Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1915-01-16
LIEUTENANT GIVES
VIVID ACCOUNT
or the GaIIclan Marshes, One of the
Worst Horrors Of tho European
War

York, Franz Koaleski,
recovering in al ocal hospital from
bullet wound through his right lung,
today gave a wonderful vivid and grip
ping account Of one more horror of
tho present great European Wharf.-The
horror Of the Galician marshes.
These marshes extend for almost
endless miles through great stretches
OF Galicia. Their almost fathomless
mires are the accumulation of cen
turtles OF decayed vegetable and ami
lEal matter. From them there arises
constantly malaria and other MAS
matte exhalations equally as deadly
as the treacherous and which rank
growth Of grass cOnceals. Once
man by chance steps in this, he
never comes for it again. And into
one OF these Lieutenant koaleski
saw a whole regiment OF Russian sol
diers sink, sink. sink, sink-until
the sickening death-dealing mire
closed over the last feeble gurgle OF
its struggling victims.
was the cry that rang down our
ranks" said Lieut. Koaleski.
The Russians saw us coming and
for a mement stood still, as If too
confused, too perplexed to move. Then
out rang their cry of about face and
away they went.
For at the next instant something
strange and unusual happened. From
what could be ascertained at the mo-
Tcnt the Russians who had been
the first to turn and run, had stopped
suddenly. Perhaps it was for the pur-
pose of reorganizing, perhaps forone
purpose Of opposing resistance
Yet, so burning were the Aus
TRANS with the lust Of the chase that
they barely perceived this strange
fact. They perceived only that they
were constantly and rapidly approach
Ing with every leap and bound to the
ranks OF the Russians, and then in
an instant more they were all upon
them.
Then it was that they perceived
that the Russians who had so sud-
denly stopped themselves still kept
backs turned to the pursuing enemy.
For the instant it aroused sudden
suspicious. Perhaps they intended
to defend themselves, to defend them
selves as they remained there stead
fast upright, as though impaled.
'The nearest files also, one would
have said, might suddenly have ar
rived at the edge of precipice 80
sharp was their stop. They found
a solid Gordon of men toward which
the Austrians hurled themselves as
towards a wall Of stone But even
as the first Of the Austrians all but
reached the solid rank of Russions
they became Supplied to see the lat
ter still unmoved, their backs still
turned, and apparently without one
thought OF making the least de.
Tense.
What Is it?' the Austrians de.
manded Of themselves. Was it an,
other Of those tricks of war? Was
some terrible mine about to explode
beneath their feet? Were the Rus
slams merely waiting unmoved to see
their pursuers suddenly wiped from
the face of the earth?'
AN uncanny fear ran down the
lines of the entire Austrian force at
the spectacle, an uncanny fear that
the next instant crystalized as there
again rang out from the officers the
cry Of Halt! halt! haiti
THE officers, not an instant too
soon, had solved the mystery and
then it was that there was unfolded
a scene that made uor blood run
cold.
Verifying, frightful cries rose
from those masses of Russian sol.
dieTS aS with a aYporopo o9ort +1,o-,