Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-02-11

Dhuheu-up IOTcc NJ the CnhiBOp Ohu
and the Brown redoubt with Its auto
MATES, the Gray gunners were making
a zone OF shell bursts in order to give
the soldiers time to make their hold
OF the ground they had gained secure.
Through this zone Stransky and his
men were to lead the Browns in q
counter-attack.
At the very height Of the Gray
charge, when all the reserves we're in.
dark objects fell out Of the heavens,
and where they dropped earth and
flesh were mingled In the maceration.
Like some giant reptile with it's YER
tebrae breaking, gouged and torn and
pinioned. the charge stopped, in with
ing, throbbing confusion. Those on
the outer circle OF explosions we're
thrown against their fellows, who
surged back in another direction from
an explosion In the opposite quarter.
From the rear the pressure weakened;
the human hammer was no longer driv-
ing the ram. Blinded by the lightnings
and dust, dizzy from conclusions and
noise, too blank OF mind to be sane or
insane, the atoms Of the bulk of the
charge In natural instinct turned from
their goal and toward the place whence
they had come, with death from all
sides still buffeting them. Staggering.
ly, at first, they went. for want Of in.
ltative In their paralysis; then rapidly,
as the law Of self-preservation asserted
itself in wild impulse.
As sheep driven over precipice
they had advanced; as men they fed.
There was no longer any command, no
longer any cohesion, except Of legs
struggling in and out over the uneven
footing OF dead and wounded, while
they felt another pressure, that Of the
mass Of the Browns In pursuit. OF all
those Of Fracasse's company whom
we know, only the judges son and
Jacob Pilzer were alive. Stained with
blood and dust, his teeth showing In
a grimace Of hooking hate Of all hui.
mankind, Pliers savagery ran free Of
the restraint Of discipline and civilized
convention. Striking right and left,
he forced his way out Of the region Of
shell fire and still kept on. Clubbing
his rife, he struck down one officer
who tried to detain him; but another
oficer, quicker than he. put revolver
bullet through his head.
Westerling, who had buried his face
in his hands in Marta's presence at \
the thought OF failure, must keep the
pose of his position before the stan.
With chin drawn In and shoulders
squared in sort Of petrified military
habit, he received the feverish news
that grew worse with each brief bulle-
tin. He, the chief Of staff; he, He'd
worth Westerling. the superman, must |
be a rock In the food Of alarm. When |
he heard that his human ram was In |
recoil he declared that the repulse had
been exaggerated-repulses always |
were. With word that heavy counter
attack was turning the retreat into an |
rout, he broke into a
storm. He was not beaten; he could |
not be beaten.
Let our guns cut few swaths in |
the mob!" he cried. THAT will stop |
hem from running and bring them
back to a sense of duty to their coun-
try"
The irritating litter Of the bell in
he. closet of the library only increased
MS defiance of facts beyond control.
He went to the long distance with
'eply to the premier's inquiry ready to
lis lips.
I'VE got into the enemy's works but
lad to fall back temporarily" he said.
Temporarily! What do you mean"
the premier.
II mean that we have only begun to
declared Westerling. He liked
hat sentence. It sounded like the
Ihibboleth of a great leader in crisis.
I shall assault again tomorrow
hight"
Then your losses were not heavy"
mo, not relatively. Tomorrow night
We press home the advantage we
,ained tonight"
But you have been so confident
ZACH time. You still think that"
THAT mean to win! There is no
halfway"
well, I'll still try to hold the situa-
ion here" replied the premier. "But
,aar v,,a i0R0prnad
Dragged by his desperate stubborn
less, Westerling was believing in his
tar again when he returned to the
library. All the greater his success for
being won against skepticism and
earsl He summoned his chiefs of
divisions, who came with the news
hat the Browns had taken the very
'edoubt from which the head Of the
Tray charge had started; but there
hey had stopped.
"of counsel OF course they stoppedl"
Exclaimed Westerling. "They are not