The Washington herald., 1919-05-11
STORY OF
LEADER OF RUSSIAN
BATTALION OF DEATH
CONTINUED FROM PAGE EIGHT.

forward and stepped out OF the
group. a strange silence gripped ev-
erybody. so affected were all by the
painful expression on his face.
"A-r-e y-o-u Y-a-s-h-k-a7' he
sang out slowly.
How do you know me?" I asked
quickly. almost overpowered by q
premonition of salvation.
Don't you remember how you
saved my life in that March offensive.
when I was wounded in the leg and
you dragged me out OF the mud under
hre? My name is Peter. 1 would
have perished there, in the water.
and many others like me. II not for
you Why do they want to shoot
you now?''
Because i am an officer" ] replied.
What conversations are you hold
ing here" Pugatchov Numbered.
She will have to be shot. and no
arguments"
'And ] won't allow her to be shot"'
my God-appointed savior answered
back firmly. and walked up to me.
seized my arm. pulled me out Of my
place. occupying II himself
You will shoot me first!" he OK
claimed "She saved my life. She
saved many OF our lives. The entire
Fifth Corps knows Yashka- She Is
a common peasant like myself. and
understands no politics. II you shoot
her. you will have to shoot me first"
This tirahe had remarkably
wholesome effect on me. II also
struck home in the hearts Of many
in the crowd.
Petrukhin went UP. took n place
beside Peter and me. and declared:
You will shoot me too. before you
execute an innocent, sick WOMAN
The soldiers were now divided. Some
shouted. Lets shoot her and make
an end of this squabble! What's the
use of arguments?"
Others We're more human. she
is not of the bourCoisie. but a COM
mon peasant like ourselves" they ar
gued. And she does not understand
politics. Perhaps she really was going
to seek a cure. She was not cap
tured. but came to US herself. We
must not forget
For some time the place turned into
a meeting-ground. 1t was weird
situation for debate. There were
the hundreds Of bodies scattered
around us. There were the twenty
death. of the twenty only ! had n
chance for life. The remaining nirc-
teen stoicaIly kept themselves on their
feet No hope heaved their breasts.
No miracle could save them. And
amidst all this a hundred Russian
soldiers. a quarter of an hour before
all savages. now half Of them with
spark of humanity in their veins.
were deliberating!
The committee finally found their
wits and took charge of the situation.
Turning to PuGatchov. they declared:
Now. we have an order here from
the commander in chief, and IL shall
be obeyed. We will take her away"
They closed about me and ! was
marched out OF the line of the field
Pugatchov was in a white rage. raw
ing like n madman. grinding his teeth
As we walked away. his inhuman
voice roared:
Tire at the knees
A volley rang out Immediately
cries and groans filled the air. Turn
ing my head about. I saw the savages
rush the heap of victims with their
bayonets, digging them deep into the
bodies Of my companions OF few
rrfnutes previous. and crushing the
last signs of life out of them with
fbeir heels.
n was frightfuI. indescribabIy
|fHghtfuI The means were penetra-
Ting. blood-curling. / staggered. fell
No the ground my full length. and
|svooned.
For four hours I remained uncon-
|Ecious. When I came to. l was in
compartment OF a railway coach.
tPetrukhin sat near me, holding my
hands. and weeping.
As 7 thought of the circumstances
that led to my fainting. the figure
OF PuEatchov swan up before my
eyes, and 7 took an oath there and
hen to kill him at the first Oppor-
tunity. il l escaped from the [solshe-
TX trap.
Petrukhin then told me that Peter
ad aroused tho investigation COM
nittcc to such state Of compassion
Eor me that the members agreed to
10 with him TO Sahlin. and petition
ne commander in chief to send me- t"
Moscow for trial by n military tri-
.unaI About nifty soldiers were also
kSon over to my side by Peters ac-
ouuts Of Yashka's work in the
trenches and No Mans Land. and
nv reputat tion among all men. Pc
rukhin had remained at my bedside
IiII recovered consciousness. but he
how desired to Join the deputation.
gratefully thanked him for his humane
ttitude toward me and his desperate
Efforts to save my life
BEFORE he left. word reached him
Nat Pugatchov had melted some Of
he men against me. threatening to
Aiduap me from my friends and lynch
Re PCtrukhin placed five OF his
3dvaI friends at my compartment, with
brders not to surrender me at any
Eost.
I prayed to God for Petrukhin, and
hearing my prayer. he said:
Now. ]. too. believe in God. The
ppearance of this man. Peter. was
ruly miraculous. In spite of all my
norts you would have been executed
mt for him"
And how are my chances OF es-
hping death now?'' / asked
They are still very small" he an
Mered. Your record is against you
Iou do not deny being a friend OF
kornilov's. Your strict discipline in
he battalion and your fighting the
iermans at a time when the whole
ront was fraternizinG. are known
ere. Besides. the death penalty has
ktcome so customary here that it
ouId nc very unusual for one to
cape il. Only the other day a ply
rian and his wife. on their way to
islovodsk TO tho springs. somehow
nded in ZveTevO. They were ar