Then came in rapid succession +four or five terrific explosions right over our heads, and I felt a +sudden gust of cold wind strike my cheek as a big shell fragment +came howling through the air, ploughing the ground viciously as it +struck and sending a spray of sand around. + +We ran on perhaps a quarter of a mile, when from the rear came +the sharp command, "Down," and the next second we lay on the +ground, panting and exhausted, my heart almost bursting with the +exertion. Simultaneously the whizzing of a motor above our heads +could be heard and we knew why the enemy's shrapnel had so +suddenly found us. It was a Russian aeroplane which presumably +had signaled our approach, together with the range, to the Russian +gunners, and now was probably directing their fire and closely +watching its effect, for a chain of hills was hiding us from the view of +the enemy, who consequently had to fire indirectly. The air craft +hovered above our heads, but we were forbidden to fire at it, the +extremely difficult, almost vertical aim promising little success, aside +from the danger of our bullets falling back among us. Our reserves +in the rear had apparently sighted the air craft too, for soon we +heard a volley of rifle fire from that direction and simultaneously the +aeroplane arose and disappeared in the clouds. + +Just then our own artillery came thundering up, occupied a little hill +in the rear and opened fire on the enemy. The moral effect of the +thundering of one's own artillery is most extraordinary, and many of +us thought that we had never heard any more welcome sound than +the deep roaring and crashing that started in at our rear. It quickly +helped to disperse the nervousness caused by the first entering into +battle and to restore self control and confidence. Besides, by +getting into action, our artillery was now focusing the attention and +drawing the fire of the Russian guns, for most of the latter's shells +whined harmlessly above us, being aimed at the batteries in our +rear. Considerably relieved by this diversion, we resumed our +forward movement after about fifteen minutes of further rest, our +goal being the little chain of hills which our advance guard had +previously occupied pending our arrival. Here we were ordered to +take up positions and dig trenches, any further advance being out of +the question, as the Russian artillery overlooked and commanded +the entire plain stretching in front of us. + +We started at once to dig our trenches, half of my platoon stepping +forward abreast, the men being placed an arm's length apart. After +laying their rifles down, barrels pointing to the enemy, a line was +drawn behind the row of rifles and parallel to it. Then each man +would dig up the ground, starting from his part of the line backwards, +throwing forward the earth removed, until it formed a sort of +breastwork. The second half of the platoon was meanwhile resting +in the rear, rifle in hand and ready for action. After a half hour they +took the place of the first division at work, and vice versa. Within an +hour work on the trenches was so far advanced that they could be +deepened while standing in them. Such an open trench affords +sufficient shelter against rifle bullets striking from the front and can +be made in a measure shell proof by being covered with boards, if +at hand, and with sod. + +In the western area of the theater of war, in France and Flanders, +where whole armies were deadlocked, facing each other for weeks +without shifting their position an inch, such trenches become an +elaborate affair, with extensive underground working and wing +connections of lines which almost constitute little fortresses and +afford a certain measure of comfort. But where we were in Galicia +at the beginning of the war, with conditions utterly unsteady and +positions shifting daily and hourly, only the most superficial trenches +were used. In fact, we thought ourselves fortunate if we could +requisition enough straw to cover the bottom. That afternoon we +had about half finished our work when our friend the aeroplane +appeared on the horizon again. This time we immediately opened +fire. It disappeared, but apparently had seen enough, for very soon +our position was shelled. By this time, however, shrapnel had +almost ceased to be a source of concern to us and we scarcely paid +any attention to it. Human nerves quickly get accustomed to the +most unusual conditions and circumstances and I noticed that quite +a number of men actually fell asleep from sheer exhaustion in the +trenches, in spite of the roaring of the cannon about us and the +whizzing of shrapnel over our heads. + +I, too, soon got accustomed to the deadly missiles,--in fact, I had +already started to make observations of their peculiarities. My ear, +accustomed to differentiate sounds of all kinds, had some time ago, +while we still advanced, noted a remarkable discrepancy in the +peculiar whine produced by the different shells in their rapid flight +through the air as they passed over our heads, some sounding +shrill, with a rising tendency, and the others rather dull, with a falling +cadence. A short observation revealed the fact that the passing of +a dull-sounding shell was invariably preceded by a flash from one of +our own cannon in the rear on the hill, which conclusively proved it +to be an Austrian shell. It must be understood that as we were +advancing between the positions of the Austrian and Russian +artillery, both kinds of shells were passing over our heads. As we +advanced the difference between shrill and dull shell grew less and +less perceptible, until I could hardly tell them apart. Upon nearing +the hill the difference increased again more and more until on the hill +itself it was very marked. After our trench was finished I crawled to +the top of the hill until I could make out the flash of the Russian guns +on the opposite heights and by timing flash and actual passing of +the shell, found to my astonishment that now the Russian missiles +had become dull, while on the other hand, the shrill shell was +invariably heralded by a flash from one of our guns, now far in the +rear. What had happened was this: Every shell describes in its +course a parabolic line, with the first half of the curve ascending and +the second one descending. Apparently in the first half of its curve, +that is, its course while ascending, the shell produced a dull whine +accompanied by a falling cadence, which changes to a rising shrill +as soon as the acme has been reached and the curve points +downward again. The acme for both kinds of shells naturally was +exactly the half distance between the Russian and Austrian artillery +and this was the point where I had noticed that the difference was +the least marked. A few days later, in talking over my observation +with an artillery officer, I was told the fact was known that the shells +sounded different going up than when coming down, but this +knowledge was not used for practical purposes. When I told him +that I could actually determine by the sound the exact place where a +shell coming from the opposing batteries was reaching its acme, he +thought that this would be of great value in a case where the +position of the opposing battery was hidden and thus could be +located. He apparently spoke to his commander about me, for a +few days later I was sent on a reconnoitering tour, with the object of +marking on the map the exact spot where I thought the hostile shells +were reaching their acme, and it was later on reported to me that I +had succeeded in giving to our batteries the almost exact range of +the Russian guns. I have gone into this matter at some length, +because it is the only instance where my musical ear was of value +during my service. + +To return to my narrative, the losses which my battalion suffered +that day seemed extraordinarily small when compared with the +accuracy of the Russian artillery's aim and the number of missiles +they fired. I counted seventy-four shrapnel that burst in a circle of +half a mile around us in about two hours, and yet we had no more +than about eighteen casualties. The most difficult part was to lie still +and motionless while death was being dealt all about us and it was +then and there that I had my first experience of seeing death next to +me. A soldier of my platoon, while digging in the trench, suddenly +leaned back, began to cough like an old man, a little blood broke +from his lips, and he crumpled together in a heap and lay quite still. +I could not realize that this was the end, for his eyes were wide open +and his face wore the stamp of complete serenity. Apparently he +had not suffered at all. The man had been a favorite with all his +fellows by reason of his good humor, and that he was now stretched +out dead seemed unbelievable. I saw a great many men die +afterwards, some suffering horribly, but I do not recall any death that +affected me quite so much as that of this first victim in my platoon. + + + +II + + + +The artillery duel died out with the coming of darkness and we +settled down to rest, half of the men taking watch while the others +slept. At five o'clock in the morning our regiment suddenly received +the order to fall in, and, together with two other regiments, was +drawn out of the fighting line. Our commanding general had +received news that an isolated detachment on the extreme right +wing of our army, about fifteen miles east of us, had been entirely +surrounded by a strong Russian body, and we were ordered to +relieve them. It must not be forgotten that our men had been under +a most incredible strain for the last three days with barely any rest +during the nights and not more than one meal a day. They had +actually welcomed entering the firing line, as a relief from the +fatigues of marching with their heavy burdens. It is curious how +indifferent one becomes to danger if one's organism is worn down +and brain and faculty of perception numbed by physical exertion. It +was, therefore, with badly broken-down strength that we started on +this relief expedition, and it was good to see how unflinchingly the +soldiers undertook their unexpected new task. All we had to say to +our men was: "Boys, your brothers are needing you. They are cut +off from all possible relief unless you bring it. Their lives are at +stake, and as they are defending one of the most strategically +important points--the right wing of our army--you can turn the tide of +the whole battle in our favor; so go on." And on they went, +staggering and stumbling, and at the end of a few hours almost +crawling, but ever forward. + +Suddenly we came up with another regiment which had been called +to the same task, and the colonel of the new regiment, being older +in rank than our colonel, took command of the newly formed brigade +of two regiments. My company happened to march at the head of +the regiment and the new brigadier rode for some time alongside of +me. I was deeply impressed by his firm military and yet unassuming +bearing and his deep glowing enthusiasm for his army and his men. +He told me with pride that two of his sons were serving in the army, +too, one as an artillery officer and the other one as an officer with +the sappers. We were then approaching the point where we could +hear distinctly the fire of our own batteries and the answer from the +Russians, and here and there a volley of rifle fire. Our colonel urged +us on to renewed energy, and knowledge that we were nearing our +goal, seemed to give new strength to our men. Already we were +witnessing evidences of the first fight that had passed here, for +wounded men constantly passed us on stretchers. Suddenly I saw +the face of the colonel riding next to me, light up with excitement as +a wounded man was borne past. He addressed a few words to the +stretcher-bearers and then turned to me, saying: "The regiment of +my son is fighting on the hill. It is one of their men they have +brought by." He urged us on again, and it seemed to me as if I +noticed--or was it my imagination--a new note of appeal in his face. +Suddenly another stretcher was brought past. The colonel at my +side jumped from his horse, crying out, "My boy," and a feeble voice +answered, "Father." We all stopped as if a command had been +given, to look at the young officer who lay on the stretcher, his eyes +all aglow with enthusiasm and joy, unmindful of his own wound as +he cried out, "Father, how splendid that the relief should just come +from you! Go on. We held out splendidly. All we need is ammunition +and a little moral support. Go on, don't stop for me, I am all right." +The old colonel stood like a statue of bronze. His face had become +suddenly ashen gray. He looked at the doctor and tried to catch his +expression. The doctor seemed grave. But the young man urged +us on, saying, "Go on, go on, I'll be all right to-morrow." The whole +incident had not lasted more than five minutes, barely longer than it +takes to write it. The colonel mounted his horse, sternly +commanding us to march forward, but the light had died out of his +eyes. + +Within the next ten minutes a hail of shrapnel was greeting us, but +hardly any one of us was conscious of it, so terribly and deeply were +we affected by the scene of tragedy that had just been enacted +before us. I remember foolishly mumbling something to the silent +man riding next to me, something about the power of recuperation +of youth, about the comparative harmlessness of the pointed, +steelmantled rifle bullets which on account of their terrific percussion +make small clean wounds and rarely cause splintering of the bone +or blood poisoning. I remember saying that I had quite a medical +knowledge and that it seemed to me that his son was not mortally +wounded. But he knew better. He never said a word, only, a few +minutes later, "He was my only hope"; and I can't express how +ominous that word "was" sounded to me. But just then the +command to deploy was given and the excitement that followed +drowned for the time being all melancholy thoughts. We quickly +ascended the hill where the isolated detachment of Austrians had +kept the Russians at bay for fully twenty-four hours and opened fire +on the enemy, while the second regiment tried to turn his left flank. +The Russians slowly fell back but we followed them, and a sort of +running fight ensued, during which my regiment lost about fifty-- +dead and wounded. The Russians temporarily resisted again, but +soon the pressure from our other regiment on their flank began to +be felt and they fled rather disorderly, leaving two machine guns, +some ammunition, and four carriages full of provisions in our hands, +while the regiment which had executed the flanking movement took +two hundred and forty prisoners. + +Around eight o'clock at night the fight was stopped for want of light, +and we took up our newly acquired positions, entrenched them well, +and began to make ready for the night. Orders for outpost duty +were given and the officers were again called to the brigadier- +colonel, who in a few words outlined the situation to us, thanking us +for the pertinacity and bravery shown by the troops, and adding that +the success of the expedition lay in the fact that we had arrived in +time to save the situation. + +Then the question of transporting prisoners to the rear came up, +and while the brigadier's eyes were searching us I felt that he was +going to entrust me with that mission. He looked at me, gave me +the order in a short, measured way, but his eyes gazed searchingly +and deeply into mine, and I thought I understood the unspoken +message. So, tired as I was, I immediately set out with a guard of +twenty men to transport the two hundred and forty Russian +prisoners, among whom were two officers, back behind the fighting +line. They seemed not unhappy over their lot--in fact, were smoking +and chatting freely while we marched back. One of the Russian +officers had a wound in his leg and was carried on a stretcher, but +he, too, seemed quite at ease, conversing with me in French and +congratulating me upon the bravery our isolated detachment had +shown against the terrific onslaught. As soon as I had delivered +them safely into the hands of the commander of our reserves, I +inquired the way to the nearest field hospital in search of the young +officer, the son of our brigadier-colonel. It was then about nine +o'clock at night, and on entering the peasant's hut where the field +hospital was established, I saw at a glance that I had come too late. +He lay there still, hands folded over his breast with as serene and +happy an expression as if asleep. His faithful orderly sat weeping +next to him, and some kind hand had laid a small bunch of field +flowers on his breast. + +From the doctor I got the full information. He had received a shot in +the abdomen and a rifle bullet had grazed his cheek. His last words +had been a fervent expression of joy over the relief brought by his +father and the knowledge that the position would not be taken by the +Russians. He had died as simply as a child, without regret, and +utterly happy. I took the orderly with me, asking him to carry all the +belongings of the young officer with him in order to transmit them to +his father. + +When I returned with the orderly, the brigadier was issuing orders to +his officers and conferring with them about the military situation. He +saw me come, yet not a muscle moved in his face, nor did he +interrupt his conversation. I was overwhelmed by the power this +man showed at that minute, and admit I had not the courage to +break the news to him, but it was unnecessary, for he understood. +The faithful orderly stepped forward, as I had bidden him, presenting +to the old man the pocketbook and small articles that belonged to +his son. While he did so he broke forth into sobs, lamenting aloud +the loss of his beloved lieutenant, yet not a muscle moved in the +face of the father. He took my report, nodded curtly, dismissed me +without a word, and turned back to his ordnance officers, resuming +the conversation. + +I assumed the command of my platoon which in the mean time had +been assigned to do some outpost duty under the command of the +sergeant. I inquired about their position and went out to join them. +About midnight we were relieved, and when marching back, passed +the place where the tent of the brigadier had been erected. I saw a +dark figure lying on the floor, seemingly in deep sleep, and ordering +my men to march on I crept silently forward. Then I saw that his +shoulders were convulsively shaking and I knew that the mask of +iron had fallen at last. The night was chilly so I entered his tent in +search of his overcoat and laid it around his shoulders. He never +noticed it. The next morning when I saw him his face was as +immovable as it had been the night before, but he seemed to have +aged by many years. + +The next day was a comparatively restful one. We fortified the +entrenchments which we had taken, and as our battle lines were +extended to the right, from being the extreme right we became +almost the center of the new position which extended for perhaps +ten miles from northwest to southeast about eighteen miles south of +Lemberg. + +The next few days were given to repairs, provisioning, and resting, +with occasional small skirmishes and shifting of positions. Then one +night a scouting aeroplane brought news of a forward movement of +about five Russian army corps, which seemed to push in the +direction of our center. Against this force we could muster only +about two army corps, but our strategical position seemed a very +good one, both the extreme flanks of our army being protected by +large and impassable swamps. Evidently the Russians had realized +the impossibility of turning our flanks and were endeavoring to +pierce our center by means of a vigorous frontal attack, relying upon +their great superiority in numbers. Every preparation had been +made to meet the onslaught during the night. Our trenches had +been strengthened, the artillery had been brought into position, +cleverly masked by means of transplanted bushes, the field in front +of us had been cleared of objects obstructing the view, and the +sappers had been feverishly busy constructing formidable +barbed-wire entanglements and carefully measuring the shooting +distances, marking the different ranges by bundles of hay or other +innocent-looking objects, which were placed here and there in the +field. + +At nine o'clock in the morning everything was ready to receive the +enemy, the men taking a short and well-deserved rest in their +trenches, while we officers were called to the colonel, who +acquainted us with the general situation, and, giving his orders, +addressed us in a short, business-like way, appealing to our sense +of duty and expressing his firm belief in our victory. We all knew that +his martial attitude and abrupt manner were a mask to hide his inner +self, full of throbbing emotion and tender solicitude for his +subordinates, and we returned to our trenches deeply moved. + +The camp was absolutely quiet, the only movements noticeable +being around the field kitchens in the rear, which were being +removed from the battle line. A half hour later any casual observer, +glancing over the deserted fields might have laughed at the +intimation that the earth around him was harboring thousands of +men armed to their teeth, and that pandemonium of hell would +break loose within an hour. Barely a sound was audible, and a hush +of expectancy descended upon us. I looked around at my men in +the trench; some were quietly asleep, some writing letters, others +conversed in subdued and hushed tones. Every face I saw bore +the unmistakable stamp of the feeling so characteristic of the last +hour before a battle,--that curious mixture of solemn dignity, grave +responsibility, and suppressed emotion, with an undercurrent of sad +resignation. They were pondering over their possible fate, or +perhaps dreaming of their dear ones at home. + +By and by even the little conversation ceased, and they sat quite +silent, waiting and waiting, perhaps awed by their own silence. +Sometimes one would bravely try to crack a joke, and they laughed, +but it sounded strained. They were plainly nervous, these brave +men that fought like lions in the open when led to an attack, +heedless of danger and destruction. They felt under a cloud in the +security of the trenches, and they were conscious of it and +ashamed. Sometimes my faithful orderly would turn his eye on me, +mute, as if in quest of an explanation of his own feeling. Poor dear +unsophisticated boy! I was as nervous as they all were, although +trying my best to look unconcerned; but I knew that the hush that +hovered around us like a dark cloud would give way like magic to +wild enthusiasm as soon as the first shot broke the spell and the +exultation of the battle took hold of us all. + +Suddenly, at about ten o'clock, a dull thud sounded somewhere far +away from us, and simultaneously we saw a small white round cloud +about half a mile ahead of us where the shrapnel had exploded. +The battle had begun. Other shots followed shortly, exploding here +and there, but doing no harm. The Russian gunners evidently were +trying to locate and draw an answer from our batteries. These, +however, remained mute, not caring to reveal their position. For a +long time the Russians fired at random, mostly at too short a range +to do any harm, but slowly the harmless-looking white clouds came +nearer, until a shell, whining as it whizzed past us, burst about a +hundred yards behind our trench. A second shell followed, +exploding almost at the same place. At the same time, we noticed a +faint spinning noise above us. Soaring high above our position, +looking like a speck in the firmament, flew a Russian aeroplane, +watching the effect of the shells and presumably directing the fire of +the Russian artillery. This explained its sudden accuracy. One of +our aeroplanes rose, giving chase to the enemy, and simultaneously our +batteries got into action. The Russians kept up a sharply +concentrated, well-directed fire against our center, our gunners +responding gallantly, and the spirited artillery duel which ensued +grew in intensity until the entrails of the earth seemed fairly to +shake with the thunder. + +By one o'clock the incessant roaring, crashing, and splintering of +bursting shells had become almost unendurable to our nerves, +which were already strained to the snapping-point by the lack of +action and the expectancy. Suddenly there appeared a thin dark +line on the horizon which moved rapidly towards us, looking not +unlike a huge running bird with immense outstretched wings. We +looked through our field glasses; there could be no doubt,--it was +Russian cavalry, swooping down upon us with incredible impetus +and swiftness. I quickly glanced at our colonel. He stared +open-mouthed. This was, indeed, good fortune for us,--too good to +believe. No cavalry attack could stand before well-disciplined +infantry, providing the latter keep cool and well composed, calmly +waiting until the riders come sufficiently close to take sure aim. + +There was action for us at last. At a sharp word of command, our +men scrambled out of the trenches for better view and aim, shouting +with joy as they did so. What a change had come over us all! My +heart beat with wild exultation. I glanced at my men. They were all +eagerness and determination, hand at the trigger, eyes on the +approaching enemy, every muscle strained, yet calm, their bronzed +faces hardened into immobility, waiting for the command to fire. +Every subaltern officer's eye hung on our colonel, who stood about +thirty yards ahead of us on a little hill, his figure well defined in the +sunlight, motionless, the very picture of calm assurance and proud +bearing. He scanned the horizon with his glasses. Shrapnel was +hailing around him, but he seemed utterly unaware of it; for that +matter we had all forgotten it, though it kept up its terrible uproar, +spitting here and there destruction into our midst. + +By this time the avalanche of tramping horses had come perceptibly +nearer. Soon they would sweep by the bundle of hay which marked +the carefully measured range within which our fire was terribly +effective. Suddenly the mad stampede came to an abrupt standstill, +and then the Cossacks scattered precipitately to the right and left, +only to disclose in their rear the advancing Russian infantry, the +movements of which it had been their endeavor to veil. + +The infantry moved forward in loose lines, endlessly rolling on like +shallow waves overtaking each other, one line running forward, then +suddenly disappearing by throwing itself down and opening fire on +us to cover the advance of the other line, and so on, while their +artillery kept up a hellish uproar spreading destruction through our +lines. Simultaneously a Russian aeroplane swept down upon us +with a noise like an angered bird of prey and pelted us with bombs, +the effects of which, however, were more moral than actual, for we +had regained the security of the trenches and opened fire on the +approaching enemy, who in spite of heavy losses advanced steadily +until he reached our wire entanglements. There he was greeted by +a deadly fire from our machine guns. The first Russian lines were +mowed down as if by a gigantic scythe, and so were the reserves as +they tried to advance. The first attack had collapsed. After a short +time, however, they came on again, this time more cautiously, +armed with nippers to cut the barbed wire and using the bodies of +their own fallen comrades as a rampart. Again they were repulsed. +Once more their cavalry executed a feigned attack under cover of +which the Russian infantry rallied, strongly reinforced by reserves, +and more determined than ever. + +Supported by heavy artillery fire their lines rolled endlessly on and +hurled themselves against the barbed-wire fences. For a short time +it almost seemed, as if they would break through by sheer weight of +numbers. At that critical moment, however, our reserves +succeeded in executing a flanking movement. Surprised and +caught in a deadly cross-fire, the Russian line wavered and finally +they fled in disorder. + +All these combined artillery, infantry, cavalry, and aeroplane attacks +had utterly failed in their object of dislodging our center or shaking +its position, each one being frustrated by the resourceful, cool +alertness of our commanding general and the splendid heroism and +stoicism of our troops. But the strain of the continuous fighting for +nearly the whole day without respite of any kind, or chance for food +or rest, in the end told on the power of endurance of our men, and +when the last attack had been successfully repulsed they lay mostly +prostrated on the ground, panting and exhausted. Our losses had +been very considerable too, stretcher-bearers being busy +administering first aid and carrying the wounded back to the nearest +field hospital, while many a brave man lay stark and still. + +By eight o'clock it had grown perceptibly cooler. We now had time +to collect our impressions and look about us. The Russians had left +many dead on the field, and at the barbed-wire entanglements +which our sappers had constructed as an obstacle to their advance, +their bodies lay heaped upon each other, looking not unlike the +more innocent bundles of hay lying in the field. We could see the +small Red Cross parties in the field climbing over the horribly +grotesque tumuli of bodies, trying to disentangle the wounded from +the dead and administer first aid to them. + +Enthusiasm seemed suddenly to disappear before this terrible +spectacle. Life that only a few hours before had glowed with +enthusiasm and exultation, suddenly paled and sickened. The +silence of the night was interrupted only by the low moaning of the +wounded that came regularly to us. It was hideous in its terrible +monotony. The moon had risen, throwing fantastic lights and +shadows over the desolate landscape and the heaped-up dead. +These grotesque piles of human bodies seemed like a monstrous +sacrificial offering immolated on the altar of some fiendishly cruel, +antique deity. I felt faint and sick at heart and near swooning away. +I lay on the floor for some time unconscious of what was going on +around me, in a sort of stupor, utterly crushed over the horrors +about me. I do not know how long I had lain there, perhaps ten +minutes, perhaps half an hour, when suddenly I heard a gruff, deep +voice behind me--the brigadier, who had come around to inspect +and to give orders about the outposts. His calm, quiet voice +brought me to my senses and I reported to him. His self-assurance, +kindness, and determination dominated the situation. Within five +minutes he had restored confidence, giving definite orders for the +welfare of every one, man and beast alike, showing his solicitude for +the wounded, for the sick and weak ones, and mingling praise and +admonition in just measure. As by magic I felt fortified. Here was a +real man undaunted by nervous qualms or by over-sensitiveness. +The horrors of the war were distasteful to him, but he bore them with +equanimity. It was, perhaps, the first time in my life that I regretted +that my artistic education had over-sharpened and overstrung my +nervous system, when I saw how manfully and bravely that man +bore what seemed to me almost unbearable. His whole machinery +of thinking was not complicated and not for a moment did qualms of +"Weltschmerz" or exaggerated altruism burden his conscience and +interfere with his straight line of conduct which was wholly +determined by duty and code of honor. In his private life he was an +unusually kind man. His solicitude for his subordinates, for +prisoners, and for the wounded was touching, yet he saw the +horrors of the war unflinchingly and without weakening, for were +they not the consequences of the devotion of men to their cause? +The whole thing seemed quite natural to him. The man was clearly +in his element and dominated it. + +After having inspected the outposts, I went back, bedded myself in a +soft sand-heap, covered myself up, and was soon fast and +peacefully asleep. During the night the dew moistened the sand, +and when I awoke in the morning I found myself encased in a +plastering which could not be removed for days. + + + +III + + + +Our hopes of getting a little rest and respite from the fighting were +soon shattered, for a scouting aeroplane brought news that the +Russians were again advancing in overwhelming strength. Our +commanding general, coming to the conclusion that with the +reduced and weakened forces at his command he could not +possibly offer any effective resistance to a renewed onslaught, had +determined to fall back slowly before their pressure. The +consequence was a series of retreating battles for us, which lasted +about ten days and which constituted what is now called the battle +of Lemberg. + +We were then terribly outnumbered by the Russians, and in order to +extricate our army and prevent it from being surrounded and cut off, +we constantly had to retreat, one detachment taking up positions to +resist the advancing Russians, trying to hold them at all costs in +order to give the rest of the army sufficient time to retire to safety. +This maneuvering could not, of course, be carried out without the +forces guarding the rear and covering the retreat suffering +sometimes terrible losses. + +These were depressing days, with rain and storm adding to the +gloom. The men tramped wearily, hanging their heads, ashamed +and humiliated by the retreat, the necessity of which they could not +grasp, having, as they thought, successfully repulsed the enemy. It +was difficult to make them understand that our regiment was only a +cog in the huge wheel of the Austrian fighting machine and that, with +a battle line extending over many miles, it was quite natural that +partial successes could take place and yet the consideration of +general strategy necessitate a retreat. Our arguing made little +impression on the men; for they only shook their heads and said, +"We were victorious, we should have gone on." + +The spirit of retreating troops is vastly different from that shown +by an advancing army, and it was probably in recognition of this +well-known psychological state that our general staff had in the +beginning attacked the Russians wherever they could, in spite of the +overwhelming superiority of the foe, but the reinforcements the +Russians were able to draw upon had swelled their ranks so +enormously that any attack would have been little short of madness. + +The real hardships and privations for us began only now. The few +roads of Galicia, which at best are in bad condition, through the +constant passing of heavy artillery and wagons of all kinds following +each other in endless procession through constant rains, had +become well-nigh impassable, the heavy mud constituting an +additional impediment to the marching of troops. In order to get all +of the train carrying provisions out of the possible reach of a sudden +raid by the Russian cavalry, it had to be sent miles back of us, so as +not to interfere with the movement of the troops. This caused +somewhat of an interruption in the organization of the commissary +department and very little food reached the troops, and that only at +very long intervals. + +The distribution of food to an army, even in peace and under the +best conditions, is a very complicated and difficult undertaking. +Provisions are shipped from the interior to the important railway +centers, which serve as huge army depots and form the basis from +which the different army corps draw their provisions and from which +they are constantly replenished. They in turn supply the divisions +and brigades wherefrom the regiments and battalions draw their +provisions. So it is seen that the great aorta which leads from the +interior to the big depots slowly subdivides itself into smaller arteries +and feeders until they reach the ultimate destination, the extreme +front. + +This distribution of food had now become a formidable task, in +consequence of the unforeseen movements and diversions which +were forced upon us by the unexpected developments of the battle; +and it often happened that food supplies intended for a certain +detachment would reach their destination only after the departure of +that detachment. + +My platoon had by this time shrunk from fifty-five men to about +thirty-four, but those remaining had become very hardened, +efficient, and fit. It is astonishing how quickly the human organism +adjusts itself, if need be, to the most difficult circumstances. So far +as I was concerned, for instance, I adapted myself to the new life +without any trouble at all, responding to the unusual demands upon +me automatically, as it were. My rather impaired eyesight improved +in the open, with only wide distances to look at. I found that my +muscles served me better than ever before. I leaped and ran and +supported fatigue that would have appalled me under other +circumstances. In the field all neurotic symptoms seem to +disappear as by magic, and one's whole system is charged with +energy and vitality. Perhaps this is due to the open-air life with its +simplified standards, freed from all the complex exigencies of +society's laws, and unhampered by conventionalities, as well as to +the constant throb of excitement, caused by the activity, the +adventure, and the uncertainty of fate. + +The very massing together of so many individuals, with every will +merged into one that strives with gigantic effort toward a common +end, and the consequent simplicity and directness of all purpose, +seem to release and unhinge all the primitive, aboriginal forces +stored in the human soul, and tend to create the indescribable +atmosphere of exultation which envelopes everything and +everybody as with a magic cloak. + +It is extraordinary how quickly suggestions of luxury, culture, +refinement, in fact all the gentler aspects of life, which one had +considered to be an integral part of one's life are quickly forgotten, +and, more than that, not even missed. Centuries drop from one, +and one becomes a primeval man, nearing the cave-dweller in an +incredibly short time. For twenty-one days I went without taking off +my clothes, sleeping on wet grass or in mud, or in the swamps, +wherever need be, and with nothing but my cape to cover me. +Nothing disturbs one. One night, while sleeping, we were drenched +to the skin by torrential rains. We never stirred, but waited for the +sun to dry us out again. Many things considered necessities of +civilization simply drop out of existence. A toothbrush was not +imaginable. We ate instinctively, when we had food, with our hands. +If we had stopped to think of it at all, we should have thought it +ludicrous to use knife and fork. + +We were all looking like shaggy, lean wolves, from the necessity of +subsisting on next to nothing. I remember having gone for more +than three days at a time without any food whatsoever, and many a +time we had to lick the dew from the grass for want of water. A +certain fierceness arises in you, an absolute indifference to anything +the world holds except your duty of fighting. You are eating a crust +of bread, and a man is shot dead in the trench next to you. You +look calmly at him for a moment, and then go on eating your bread. +Why not? There is nothing to be done. In the end you talk of your +own death with as little excitement as you would of a luncheon +engagement. There is nothing left in your mind but the fact that +hordes of men to whom you belong are fighting against other +hordes, and your side must win. + +My memory of these days is very much blurred, every day being +pretty nearly the same as the preceding one,--fatiguing marches, +little rest and comparatively little fighting. + +It is quite possible that our commander tried to divide the work of the +troops in a just manner, and that in consequence of my regiment +having borne the brunt of two terrible attacks, and having suffered +considerable loss, we were now temporarily withdrawn from the +fighting line, and not once during these days were assigned to the +duty of a rear guard. Consequently we had only few and +unimportant skirmishes in these days, twice while guarding the flank +through having to repulse attacks of Cossacks, and once being +harassed by an armored automobile. But the movements of an +automobile being confined to the road, we had no difficulty in +avoiding its fire, and as for the Cossacks with their eternal feigned +attacks, we had reached the point where we almost ignored them. + +We were in the first days of September, and upon reaching the +swamps near Grodeck, south of Lemberg, a determined stand was +decided upon by our commanding general. It seemed the most +propitious place for a formidable defense, there being only few +roads through otherwise impassable swamps. On September sixth +my battalion was ordered to take up a position commanding a defile +which formed one of the possible approaches for the enemy. Here +we awaited the Russians, and they were not long in coming. First +they violently shelled our position and silenced one of our batteries. +Finding their artillery fire did not draw any answer from our side, they +attempted to storm our position by means of frontal infantry attacks, +combined with occasional raids of Cossacks, which were always +repulsed. Finally the Russian infantry succeeded in establishing a +number of trenches, the one opposite us not more than five +hundred yards away. It was the first time we had come in close +touch with the Russians, almost within hailing distance, and with the +aid of our field glasses we could occasionally even get a glimpse of +their faces and recognize their features. We stayed four days +opposite each other, neither side gaining a foot of ground. + +It was there and then that I made a curious observation. After the +second day we had almost grown to know each other. The Russians would +laughingly call over to us, and the Austrians would answer. The +salient feature of these three days' fighting was the extraordinary +lack of hatred. In fact, it is astonishing how little actual hatred +exists between fighting men. One fights fiercely and passionately, +mass against mass, but as soon as the mass crystallizes itself into +human individuals whose features one actually can recognize, hatred +almost ceases. Of course, fighting continues, but somehow it loses +its fierceness and takes more the form of a sport, each side being +eager to get the best of the other. One still shoots at his opponent, +but almost regrets when he sees him drop. + +By the morning of the third day we knew nearly every member of the +opposing trench, the favorite of my men being a giant red-bearded +Russian whose constant pastime consisted in jumping like a +Jack-in-the-box from the trench, crying over to us as he did so. He +was frequently shot at, but never hit. Then he grew bolder, showing +himself longer and longer, until finally he jumped out of the trench +altogether, shouting to us wildly and waving his cap. His +good-humored jollity and bravado appealed to our boys and none of them +attempted to shoot at him while he presented such a splendid target. +Finally one of our men, who did not want to be second in bravery, +jumped out of the trench and presented himself in the full sunlight. +Not one attempt was made to shoot at him either, and these two men +began to gesticulate at each other, inviting each other to come +nearer. All fighting had suddenly ceased, and both opposing parties +were looking on, laughing like boys at play. Finally the Russian +would draw a step nearer, and our man boldly advanced too. Then the +Russians urged on their man with shouts and laughter, and he made a +big leap forward, standing still, whereupon the Austrian also jumped +forward, and so, step by step, they approached until they nearly +touched each other. They had left their rifles behind, and we thought +that they were going to indulge in a fist fight, all of us being sorry +for our champion, for he was a small and insignificant-looking man who +looked as if he could be crushed with one blow by his gigantic +opponent. But lo, and behold! The big Russian held out his hand which +held a package of tobacco and our Austrian, seizing the tobacco, +grasped the hand of the Russian, and then reaching in his pocket +produced a long Austrian cigar, which he ceremoniously presented to +the Russian. It was indeed a funny sight to see the small, wiry, lean +Austrian talking in exaggerated terms of politeness to the blond +Russian giant, who listened gravely and attentively, as if he +understood every word. + +By this time all precautions and even ideas of fighting had been +forgotten, and we were surprised to find ourselves out of the shelter +of our trenches and fully exposed to the Russians, who, in turn, +leaned out of their own trenches and showed their heads in full. +This unofficial truce had lasted about twenty minutes, and +succeeded more in restoring good humor and joy of life among our +soldiers than a trainload of provisions would have done. It was one +of the incidents that helped to relieve the monotony of trench life +and was heartily welcomed by all of us. The fighting, however, soon +was resumed with all its earnestness and fierceness, but from this +moment on a certain camaraderie was established between the two +opposing trenches. Between skirmishes an unofficial truce would +frequently be called for the purpose of removing the wounded. +During these times when the stretcher-bearers were busy, no shot +would be fired on either side. + +Nor was this an isolated case, for similar intermittent truces, +sometimes accompanied by actual intercourse between the +opposing forces, were quite common all along the battle line. That +very night I was hurriedly summoned to the trenches of the 13th +Company, about half a mile east of us, in order to act as an +interpreter between the major commanding that battalion and two +singular guests he had just received, a Russian officer and his +orderly. The pair, carrying a white flag, had hailed one of the +numerous Austrian outposts placed during the night, in front of the +trenches, and had been sent blindfolded back to the major. The +Russian officer spoke only broken French. He commanded one of +the opposing trenches, and from his narrative it appeared that his +men had not received any food supplies for some days and were +actually on the point of starvation. Not being able to stand their +misery any longer, he had taken the bull by the horns and, with the +utter confidence and straightforwardness of a fearless nature, had +simply come over to us, the enemy, for help, offering a little barrel of +water which his companion carried on his head and a little tobacco, +in exchange for some provisions. The major seemed at first, +perhaps, a little perplexed and undecided about this singular +request, but his generous nature and chivalry soon asserted itself. +One single look at the emaciated and worn faces of our guests +sufficiently substantiated the truth of their story, for both men were +utterly exhausted and on the verge of collapse. The next minute +messengers were flying to the different trenches of the battalion to +solicit and collect contributions, and the officers scrambled over +each other in their noble contest to deplete their own last and +cherished reserves for the supper of the guests. Soon the latter +were seated as comfortably as circumstances permitted before a +feast of canned beef, cheese, biscuits, and a slice of salami, my +own proud contribution consisting of two tablets of chocolate, part of +a precious reserve for extreme cases. It was a strange sight to see +these two Russians in an Austrian trench, surrounded by cordiality +and tender solicitude. The big brotherhood of humanity had for the +time enveloped friend and foe, stamping out all hatred and racial +differences. It is wonderful how the most tender flowers of +civilization can go hand in hand with the most brutal atrocities of +grim modern warfare. + +In the mean while the messengers had returned almost staggering +under the weight of a sack filled with the gifts of our soldiers to the +enemy,--pieces of bread and biscuits with here and there a slice of +bacon or a lump of cheese, all thrown pele-mele together. Many a +man must have parted with his last piece of bread in order not to be +outdone by the others in generosity, for our own provisions were +running very low. It is true that the bread and biscuits were +mildewed, the cheese stale, and the bacon as hard as stone, but +the boys gave the best they could, the very poverty and +humbleness of the gifts attesting their own desperate plight, and +bearing proud witness to the extent of their sacrifice. With tears in +their eyes and reiterated protestations of thanks, our guests +staggered back through the night to their lines, undoubtedly carrying +with them tender memories of Austrian generosity and hospitality. + +On the morning of the next day a Russian detachment succeeded in +storming a hill on our flank, commanding the strip of space between +ourselves and our reserves in the rear, thus cutting us off from our +main body. They established there a machine-gun battery, and, +although we were under cover in our trench, we were now in a very +precarious position, for no more provisions or ammunition could +reach us, all attempts to do so breaking down under a terrific +machine-gun fire, but we had orders to hold our position at all cost +and to the last man. Unfortunately our ammunition was giving out, +in spite of our husbanding it as much as possible and shooting only +when we had a sure target. The Russians soon found that each +shot meant a victim and took no chances on showing even the tips +of their caps. Neither could we move the least bit without being the +target for a volley from their side. Up to this day I cannot +understand why they did not try to rush us, but apparently they were +unaware of our comparative weakness. + +Also for another reason our position had become more and more +untenable. We were on swampy ground and the water was +constantly oozing in from the bottom of the trench, so that we +sometimes had to stand nearly knee-deep and were forced to bail +the water out with our caps. It is difficult to imagine a more +deplorable situation than to have to stay for four days in a foul +trench, half filled with swamp water, constantly exposed to the +destructive fire of the enemy, utterly isolated and hopeless. + +Soon we were completely without any food or water and our +ammunition was almost exhausted. During the night, here and +there daring men would rush through the space swept by the +Russian gun fire, which was kept up constantly, trying to bring us +what scanty supplies they could procure from neighboring trenches +better provided than we were, but the little they brought was nothing +compared to our needs. + +On the evening of that third day, knowing that our ammunition was +giving out, we felt that the next day would bring the end, and all our +thoughts turned homewards and to the dear ones. We all wrote +what we considered our parting and last farewell, each one pledging +himself to deliver and take care of the letters of the others if he +survived. It was a grave, sad, deeply touching moment, when we +resigned ourselves to the inevitable, and yet somehow we all felt +relieved and satisfied that the end might come and grimly resolved +to sell our lives dearly. + +Never before had I as much reason to admire the wonderful power +of endurance and stoicism of our soldiers as on that night. Once +resigned to the worst, all the old-time spirit returned, as if by magic. +They sat together playing cards in as much moonlight as would fall +into the deep trench, relating jokes and bolstering up one another's +courage. + +The fourth day broke gloomy, with a drizzling rain. At ten o'clock +one of our men became suddenly insane, jumped out of the trench, +danced wildly and divested himself of every stitch of clothing while +doing so. Strange to say, the Russians must have realized that the +man was insane, for they never fired at him, neither did they at the +two men who jumped out to draw him back. We succeeded in +comforting and subduing him, and he soon fell into a stupor and +remained motionless for some time. As soon as darkness fell we +succeeded in conveying him back to the reserves and I understand +that he got quite well again in a few days. + +At five o'clock that afternoon we suddenly received orders through a +running messenger, who was braving the incessant machine-gun +fire, that our positions were about to be abandoned and that we +were to evacuate our trench under the cover of darkness, at eleven +o'clock. I cannot but confess that we all breathed more freely on the +receipt of that information, but unfortunately the purpose could not +be carried out. The Russians by this time evidently had realized our +comparatively defenseless condition and utter lack of ammunition, +for that same night we heard two shots ring out, being a signal from +our sentinels that they were surprised and that danger was near. I +hardly had time to draw my sword, to grasp my revolver with my left +hand and issue a command to my men to hold their bayonets in +readiness, when we heard a tramping of horses and saw dark +figures swooping down upon us. For once the Cossacks actually +carried out their attack, undoubtedly owing to their intimate +knowledge of our lack of ammunition. My next sensation was a +crushing pain in my shoulder, struck by the hoof of a horse, and a +sharp knife pain in my right thigh. I fired with my revolver at the +hazy figure above me, saw it topple over and then lost +consciousness. + +This happened, to the best of my recollection, at about half past ten +at night. Upon coming to my senses I found my faithful orderly, +kneeling in the trench by my side. He fairly shouted with delight as I +opened my eyes. According to his story the Austrians, falling back +under the cavalry charge, had evacuated the trench without +noticing, in the darkness, that I was missing. But soon discovering +my absence he started back to the trench in search of me. It was a +perilous undertaking for him, for the Cossacks were still riding about, +and he showed me with pride the place where a stray bullet had +perforated his knapsack during the search. He revived me, gave +me first aid, and succeeded with great difficulty in helping me out of +the trench. For more than three hours we stumbled on in the night, +trying to find our lines again. Twice we encountered a small troop of +Cossacks, but upon hearing the tramping we quietly lay down on the +wayside without a motion until they had passed. Happily we were +not noticed by them, and from then we stumbled on without any +further incident until we were hailed by an Austrian outpost and in +safety. + +By this time I was utterly exhausted and again lost consciousness. +When I opened my eyes, I was in a little hut where our ambulance +gave first aid. Therefrom I was transported to the nearest field +hospital. This, however, had to be broken up and the wounded +removed because of the Russian advance. We were hastily put on +big ambulance wagons without springs, the jolting of which over the +bad road caused us such suffering that we should have almost +preferred to walk or crawl. We tried to reach the railway station at +Komarno but found a Russian detachment had intercepted us. In +the streets of the village a shell burst almost in front of our wagons, +making the horses shy and causing a great deal of confusion. We +had to turn back and after a long and wearisome detour reached +our destination, the troop hospital in Sambor, in a state of great +exhaustion. There I remained but a day. The less seriously +wounded had to make place for the graver cases, and being among +the former, I was transferred by hospital train to Miscolcy in +Hungary. The same crowded conditions prevailed here as in +Sambor, and after a night's rest I again was put on board a Red +Cross train en route to Vienna. We were met at the station by a +number of Red Cross nurses and assistant doctors. + +To my great joy my wife was among the former, having been +assigned to that particular duty. A short official telegram to the +effect that I was being sent home wounded on hospital train Number +16 was the first news she had received about me for fully four +weeks. None of my field postcards had arrived and she was +suffering extreme nervous strain from the long anxiety and +suspense, which she had tried in vain to numb by feverish work in +her hospital. I remained two weeks in Vienna and then was +transferred to the sulphur bath of Baden near-by, where large +hospitals had been established to relieve the overcrowding of +Vienna. There I remained until the first of November when I was +ordered to appear before a mixed commission of army surgeons +and senior officers, for a medical examination. Two weeks later I +received formal intimation that I had been pronounced invalid and +physically unfit for army duty at the front or at home, and +consequently was exempted from further service. My military +experience ended there, and with deep regret I bade good-bye to +my loyal brother officers, comrades, and faithful orderly, and +discarded my well-beloved uniform for the nondescript garb of the +civilian, grateful that I had been permitted to be of any, if ever so +little, service to my Fatherland. + + +The End + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Four Weeks in the Trenches, by Fritz Kreisler + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOUR WEEKS IN THE TRENCHES *** + +***** This file should be named 10967.txt or 10967.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/6/10967/ + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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