Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-04
BIG BLUFFS IN WAR HISTORY
Specimen Instances Chilled from
British and Austrian
Records.

The secret evacuation Of Suvla and
Amaze by the English army Of occu-
patton under the very noses Of the
Turks-"the biggest bluff in wars
history" as il has not inaptly been
termed--bears a close resemblance to
the similar abandonment of the Re-
dan by the Russians during the Cri-
mean war.
For months the heavy guns OF the
French and British had been pound
ing unayalingly at this exceedingly
strong fortress Twice they had tried
to storm it, only to be repulsed with
great slaughter. A third attack had
been ordered to take place on Sep
TENDER 10, but on the early morning
of that date, before daybreak, Cor
poral Ross, Of the Royal British En-
gineers, who was in charge OF one Of
the advanced saps, noticing that the
place was strangely still, crept for
ward 70 investigate.
He found the works untenanted,
save by Gead men and few badly
wour led, and FASTENED back to re-
port to the British commander, who
at first was frankly incredulous But
investigation soon proved the truth
OF the plucky corporaPs statements.
The entire garrison had been quietly
Withdrawn under cover of darkness TO
the north forts, leaving the road to,
Sebastopol open.
Ross was awarded the Victoria
Cross and was known thenceforward
throughout the British army as RE
dan Ross"
When the armies OF Napoleon were
oyerrunning Europe, General Mas
sena, with $4,000 men, appeared sud-
denly before the Austrian town of
Fcldkirch aud demanded its surren-
der Instead of complying, the bur
gomaster issued orders that the
church bells we're to be set ringing,
and that the burghers, their wives
and daughters, clad I'm holiday attire,
we're TO assemble in the market square
and there make merry.
The result was exactly what he had
hoped for. Massena heard the
sounds OF rejoicing, watched from the
heights overlooking the town the
/ gathering throngs in the streets, and
came 10 the conclusion that the
townsiolk must have received intel
ligence that the Austrian army, which
was believed TO be somewhere IN the
vicinity, was advancing 10 their re.
lief
! AS 70 give battle there and ther
formed no part OF Napoleon's genera
lplan on action, Masscua ordered a re,
treat. Feldkirch was saved, and hs
a bluff for as a matter OF fact no re
| lieying force was anywhere near at ths
/ time
A bluff that was tmiuently success
a tul resulted I'm the earl ot Pctcrbof
oueh securing possession of bafcelou,
ia the early part OF the eighteenth cen
fury
Il The delgnsrs Of the clts were Al Cha
/ time exceedingly strong teterhof
uugh had with him barely 1000 ndif
iiefcntly armed troops and two smal
leann0n Hating his iarce SOME mile
away n thf hiils. he rode forward al
/ blended 0ub hy a small csreft hcafni
4 dag 81 truce ard demanded aR aa
laicnNe Mlth lhc EateuoE
! fn hm lht fk1l explained thRt u
fhai been ofdrffd 60 lskf lhe t,iy ~
ASSAULT hWt teinE WishlHl 90 ttuH
. |uss.5 b.aeishti ht preferred io 81
{ law hlm lp surrender b go DIS nN
1 tirFe wtlt
+ iHWt3Obit though &c mas seem va
{ .mast tatussi 81 hlaHt lsms 81 ih
Iantftha5 after faH pAf.fEWs aEIff
: tH asrFNg tht hfHHh eeNtfAts alient
0ftae HEHA8elwH8 ketaf8