The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1913-01-04
Character of the Bulgarian Sol
der Is Revealed.
One Man Tells Of Victory Over Turks
Won by PrIvates DlsobeyIns an
Order to Retreat - Soldiers
Devoted to Their Officers.

Sofia, Bulgaria.--In order to explain
the phenomenal exploits Of the Bulga-
rian armies In their battles against
the Turk in Adrianople and Macedo-
mia one must become familiar with the
character of the Bulgarian soldier,
says q correspondent. It Is but a short
time since the Balkan war began, yet
many are the incidents that have
come to light which enable one to
Judge az to the caliber of "the man
behind the gun"
Al / was passing the postofice one
day I met some twenty men in worn
out uniforms. Several had their arms
In sings, one had his head bandaged
and a couple of them limped little
joined them the moment had as
sured myself that they were wounded
soldiers apparently cured and just dis
charged from the hospital. The men
were very cheerful, but this is strik-
ing characteristic of nearly all those
who have received injuries In the re-
cent great battles.
asked II they were all wounded.
yes. all Of US, of course" answered
three of them at the same time.
Would we have left the battlefield
otherwise?" found out upon inquiry
that several had received severe bull
let wounds. Two showed me the very
bullets that had been taken from their
bodies.
"They ordered us to go home" one
of them said, "but we are good enough
for another trial with the Turk If the
king wants us!"
In one of the hospitals have a
| friend who belonged to one Of the first
regiments that took part in the en-
gagements south of Lozengrad (Kirk-
Kilisseh). Here is a little story which
he told me that is typical of the Bull
garian warrior:
Our regiment went too far into
the enemy's intrenchments when sud
denly we saw ourselves nearly sur
rounded. Our commander gave the
order to retreat. For the first time
since l have been q soldier I heard
an order from a superior that was not
obeyed. The order was repeated by
other officers, but the men showed nc
inclination to obey 1t. Suddenly 9
deafening cry of "Ooraah!' was raised
and then a platoon Of reserves led by
= lieutenant dashed ahead and shout
I'd: forward. boys! A Bulgarian sol
der knows no retreat. Ma vojs
Icharge bayonets1. Ooraah!'
I'm momer the blades on tn
Mannlicher g,j Is shone in the ligh
as the men rushed at their opponents
J who for an instant were stupefied q
the unexpectedness Of the attack. W.
were pretty sure we were going to b.
killed, for we were too few in number
. But God was good to US. The Turks
though bloodthirsty and fierce witt
} the knife, are exceedingly afraid o
Il; at any rate. they were afraid o
] our Ma vote charge. Their RICH
tanks gave way before our attack an
: after leaving a third Of our men dea
! In the field. mostly killed BY the Turl
iah rapid firers, thus remaining II
+ trenched themselves In an evacuate
. Turkish fertilization.
Il never believed could be % br'
i I'll with the knife. One does not thin
. d It when engaged In battle. A ma
never thinks Of death under these CT
4 sumstances. Our disobedience to th
: 3rders was very grave one. indee'
ut there II always an exception
8 the rule. Had We obeyed the coz
! mand to retreat our comrades back ,
|. 20 would have thought we were COY
. ards and We would have caused d
Il moralization among our own men,"
/ The other day met . wounded Of
d Ger. Greatly Interested In the war.
q requested him = tell me somethir
: about his experience. The only thin
q can tell You u ais: That We ofhcel
I'll Tar below onI soldiers In point ,