South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-18
BRIDE SAVES DAY
FOR HERO HUSBAND
Forces Men to Retire from Pre-
CariOuS PoSition-Went to
Front with Husband of Only
Few Days and gets Cross.

WARSAW. June 1S-Considerable
attention has been attracted in the
streets OF Warsaw by a young wound
ed Russian officer on crutches, ac-
companied by % still younger private.
with one arm in a sling and wearing
a st. Georges cross The cOmeliness,
the deep lashes of the big dark eyes.
and the delicate color OF the skin
were too striking in the case Of the
latter 10 deceive the eve OF even a
casual passer-by as 20 the real sex Of
the young private. and the true story
OF the youthful ST. George hero soon
became 10 talk Of the town.
The officer was a young under
graduate. who Joined the Russian
army as a volunteer. The private
was a daughter of "A princely land
owner in the Caucasus bearing one of
the noblest names in the history of
Georgia (GTusia). When they first
met both were going by the same train
10 Warsaw he 10 join his regiment,
and she to visit some friends Moth
ing was further from the mind than
10 go 90 the front, but Cupid. the up
setter OF calculations. also took IL into
his head TO travel by the Warsaw eX-
press.
Go to Firing Line.
They FELL in love with one another
AT first sight became engaged. and,
after two days Ohe length of the rail-
way Journey, on arriving at War
saw. went To the first orthodox Greek
church 10 get married a kindly
priest readily performed a hurried
war wedding. ON the way the girl
managed To obtain a soldiers kit and
assumed the name OF Laurenty Her
appeal addressed TO the officer COM
handing to allow her TO remain in
the trenches was so eloquent that the
officer pretended not TO have recoE-
nized her sex.
She soon obtained her baptism Of
war The position where she and her
husband were stationed was one Of
the most critical ON the River Rawka,
and subjected 10 continual German
attacks After one particularly Sc
we're encounter. all the officers of her
husbands and neighboring companies
were put hors de combat. Her hus-
band. although only a lieutenant,
found himself in temporary command
of four companies, with his wife
his lieutenant
When the battle RACED at it's high
est the husband sent one of his men
20 the front with an order 10 retire.
The German guns had found their
mark. and were mercilessly moving
down the Russians Further delay
meant complete loss OF men.
Refuse To- Retire.
The orderly came back with mes
sage that the front line men refused
to retire.
They had their order from the
late commander they said, rather
to die than give up one inch of
ground. and they were going TO carry
il out"
Another man was sent to bring
them away. but he also failed in his
mission. They had given their word
TO their dead commander, and they
were going to keep it,
The husband sent his wife rs his
last trump Casl. Perhaps YOU will
be able TO persuade them" he said
She tried, but without success. The
dUtiful soldiers were obstinate like
mules. As she was shouting at them
her 'superiOr's" orders the enemy's
hrSpnel shells beban exploding right
i'm tie trenches with deadly pre-
cisiop. The Germans were crawling
nearer and nearer TO the front
trenches
Seeing there was not a moment to
be lost. she resorted 10 her weightiest
argument. She angrily raised her
rife and brought its dutt-end down
with al force on the shoulder Of one
ana lnen another man. Her angry
voice. full OF authority. and still more
forceful action had their effect One
after another the men evacuated the
trenches and ran towards the back
line. Laurenty remaining behind until
the last man left the danger spot for
a safer place. As she stood there a
shrapnel splinter struck her right
arm. In another 10 minutes there
would not have been one man left in
the front trench
When she got back TO her husbands
position she found him wounded i'm
the leg. They were removed to the
same hospital. and the soldier prin-
cess was soon presented 90 the com
mander-in-chief, and received a cross
OF st. Georges. the warrior patron
saint OF Russia as well as of England.