The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1916-03-31
BRIDGES BLOWN UP
BY RUSSIAN Scout TO HAMPER The
AUSTRIAES--HE Has sOHE ExCIT-
ING TIES.

A Russian scout tells The following
story Of bis successful exploit behind
the enemy's lines.
As | have 4 good knowledge OF
Polish I was sent to blow mp some
bridges IN the Austrian rear, I chang
ed my uniform for civilian dress and.
having crossed myself. left our
trenches and craHIed N the direction
OF the enemy's positions. On reach
Ing the Austrian lines I suddenly
heard voices to my rlzht. 20 quick
ly changed ny course to the left, ana
succeeded IN crossing trench, from
which one could only hear measured
snoring.
1T was dark night and very late.
yentured several steps forward, but
was then Unexpectedly met by a field
patrol Of fifteen men. The command
ing officer (an AnslrIanl seized me.
and began questioning me IN Polish.
He asked me who was. where I had
come from. and how I got there at
that late hour. I told him that ! was
an Austrian-Pole. and had run away
from the Russians In Tarnopol, as
they had compelled me TO dig trench
es without any wages. The officer
appeared to believe me, and no told .
Magyar soldier 70 TAKE me 10 the stan
OF the regiment for examination.
When the guard and reached the
depths of the enemy's positions he
asked me for match. which ! readily
gave him as ! had : boz IN my
pocket He ordered me 10 stop, and
| obeyed. He leaned his rifle against
tree and. taking pipe and tobac-
CO out Of hls pocket. struck light. 10
was still quite dark and, taking my
chance. with ny left hand I grasped
the rife. while With my right | made
a gesture - i ] intended 70 blow my
nose. With . violent swing ! struck
the man On the head With the butt
end Of the rife. and he fell down
without even uIIerIng 3 cry.
Having satisfied myself that the
Magyar Ras dead. ! took on his dis
tinguiHhed conduct medal and search
ed his pockets. where | found > hook,
from which i appeared that be had
been : teacher N Iemburg school.
Dragging the body TO the nearest
ditch ! laid L down beside the rife
and continued my course towards the
bridges which | Wa 10 blow NJ.
wandered about for the rest OF
the night. and when It became too
light 10 20 On Iay down IN aame
vegetable beds behind The ruins Of :
peasants hut. From here ! vas able
To observe The country. and To find
out. from The map which ! carried,
the places where the bridges would
most probably be. Having spent the
day In this position. I renewed my
wanderInga n the fall Of darkness. I
reached the first bridge. and say the
sentry With hIz rifle. On seeing me
the sentry called out. .Wer Konmt? %
Instead Of giving him IN answer I
ran up 70 the bridge and threw four
hand Erenades one after the other.
They we're veil aimed. and the bridge,
with the sentry, vas blown into the
air. The body fell into the river, and
the bridge began 10 burn.
Not losing ; moment. I ran on TO
the next bridge. which lay half
mile distant The sentry waa standing
and staring at the burning bridge.
without paying my attention TO me.
As ! approached | flung = grenade at
distance Of fifteen PAGES. Il struck
the mans feet and both his legs we're
torn on By the explosion. Then I
quickly drew the remaining four gren-
AIDES. threw them and the bridge col
lapsed and began burning.
Ny task was accomplished. and /
ran away a. fast n | could. and
reached the destroyed hut where I
had spent the previous day Soon I
heard IN alarm. which had been
raised to catch me. Men on horse
back fired and galloped IN search OF
me, but luckily they Just missed me.
and presently they disappeared In
the distance. N hour after this uD-
roar ] erept ont o. M hiding place,
and eventually reached the spot
where | was first stopped. This time,
however. ! managed to slip past IN
noticed. and. continuing On al fours.
| soon got within our lines again.
was taken 10 the stan. ny exploit was
verified. and | received the St.
Georges Cross Of the third degree