The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-21

almost unimaginably difficult But these brave
men worked away IN the sun amid the enemyo
fire Orders came to us on the hiring line IRON
centage Of men already lost Zach time such an
order came, We gathered around the recipients
the men would get as near as possible and We
would hear how we were getting on. As the day
wore away things got more exciting. Early N
Me afternoon the percentage was given OUT aS
being Just 10 O3' only 10 per cent more" was
the cry. And we returned TO our bloody work.
Al $50 L. NJ. one Colonel took his command
out. Of action, 1t had beer, in an exposed place
and had lost, as the Major S,atstician calculateds
20 8-,S7 per cent over Its share. The Colonel
asked that this surplusage. might be credited %
another regiment which also was suffering bus
Gen. Addemup ordered him back into position.
and put the Malor-Statistician under arrest, on
the ground that the figures were wrong, and that
the real loss was only % 50 per cent :! Sill havs
no stat ucian IN the army who can't do sum-.
better than that" was his answer 10 tho arrested
officer, This officer has since the war publishes
n handbook Of military statistics, folio, 800 pages.
attacking Gen. Adiemup. Ed
During the afternoon the increased percentages
came with tresome slowness: 1t seemed TO be a.
good as a life Insurance policy 10 get on the firing
line. For hours the figures hung around ,the
20 limit. Would they never get 10 the desired
height, The delay was. heart. breaking: the
enlisted men, not having the comfort Of o knowis
edge q higher mathematics 10 sustain them and
distract their minds, suffered intensely.
But at last ordeIlies and aides were seen 70 nd?
furiously from Statistical Headquarters, and
presently all too slowly II seemed, came the wei.
come order 10 withdraw, "Be quick" WAS ting
ORDER, Every man injured now Is merely wasted
And you can guess we were quick.
The army withdrawn, It became our duty 10
raise a flag Of truce and gather our losses. There
was no answer from the enemy, Were they
treacherous? Did they Intend to fire on us? Wo
could not answer the questions; but II was our
duty 10 learn the truth. SO we advanced slowly
and cautiously, and at last we learned the truth.
The Publications were deserted.
We stood astuunded; but II was true. There
was no enemy in sight Away n the distance
We could 500 the smoke Of many disappearing
trains, and when We looked toward our own army.
1t too was embarking and retiring, II was mys-
terlous. Then We came upon a letter addressed
20 The Commanding Olicer, Austrian Army.
Capturing these Works" | opened it and there
was the explanation. "Sir." the letter ran. We
have suffered the percentage Of losses called for
by our position, and retire in good order. We
congratulate you on your victory. Our percentage
Of losses is u O6, .Ol more than we are called on
10 endure. Respectfully, p d. KnowitalL Gen,
Commdg II. IS " Forces in the Field"
Soft was W" had retired our army was quite
out Of sight on its way north; and the enemy mad
retired its army was quite out Of sight on It's
way south. And we had IN hasten to ovsrtaks
our troops.
The war ended then; II was In truth a decisive
battle, hut Mother side won \ victory. Gen
Knowitall told me after peace had come again,
that his statisticlans used tie famous 'Bullef
tables Of Mortality"