The Washington herald., 1915-01-31

must have wasted about 1900 granate
and shrapnels on us, We had only to re-
port dead and 20 wounded. But they
often make Us waste our powder too, by
dressing up dolls to look like soldiers
for US to shoot at.
Drank. Beitung. Nov. "A, 1sl4)
How the Russians were Deceived
and Conquered.
a wounded Hamburg man, who at
present is convalescing at watering
place on the Baltic coast, describes some
interesting details OF the fight with the
Russians. in East Prussia
q" OF the 61k weeks that I spent in
the field we were fully 81 in touch with
the opponent. Sometimes We arrived at
places, from which the Russians had just
gone, and sometimes they came to places
We had just left. From that time TIL the
1st and 18th army corps came to our aid
for the decisive battle at Tannenberg.
We were much too weak for the circum-
stances. round about Ortlesburg, Neiden-
burg, Gilgenburg. Hohenstein, as far as
AlIenstein. We had against us, Armee-
korps and cavalry divisions. In order
to lead the aerOplanes astray, as to the
strength OF our troops We built up false
trenches, cutting in them. heads made
of straw and for guns we took round
pieces OF wood We also placed there
what appeared to be a whole battery of
artillery: for instance two cart wheels
with the trunk Of a tree made a splendid
cannon. We often watched how, after
the aeroplanes had discovered our "po-
sition" they would then return as quickly
as possible. But now as real troops, We
had TO undertake long tiresOme marches.
sometimes forward. then again back
wards as We were still too weak to at
tack the cnnemy. Meanwhile the Rus
slams did we'll for themselves, con
qucred" one piece of land after another
taking with them everything they could
find in East Prussia whether they could
make use of 1t or not. Every village re-
ceived a Russian name and the few In
habitants. who had not fed, were made
Russian subjects with great ceremony.
Everywhere the Russians asked the
same question How far is it to Berlin
The Russian soldiers had been told by
their leaders that the French and Eng
Iish were already in Berlin. At last the
1st Armeecorps arrived, and on the 18th
August We started to attack a strong
Russian position near 'Grob-Gardienen."
The Russians never attack on principle.
tough they were ever so much stronger.
We marched on determinedly, till quite
Unexpectedly we were surrounded on all
sides by infantry fire, we Immediately
dispersed and lay down quite quietly.
The shots now flew past US. at a distance
OF about 800 m. The Russians seem to
like wasting their powder. for they fire
of as many cartridges as their guns can
hold. We had been lying there for about
. hours. when We received the first rec
ognition OF our artillery. Under cover of
our artillery we went forward in a coun-
try very favourable for us, without fir
ing as much as one shot. Then We heard
the well-knOwn signal side guns for
ward" Rushing and shouting "Hurrah"
We dashed forward We had not far to
go till we came upon the fellows, whom
we hauled out OF their trenches with iron
broOms. The trenches, packed full of
men presented a remarkable sight. Only
a few Of them had the courage to shoot,
some tied white handkerChiefs to their
bayonets and others threw down their
guns and begged us to spare their Tit
tie bit of life Our artillery had done its
work well, in some places the trenches
were quite full Of corpses and the Rus
sian trenches are very deep. For our one
man, there were twenty Russians, whom
we disaTmed and they Undressed them
selves to their shirts TO show us they bad
really no weapons 4 few OF our men
brought the prisoners away. There
were four japanese officers among them.
men who were to fight for the honor of
other dead bodies. Unfortunately night