The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-11
The Goose Armistice.

In the tactics formerly in use in the italian
army the order "Fdcci0 feroceg" had an i'm
portant place, says the Youths Companion.
II signihed Look fierce" and when it was
given the men put on a studied air of the most
implacable ferocity. In modern warfare it is
no longer customary for soldiers 70 "do the
ferocious" to soldiers on the other side. It is
not unusual TO see them conducting themselves
very much as IL they had q brotnerly feeling to-
ward their enemies and as il they we're instinct
lively conscious of the absurdity Of warfare.
Cases OF this sort in which pickets exchanged
salutations. gossip and coffee and tobacco, were
quite tamlLar during the civil war in this coun-
try and they were even more common, proba-
bly,, during the Crimean war between French
and Russian soldiers, who had no sort of enmity
toward each other, but were fighting simply be-
cause they had been ordered to do so
A work by the French General Herbe, entitled
French and Russians in the Crimea, relates
several anecdotes bearing on this point One OF
these tells the story OF the ''armistice Of the
wild goose"
One morning Gen. Herbe, who was then
captain, was in the trenches. A sharp musketry
fre was being carried on between the French
and the Russians. In the midst of it flock Of
Wild geese, apparently confused by the tumult,
new down between the opposing lines. and
veered close TO the Russian intrenchments.
some OF the Russian soldiers ceased their
EunAng for their fellow men, and began TO fire
az the geese; but not one Of the birds were hit.
They then flew toward the French position.
A young French lieutenant, Outlet by name.
TOOK rifle from a soldiers hands, fired and
brought down q goose, which waVered aud fell
not more than fifteen PAGES from the Russian
trenches.
Al once shout arose from the Russian in
trenchmeut, Bono Frances! Bono Frances"
Coed for the Frenchmsn "Hurrah! Hur-
rsh"
Lieut.. Outlet wanted the goose which he had
shot, but 1t would be certain death to undertake
TO get It. However, he had an inspiration.
He went TO bis captain. and asked his per-
mission TO 60 and get his game.
And be shot like goose yourselfS" said the
captain.
''Well. SIR" said the lieutenant, you saw
that they didn't hit the goose, and perhaps they
wouldn' { have any better luck with me. But
think they wouldn't shoot me-"
We'll, go ahead II you can manage it."
The lieutenant took ranrod, tied his hand
kerchief to its end, and held it up above the
rampant. Then, rising up into view himself, he
shouted, Bono MOScOUesi Bono MoscOUesh
Presently handkerchief on a rsmrod ap-
peared above the Russian intrenchnent. and
the French heard one Of the Russian officers
call out:
Bono Frances Armistice agreedr
The lieutenant then stepped boldly out into
the space between the armies walked to the
very foot OF the Russian rampant picked uph his
wild goose, made profound bow to his "ene-
mics, 3" and went back to his own intrencn-
ments.
During all this time not shot was fired from
either line within the distance commanding the
space, but as soon as Outlet had got under shell
Ter the murderous fire was redoubled.