Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-07-24
TRENCHES AND men LEVELED
OUT Of EXISTENCE BYGERMAN
SMASHING DASH over GALICIA

7 ticed; they lay without a groan. and
one said. Thanks be to the Lord.
and eternal gratitude to you" A
young soldier told US that no living
man could have driven the troops on
the right wing from. their positions;
but that the while area was covered
with shells till trenches and men
were leveled out OF existence. The
companies left comparatively intact
had all joined the center. or this
section of the line we could only hear
vague rumors.
Late In the day we reached the de-
serted school house to which the stan
had retreated.
BY morning the lines lay just out
side the town, and the Germans and
Austrians were making a tremendous
attack on them, pounding them with
the heaviest artillery and advancing
In close column again and again.
Lined up on Ridge. '.
Making my way to the advanced
lines, found brigadier general and
got leave to accompany an attempted
advance. II was the first regiment of
the famous Caucasian Corps just ar.
going up to the attack. A battalion
commander stood just below the hut,
putting his men in position. He was
a quiet little man, already elderly and
with an old voice, tnat sounded vigor
ously, however, across the slope The
men made their way by companies up
the different clefts in the hollow and
soon lined the ridge. The commander
moved among them at an easy walk,
directing some; hurrying on others.
"Well, children" said the COM
mander. "What shall / say to you?
With God! Forward"
We were now on bare height which
was like tongue projecting forward
and hot musketry-fire was opened on
US. A man near me called out that
he was wounded and rolled himself
down to the hollow where bearer
set about bandaging him; shell burst
beyol... us and another called out One
could see what happened to the men
nearest to one.
Advancing Without Ere.
The commander continued to stroll
about among the men in the same way
as he would have done out of action;
several Of the men begged him to lie
down. We went round the height and
he brought his men everywhere to the
edge Of 1t and told them to entrench
themselves, which they set about do
ing at once. We could see where the
bullets came from, on the low ground
In front. To our left was ridge with
trees. along which we could see men
on horseback coming from the direc-
ton OF the enemy. To our right, be-
yond the wood, was high ridge cover
ed with men, who appeared to be adj
yancing upon us but did not open fire.
Suddenly column of blue figures
was seen coming up close on our front.
In what seemed minute, two OF our
machine guns had been moved TO this
side. Round some brush-wood 30 yards
away came the first rush Of the col.
umns; che caught sight OF a line OF
pale faces. Our commander shouted
orders; a young officer clenched his
fist; our gunners ground out a shower
Of bullets, and the Austrian column
disappeared into the wooded valley.
Word came that the general staff
must be moved further back. The
field trains were set In motion, and we
Travelled without any kind Of confusion
across a beautiful range OF wooded
hills. We stopped more than once to
see the fight that was going on below
us. II was q blaring line OF fire and
smoke and twin yellow and white
bursts of the Austrian shrapnel being
almost lest in the white or black
smoke of the German artillery. We
travelled very slowly and for good
part OF the day; officers and men mad
q feeling Of great vexation at having
to retire before troops which they felt
themselves capable Of beating with
any eoual Conditions.