Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-05-09
LURES TROOPS TO
DEATH IN SWAMPS
BY Pae. and IntI News Service.

BERLIN, May 9.-Adolph Stark,
correspondent who has been at the
eastern front since the beginning OF
the war reports a terrible Russian
tragedy in swamps of Lithuanda. He
says:
Recently visited one of the Ger
man advance posts in the Lithuanian
swamps. The captain in command of
the village teld me that he and his
men had seen comparatively little CT
the war for months. The swamps.
which even in winter do not freeze
over completely, protected the gar
rison against attacks.
When we first took possession of
the village surrounded on all sides
by endless swamps we were a bit ner-
vous, the captain said. Our forces
We're small and we feared that the
Russians would make short work of
us during the winter, but the popula-
ton, which received us gladly, assured
us that the enemy would never be able
to cross the ide. The only road lead
ing to the village we could defend
easily. The inhabitants were bitter
against the Russians, because the Cos
sacks on their retreat carried off
everything they could lay their hands
on and destroyed most of the houses.
We assisted the poor people in re-
building their huts and furnished them
food
During the winter an old peasant
offered to conduct my troops safely
through the swamp for an attack on
the nearest Russian position. did
not trust the old fellow, although he
protested bitter hate against the Co.'S
sacks who had burned his small farm
and killed his wife and two young
sons. When informed the headQuart-
ers of my brigade of the offer of the
peasant l was told that no offensive
operations on our part of the front
were desirable for the time being. The
old man was greatly disappointed. He
could not understand why we did not
use the chance to strike blow against
the enemy.
When his offer was rejected the
peasant who had evidently become in
sane from grief, decided to get re-
venge himself.
"'A few weeks ago, just before the
ice began to break, he rushed into my
quarters and shouted: Come, on, 1
will show you something that will
gladden. your heart" ...
His face was covered with blood
streaming from wound on his temple
and he gave the impression Of being
a maniac. 1 decided to follow the man
and took lieutenant and two privates
along. 1t was near daybreak when we
left the quarters. AS we wandered
out on the ice we noticed that the
weather had completely changed over
night. The wind was almost warm
and the open spaces in the swamp
seemed much larger than they had
been the evening before.
after we had advanced few hun
dred yards one of my men broke
through the seemingly still strong ice
and was almost drowned. The old man
chuckled and advised us to walk close
ly behind him. Then he told us what
he had DONE
""I have lured a whole brigade OF
the Russians into the swamps and
they are now perishing," he said Joy
ously, for many weeks / have waited
for this chance. Night after night /
was out studying the weather and two
days ago, when the wind changed to
the south l knew that tho hour for
my revenge was near. Yesterday l
went to the Russians and offered to
lead them to your position. At first
they mistrusted me, but they became
convinced that l was honest, when l
demanded large amount OF money
for my services. Two regiments with
small cannon and many machine guns
were made ready for the attack upon
you and at midnight this force started
to move over the ice. l led the regi.
ments where l wanted them. When
the ice began to break / disappeared
In the rushes. They sent a few bullets
after me, but only one OF them grazed
me. Just listen! DO you hear the dy.
Ing wretches shouting over there?"