The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-03
OCTOBER 8, 1903.

muskets In the russell underbush. We
were at this time apparently holding our
own, but the "Unspeakable Turk" as
! found out afterwards, Is a willy, un-
known quantity. We were certainly doing
very well, for the battery serving under
cover of the wood now came boldly out
on to the plateau, unlimbered, and blazed
away over the heads Of our deploying in
fantry who were just emerging into the
open.
l never felt more angry than at this
moment. The little mound I was comfort
ably seated on seemed in a minute
perfect hell Of bursting projectiles The
Turks had been dropping shells on the
plateau all the morning to warn our in
fantry coming that way. They now evil
IDENTIFY thought that this plucky little
battery was about to cover an advance
from behind the mound as we'll as thru
| the wood, SO they LANDED away with
their Krupps at my position, and was
| the innocent sufferer. I felt like the
ordinary sightseer on an Aldershot field
day between advancing cavalry and retir-
ing infantry. and, as they say across the
Atlantic, fairly rattled:'' So uncertain
was regarding my movements that I
sat down, lit my pipe, and tried to think
of other things.
Our guns, finding things too warm, had
left In hurry, forgetting two dark dots
lying In the muddy ooze where the limbers
| had stood. It was a brave little ven
ture and few casualties, thought I, as
watched the remainder Of the batteries
gallop1ng away; when presently one Of the
black dots got on to it's knees, then stood
up in dazed sort of way, and, on see
Ing me, slowly approached. He was hold
| ing out his left hand by the wrist with
his right. I discovered that the palm
of the injured hand had been ploughed
by a fragment Of shell, and was clot Of
torn flesh and mud. The man looked
very white and frightened, but, as I had
placed it In his mouth. That seemed to
| comfort him.
A loud cheer now drew my attention to
the wood. There was great commoton
among the reserves they scrambled to
their feet. whats this?' thought L.
| THE reserves are about to advance" It
was long past 10 o'clock. What had be-
yet evidently, or we should not have
drawn on this our last sorry resource. It
was the last throw Of the dice Oh, how
I pitied those poor creatures, absolutely
driven like lambs to the slaughter! With
loud shouts and yells the picturesque
shirted and trousered fellows dashed on
ward. Yes-No. They were dashing on
ward but not forward, for firing off thei1
muzzleloaders in various directions they
resolved probably, if better armed, tc
fight another day, and came tearing back
across the plateau. They saw more thar
I did from my position, for was Still
sitting on the rock when Forbes gallopec
up shouting: Don't play the fool toe
long on that mound! The Turks are be-
hind that lott
Sure enough the weird cry Of "Allah, I
Allah!'' mingled with the frightened vel
of the retreating reservists.
Graf Keller, by some ill-luck had spoil
the business that day by not turning up il
, time to support our advance. It was nov
only noon. but the day was lost. We hat
to retire the way we came, and the arm!
took remarkably less time in retiring thai
! advancing. Being all down hill nigh
: have been one reason. Any way, it was
). nasty business. The ambulance wagon
blocked the road for hours with their sui
= fering occupants, while their more fortu
= nate brethren who were slightly Wounds
slipped over the fields, between the zig
gags Of the roads, to the British ambu
= lance station at the old bivouac.
Luckily, the Turks did not follow up tn
I retreat. but this lack Of energy on thei
: part surprised Forbes and others as we
n as myself. We were even more aston
= ished when the pasha showed the sam
6 want of dash on the famous retreat Of tn
t. Russians from Plevna on July 81 in tn
It following year. It was lucky for me tina
e Osman took his siesta and coffee after tn
: fight that afternoon, or probably I Nigh
d never have written this little bit of his
Y tory.
: The rain clouds had cleared and the SUI
d shone brightly over the CHASTITY plight
[r that retreatfng army. I was walking be
d side an open cart with three men In