Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-12-31
FIERCE MIDNIGHT BATTLE WITH
SOLDIERS Of RUSSIA IN POLAND
Pussan Battalion Advancing to Occupy Farm Houses Finds
Cars Men Hidden Beneath Straw in Stabe-Horses of
Battery of Artillery Stampede-Lone Gunner Gets Into
Action and Drives Rus SLAMS Back Into Forest

est. Who can aim in this pitch dark
ness?
Behind the barn, the battery is just
unlimbering. The horses rear and
stampede. The riders are hanging to
the bits and some manage to swing
themselves into the saddle It is use
less. The stampede cannot be pre-
vented, and away thunders the battery
into the ink-black night All go but
one, with an empty timber. A gun
ner has loosened his caisson, opened
the box, and torn out the wicker bask-
cts holding the shells.
"HeI! Hounds" Roar.
Now he turns the muzzle of the gun
towards the forest, loads, and the
first shot booms above the din of the
rife-fire into the night The gunner
has commanded two infantrymen to
reach him the ammunition. Solid
shot, shrapnel, anything, it makes no
difference. Who can judge the dis
lance? Who can get a time fuse?
Into the barrel with it and toward
the forest where the enemy's fire is
blazing the strongest. The cannon
roars above the rattle and cracking
and swapping of rife and machine
gun. Whether he hits few or many
never mind, the Russians have
terrible respect for one of the German
"helLhounds" often and most
painfully have they bitten them
At last the evenings fire slackens,
and finally dies out altogether The
Russians have gone back in the forest.
In the barn on the threshing floor
stand crowd of prisoners. A lieu
tenant and a reserve offcer-in one
hand a pocket lamp, in the other re-
volver, marshal the prisoners in or
der. The petty officer still jabs a
Russian in the ribs with the butt OF
his gun if he does not obey quickly
or is slow in raising his hands. Not
one Of them has dared to make
break or get his arms. Now they are
counted, and sentries are placed over
them in the yard-125 men.
Next is to look for the wounded
and then once more to the hay to
snatch what little sleep there is to be
had before the gray dawn of the morn
ing, for the morning is not far off and
with it comes another battle Soon
WEAKNESS and youth overpower the
most excited nerves. One after an
other sleeps.
What was that?" a private has wax
A do
can't be, they have been taken into
the house! There it is again. 1t
sounds as if it comes from the under
world or a cellar"
Another Batch in the Straw.
What's the matter?" a comrade
asks. Man, are you crazy? Shut
up-do you hear me. Be quiet. Have
you a nightmare"
81? It's you that's dreaming"
Again the groaning, now in two or
three places.
Officer" cries the soldier there is
ing and groaning."
Light light misunderstanding
en- shall we never get rest?" One
of the men is tunneling into the straw
and draws out a Russian boot. On to
it hangs a Russian who raises implor-
ing hands and gasps for air. The per-
spiration is running down his face and
he is almost choked to death
so there you are, you fool Serves
you right! Why didn't you come out
With the first batch?"
''Out of this, you dogs, else we'll
look for you with the bayonet" Again
the straw is alive with gray uniforms,
a second batch. is herded with the first
in the yard-oyer two hundred alto
gether.
It's hardly worth while to go to sleep
now. A few throw themselves down
Others repair to the kitchen to make
coffee.