The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1915-12-25
HOW A RUSSIAN
FO|LED HIS CApTOR
Escapes After Being Taken BY
Germans in Poland.
RETURNS FOES HOSPITALITY

icNton Oommauoer r1au boen aNoV
by Observation-Disclosures tho Favor and
Has Good Laugh.
IL is great treat for young Russian
officers when they are on duty for "A
day TO make call at the Red Cross
field hospital. writes DIR. Eugene T.
Hurd in the Chicago Tribune.
had been particularly impressed
for some time by handsome young
officer who belonged TO the engineer
ing department, as he wore St.
George cross, and i had been anxious
TO get his story.
My opportunity came one evening
after dinner, when he was la Il talka-
tive mood, and he told me the story.
II took place during the winter cam
paign In German Poland. One morn
Ing before the break OF day he had
crawled out In front OF the Russian
trenches and was surprised by two
German outposts. AS they had seen
him first. one OF them had got between
him and his trench. There was moth
ing TO DO but throw up his hands and
submit to capture He was taken to
the German trench. where he was
turned over TO lieutenant, who spoke
few words Of praise to his captors
and sent them back 10 their posts.
offered cupful Of Coffee.
The officer conducted my friend down
the trench TO where the captain OF his
company was sitting looking over a
chart and slipping black coffee from q
large granite cup. He was very well
pleased 20 see the Russian off1cer. Aft
err talking TO him a few minutes and
asking few leading questions, TO
which he received an eyRsive answer
In each case, he pulled his heavy mus
tache and with a broad smile invited
the Russian to join him m a cup OF
coffee which was gladly accepted.
Ny friend knew that the Russians
were planning an attack Mt that place
for daybreak.
My friend thought II he asked TO go
20 the rear now that they would send
only one guard with him. He had
some chance of getting away from one.
He requested 10 be sent back. IL
brought smile TO the face OF the cap
tain, for be thought the Russian was
showing the white feather. He de
tailed volunteer 20 take him back 10
the rear. His guard was young fel-
low whose home was In that neighbor-
hood He had volunteered only short
time before.
My friend. watching his chance as
they passed into a small clump OF
trees. grabbed the German around the
waist and pinioned both his arms so
that he could not use the gun. Being
much the stronger, he soon had the
best Of the German. Taking the rife,
he IN turn made the German captive
German Officers Ride Past.
They were just turning away from
the road and had not taken dozen
| steps when some German officers came
riding along.
To his surprise the volunteer drop
ped on the ground and motioned him
% do likewise After the horsemen
passed the German started or across
field toward the trenches. Az they
hurried along he explained that he
knew the lay OF the land wen. Not
knowing OF anything better 10 DO, my
| friend followed Much 10 his bewild-
crment he was taken into trench that
had been captured only few moments
before from the Germans
Afraid Of Death Penalty.
As he turned the volunteer over to
guard he asked him why he had shun-
ned the German officers when be
knew my friend could offer no resist
ance. The reply was that n he had
called for help and they had found
him so careless as TO allow himself TO
be captured by an unarmed prisoner
they would have shot him His only
salvation hay In getting TO the enemy's
F, trenches
As my friend went TO the rear TO re
port 10 his commander he passed
line OF prisoners Among the officers
he noticed the heavy mustache OF the
captain who had cent him TO the rear
only n short time before. He turned
his head as he went by 80 that the
captain would not recognize him.
After telling his story 20 his com
handing officer he asked permission
10 give the German captain a cup OF
coffee, m II was cold. and he wished
TO return the favor that had Teen civ
en- him earlier In the morning
! As the colonel was pleased with my
friends escape and also with the morn
iDg's attack. he gave his consent The
engineer went into the officers mess
and. selecs.rg nice large cup. had u
nlled with ho, cofree and took u out o.
where the prisoners were standing
He stepped up 10 the captain and
said, please allow me to return your
kind hospitality ~ early this morning,
Tho hook ~ surnrise md wonder that
came into the Germans face still
makes nv frieni laugh when he sncak~
~ "