South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-12-31
GUERILLA SYSTEM
PLAYED BY RUSS
New Branch Whose Duty 1t is
to Fight Behind the Lines
is Established.
o. 10 RUssIAN FRoNT. -.

upon which the war in Russia has
now entered. The enemys army is
spreading itself over the vast plains
OF the great empire; il IS far from
its victualing and supply bases. and
cannot find others i'm a country from
which all the workers have fled be-
fore its approach, and where the
Cossacks have not left "A factory or
a mill or the least trace of ordinary
comfort In the little villages.
In Volhynia. through great part
OF which ] have travelled. the enemy
is in occupation Of ground which,
even before the war offered very
little attraction either for the inhabi-
tants or for visitors.
One can traverse these districts
for whole days without seeing any
thing but woods and marshes. There
are no proper roads, what pass for
such are simply wide bands taken
from the fields, irregular in form,
nothing but mud when the weather
is wet, and terrible dust when it is
dry.
In summer the deep marshes are
covered with "a carpet OF moss and
grass; they resemble an innocent
meadow strewn with flowers. How
many times have we been deceived
Plunge Iuto Mud.
I remember the evening of the
capture OF Chartorisky ] was ac-
companied across the positions by
a young officer who. i'm the morning.
haA charged at the head Of his
tTo Fps and had crumpled up the
grenadiers. Suddenly our horses
feet sank into the ground. We gave
them the spur. but soon perceived
that, despite their desperate efforts
they were losing their foothold At
first they tried TO get out by raising
their feet high: then they endeavored
10 jump. but only sank deeper into
the mud. Finally they lost courage;
they felt nothing under their feet
and remained with their bellies rest
ing on Jumps Of turf. When we sue
ceeded in eXtricating them from the
bog their legs were covered with
thick, black mud.
1t is easy To IMAGINE the state of
these marshes after several weeks Of
rain. 1t can also easily be under
stood that in such conditions as
these the enemy only occupies "a part
OF the country, and that the means
OF communication at his disposal are
very limited.
The enemy feels depressed i'm these
deserts. where everything fees be-
fore him. That. at any rate. is the
state OF mind which / discover among
all the prisoners. Let the convoy
xrrhfaE - IA
arrive only half day late and ne
will Immediately feel a sense of
privation.
Now suppose that a band of de-
termined men should steal across his
lines and people the forests he has
left behind him during his advance.
Let these bands hold themselves i'm
the marshes which the enemy fears.
and hide in the extensive woods
which he only partially occupies.
.hey will be able TO threaten his
lines OF communication and harass
him at every Opportune moment. fol-
low him when ne advances. despatch
him when he retreats. and surround
him with perpetual dangers. They
viii work apart from any base. iso-
lated like brigands inspired by the
grimmest determination and the
coolest disdain for death.
All COssacks Out
Having been advised that "a band
of these partisans was about TO leave
with the intention Of piercing the
enemy's lines and beginning their
terrible and dangerous work. L went
one morning 10 a large square where
the ceremony Of departure was tu
take place. on the left was cavalry
on the right COssaCks - an equal
number OF each Among the Cos
sacks all ages were represented. The
reason of this is that Russia has not
Yet called up her reserves for the
cavalry, whereas the Cossacks are all
called mp. the young as well as the
older, and one can see that men oi
all ages have answered the call for
volunteers FOR the dangerous work
that is in hand
A solemn silence prevailed. The
priest. who was about TO conduct the
ceremony, caused his assistant GA
place a small table in front of The
troops, and we waited for the arrival
OF the general who had organized
corps As soon as he was announced
the men grouped themselves I'm a
ssmi-circle in front of the priest
Placing himself i'm the center. the
general cried in a loud voice.
Good day partisans." The reply
came III long, thunderOus roll.
Good DAY. general"
Priest Intoncs Chant.
Then the service began The semi
circle or barred heads listened ir
deep silence. The priest iutoned a
solemn chant and the voice Of his
assistant rose now and again i'm a
more cOlored phrase. The troops
continually crossed themseIl es. bend
ing their heads almost 90 their
horses names
I said "Au revoir'' To the officers
and some Of the men. as we'll bat
one OF the latter replied. we shall
not come back" There was a Iook
OF approval in the eyes OF the others
The enemy viii treat them with
much husehwne1 Cor tN--.. r...