Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-31

grees the sam day. entered the military
school In the same year and received our
commissions In the same regiment.
Short. fair and almost beardless. young
GOjeski was called lie petit Lieutenant
by the soldiers. who all idolized him.
At the battle OF Worth august s. 1S7O),
after holding our ground from 2 In the
morning till 8 In the evening. against
masses Of German troops exactly six times
as numerous as our own, we were ordered
TO charge the enemy so as to protect the
retreat OF the bulk OF the army corps. a
glance at the hill opposite convinced US
that W. had been commanded to go to GER
tain death. The colonel drew us UP In bat
tie line, picked up a Prussian helmet with
his sabre, held II high up in the air and
said to us: Forward, boys, and remem-
Der that a bullet in the back is as painful
as in the chest, and II doesn't look so nice"
Down the hill he went like the wind
through a shower Of bullets and shells. Our
colonel was the first to fall dead. Two min
utcs later about two-thirds Of the regiment
reached the top OF the opposite hill. The
rest we're on the ground. We were imme-
ditely engaged in a desperate hand-to-hand
hght-a scene OF helllsh confusion. And
there, amidst the awful din OF battle. l
htalu httI pOltbhl . utdNh-Nly OF hN ith
from his horse a few yards from me, and
I saw a horrible cash on his fair young
head. He had paid France for her hospi-
tally to his family.
I fought like a mailman. seeing nothing
but that dear mutilated face before my eyes.
l say like a madman," for It vas not
through courage and bravery. In a melee
you fight like a madman-like a savage.
W. u.N nNxuH Co. D,TauH
Poor little Pole, he had died for France.
I myself. at the age Of Il, had shed some
blood for Poland. Yes, at a..
But listen. In 1868, the Poles tried to
shake off the yoke OF Russia by force Of
arms. All young France got excited over
the struggle, and subscriptions in aid Of
the insurgents we're started in all the
French schools and colleges. I remember
collecting a good deal OF money in my
school, and I found all the boys cheerfully
ready to do. without sweets or chocolate for
a week or so in order to be able to give
a franc, so confines, or whatever they could
afford. out OF their little pocket allowance,
for a cause that all considered a righteous
one. In the eyes Of a French school boy
an instruction is always a righteous cause.
However, there was a tall, big boy, who
" Oulg lfiuotu W I've VI
money. but who declared that he hoped the
Russians would soon extermlnate all the
Poles. That was more than I could stand.
In a moment had taken off my coat. and
advancing toward him with my clenched fists
I gave him a determined Come on!"
lie was older and much stronger than l
was, and, after a few rounds, l got the
worst Of it. During the struggle he man
aged to catch hold Of my head under his
left arm and tore a piece OF flesh on my
face. I have still a little scar under my
left eye which reminds me that, at IA, l
shed my blood for the holy cause OF free
dom.
My adversary, however. was not allowed
to rest on his laurels very long. Every
boy who felt strong enough to meet him
| sent him a challenge, and life was made
SO miserable for him that, at the end OF
the quarter, his parents withdrew him
from the school