The Tupelo journal., 1917-03-02

out enough or the quantities OF u S0luler
to promote him to the lowest rank of
officer there would be no danger.
There was no military law to prevent a
general from hobnobbing with a lieu
tenant, but there was a very stringent
law against his having anything of a
social nature with a private. When
men have confidence in a leader they
are anxious that that leader should
continue to command them. General
~Schrieber's troops were fearful that his
partiality for young Oelrich would end
in his being degraded and they obliged
to accept another untried commander.
Their fears were not groundless. One
day General Wenz. commanding mi
of the brigades, went to General
~Schrieber's headquarters-they were at
the time in a farmhouse-for the pur-
pose of arranging with him certain
features Of an attack that was to be
made upon the enemy. He found
Schrieber bending over his orderly,
who was lying on a bed in an adjoin-
ing room in a high fever. The visitor
called Schrieber out for consultation.
but found it impossible to cur his
attention.
II understand, general" he said to
Schrieber, that my brigade and yours
are to advance upon the enemy as soon
as the artillery has demolished their
defenses."
"What enemy?' asked Schrieber.
"What enemy? Why, the French, of
course. There's no other enemy in
our front. The British are far north
Of u.s."
"Oh!' was the only reply. A groan
from the real room carried the general
there. When he returned he said.
"Please excuse me, general. My or
derby is very Ill. He comes from the
same region as l, and we came to the
wal together, both in the ranks. l feel
it obligatory on me to take especial
care Of him."
Certainly. The orders are that we
shall advance under a curtain of fire.
Another groan. General Schrieber
heard it and did not hear the speaker.
The visitor arose impatiently. II per-
ceive, general" he said, that your
mind is centered upon your orderly,
and the army must wait till the order
ly RECEIVERS"
This was said with bitter tone, and
the man who said it clanked out of the
house.
The next morning the two brigades
were drawn up in mass n at a given
signal advanced to capture a French
position that had been pounded by
the German heavy guns. The attack
ing force became confused and were
driven back.
General" said Wenz savage,y, "this
comes of my being unable to get your
attention yesterday when l called to
talk over this attack. Your mind was
on a single private soldier instead of
on the welfare Of the fatherland."
let us try again." Schrieber replied.
And, moving out to the front OF the
line, he seized a standard from a color
bearer and led a charge that was not
only successful, but was maintained.
Soon after this fight Schrieber re-
ceived an order from the general COM
manding the division to send Private
Oelrich back to his regiment. 1t was
evident to the recipient that General
Wenz had reported the failure of his
effort to secure his colleagues atten-
ton when he had called to arrange the
details of the coming attack and the
cause. Had not Schrieber by his gal
lantry accomplished the object of the
charge he would not have got off so
lightly.
Nothing was heard Of the stumbling
block in the way of General Schrieber's
efficiency till the Germans began their
attempt to reduce Verdun. Then after
one of the terrible and unsuccessful
charges in mass made on the French
works the general vas seen by his di-
vision commander leaning over Pri-
vate Oelrich, who vas lying on the
ground in a pool Of his own blood.
General Schrieber, what are you do
ing. here? Your brigade is forming
with others to make another attack.
We are expected to take the position
if we have to try a hundred times"
There was no response except a moan.
The man addressed quite likely did not
know that he was addressed. The 9TH
er was about to pour forth some sting
ing rebuke when he saw Schrieber fall
lifeless across the body before him. He
had been struck by the fragment Of a
shell.
When the Red Cross workers went
over the battlefield they took up the
bodies of General Schrieber and Pri-
vate Oelrich together and carried
them to the rear. Their Identification
tags were examined, and it was found
that they hailed from the same place
in Westphalia. Their bodies were sent
home addressed to the same person, an
old farmer, the father of General
Schrieber.