The Washington herald., 1919-04-16
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES.

The commandant repeated the WORDS
of the station-master. He had no
right to provide her with a military
pass, he said.
mo right" I exclaimed. beside my
self. she Is the wife of a soldier
and her husband rs probably now, at
this very moment, going into battle to
defend the country, while you, safe
and well-fed in the rear here, won't
even take care OF his wife and chill
dren. 1t is an outrage. Look at the
woman. She needs medical attention,
and her children are starved.
And who are your sharply asked
the commandant.
Il will show you who I am 1 an
swered, taking of my medals and
cross and showing him my certificate.
Il have shed enough blood to be en-
titled to demand justice for the help
less wife of a soldier"
The commandant turned away and
went out There was nothing to be
done but make a collection. 1 made
my way into the first-class waiting
room, which was filled with officers
and well-to-do passengers. took my
cap in my hand and went the rounds.
begging for a poor soldiers wife.
w htAA SUI III OAsh AhCAV "NAN "
rubles in the cap. With this money /
went to the commandant again, turned
it over to him with a request that he
provided accommodations for the
woman and her children, who did not
know how to express her gratitude to
me-
The next train pulled in. never be-
fore saw one so packed. There could
be no thought OF getting inside a car.
The only space available was on the
top of a coach There were plenty of
passengers even there. With the aid
of some soldiers I climbed to the top.
where l spent two days and two
nights. 1t wis impossible to get of
at every station to take a walk. Even
for the tea we had to send emissaries,
and our food consisted of that and
bread
Accidents were not uncommon. On
the very roof on which l Travelled a
man fell asleep and rolled OF, being
killed instantly. l almost suffered a
similar fate, escaping by a hairs
breadth. l began to doze and drifted
to the edge. and had not a soldier
caught me at the very last moment ]
undoubtedly would have gone over.
We finally arrived at Kiev.
The journed on the train was the
symbol Of the country's condition in
the winter of 1916. The government
machinery was breaking down. The
soldiers had lost faith in their supe-
riors. and the view that they were
being led to slaughter by the thou
sands prevailed in many minds. Ru-
more flew thick and fast The old
soldiers were killed of and the fresh
drafts were impatient for the end OF
the war. The spirit of 1914 was no
more.
In Kiev I had to obtain information
as to the location of my regiment. II
was now near the town OF Beres-
techko. In my absence the boys had
advanced fifteen versts. The train
from Kiev was also badly crowded
and offered nothing but standing room.
At stations we sent out a few soldiers
to fill our kettles with hot water The
men could seldom get in and out
through the entrances. so they used
the windows. The train passed
through Zhitomir and Zhmerinka on
the way to Lutzk. There l changed
to a branch road. going to the station
Verba, within thirty versts of our po-
sition.
1t was muddy on the road to the
front. Overhead flew whole fiocks OF
aeroplanes, raining bombs. I got used
to them In the afternoon there was
downpour, and 1 was thoroughly