The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-10-22

encouraging and steadying their mel
preparing them for the shock
Finally came the Russian order t
advance. At the word hundreds O
yards of the Russian fighting lin
leaped forward, deployed in open or
der and came on. One, two, three
and in some places four and five sue
cessive skirmish lines, separated by
intervals of from 20 to so yards
swept forward. Some of them came
into range of the German fire almos
at once. These lines began to wilt
and thin out. Others We're able tC
make considerable advance under
cover The smoke of the burning vii.
lage gave a grateful protection tc
several regiments. But on they came
all along the line, protected and un-
protected alike, rushing forward with
a yell, pausing, firing and advancing
again.
From the outset of the advance the
German artillery, ignoring for the
moment the Russian artillery action,
began Smelling the onrushing mass
with wonderfully timed shrapnel
which burst low above the advancing
lines and tore sickening gaps.
But the Russian line never stopped.
For the third time in two days they
came tearing on, with no indication
Of having been affected by the terri
bic consequences of the two previous
passages. As a spectacle the whole
thing was maddening. l found my
heart humping like a hammer, and
with no weapon more formidable than
a pair of binoculars | was mentally
as hard as the men with the
guns. For the first time l sensed the
Of battle and learned the
secret of the smiles on the faces of
the battle fields dead.
On came the Slav swarm-into the
range of the German trenches, with
wild yells and never a waver. Rus
sian battle fags-the first I had seen
appeared in the front Of the rharg-
ing ranks. The advance line thinned
and the second line moved up. Near
err and nearer they swept toward the
German positions. And then came a
new sight, a few seconds later came
a new sound.
First, saw a sudden, almost gro
,esuue melting of the advancing line.
It was different from anything that
lad taken place before. The men
literally went down like dominoes in a
'ow. Those who kept their feet were
hurled back as though by terrible
rust of wind. Almost in the second
hat pondered, puzzled, the STAG
alto rattle or machine guns reach
ID us. My ear answered the call Of
ny eye.
For the first time the advancing
ines hesitated, apparently bewildered
Iounted officers dashed along the line
rging the men forward. Horses fell
With the men. l saw dozen rider
ess horses dashing madly through
he lines, adding a new terror. An
Their horse was obviously running
way with his officer rider.
The crucial period for the section
f the charge on which l riveted my
ttention probably lasted less than
minute. To my throbbing brain it
eemed an hour. There, with the
-ithering fire raking them even as
1ey faltered, the lines broke. The
anic ensued. 1t was every man for
imself. The entire Russian charge
lrned and went tearing back to cover
nd the shelter of the Russian
'enches.
Suddenly at shutdown the fighting
cared as if by mutual agreement.
n outpost, really on a REINFORCED
cket line, was thrown out ahead of
lie German line, and the work of re-
owing the dead and wounded who
,uId not be moved under fire was
lshed along. Within an hour after
e days firing had ceased the Ger
an trenches were cleaned up and
e work of bringing up the supplies
N ammunition for tomorrow's con- B
ct was under way.
As l write this can see occasional
ashes of light like the fare Of giant
.efies out over the scene of the
ussian charge-the flashes of small
ectrical lamps in the hands Of the
ussian hospital corps:
I'm glad I don't have to look at
hat the flashes reveal out there in
e night.