Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-08

caught me at the very last moment
would undoubtedly have gone over
That journey oil the train vas the
symbol OF the country's condition IN
he winter OF 1916. The government
machinery was breaking down. The
'oldlers had lost faith in their su-
Deriors. and the view that they we're
being led to slaughter by the thou
Inds prevailed in many mines. Ru-
mors flew thick All fast. The old sol
diers were killed off and the fresh
drafts were impatient for the end OF
the war. The spirit Of 1914 was no
more.
In Kiev had to obtain information
a. TO the location of my regiment 1t
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
mon 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 ] changed
to branch road. Goii.g II the station
Nerba. within thirty Nersts of our ro-
ston.
IT was muddy on the road TO the
front. Overhead few whole focks or
airplanes, raining bombs. | got used
to them. In the afternoon there was
a downpour, and I was thorougnly
soaked. Dead tired, with water
streaming from my clothes, ! arrived
in the evening within five Nersts or
the first line. There was regimentaI !
supply train camping on both sides OF
the road. I approached sentry with
the question:
what regiment is billeted here?'
The Twenty.eighth Polotsk Regi.
ment."
My heart leaped with JOY The
soldier did not recognize me. He was
a new man. But the boys must nave
told him of me.
"I am Yashka." | said.
That was pass. They all knew the
rame and had heard from the vet
Grams of the regiment many stories
about me. was taken to the colonel
in command of the supply train II
funny old chap who kissed me on
both cheeks and jumped about. clap
ping his hands and shouting.
"Yashka. Yashka."
He was kind.hearted and imme-
diately became solictous for me. lie
promptly ordered an orderly to bring
a new outfit and had the bath, used
by the officers. prepared for me. Clean
and in the new uniform, | accepted the
in vitation to sup with the colonel,
There were several other officers AT
the table and all were glad TO see me.
The word went out that iashka had
arrived, and some soldiers could not
restrain their desire to shake hands
with me. Every now and then there
would be a meek knock at the door
and in answer to the coloners ques-
ton. who's there a plaintiVe voice
"Excellencv. may | be allowed to
see Yashka?'
In time quite n number Of comrades
were admitted into the house. One
part of it was occupied by the owner
a widow with a young daughter.
spent the night with the latter and In
the morning started out to the front
Some OF our companies were in re
serve and my progress became a
triumphal journey. 7 was feasted on
the way and given several ovations.
presented myself to the com
mander of the regiment. who invited
me to dine that afternoon with the
regimental staff. unduestionably the
first case of an under officer receiving
such an invitation in the history Ot
the regiment At dinner the com
mander toasted me. telling the histor,
of my service with the regiment and
wishing me many more years of such
service.
At the conclusion he pinned a cross
OF the third degree on my breast
marked with pencil three stripes OF
my shoulder. thus promoting me tc
the grade of senior under-ofilcer. The
staff crowded around me, pressing my
hands. praisinG me and expressing
their best wishes. ! was profoundly
shaken with this demonstration of sin
cere appreciation and affection on the
part of the officers. This was my re
ward for all the suffering ! had un
dergone,
And it was a reward very mucl
worth while. What did ! care for &
wound in the spine and four months
PARALYSIS IL this was the return thai
received for my sacrifice? Trenches
filled with bloody corpses held no hor
ror for me then, No Mans Lane
seemed quite an attractive place ii
which to spend a day with Il bleeding
log. The screech of shells and the
whistle of bullets presented them
selves like music to my imagination
All life was not so bleak and futile
after all. 1t had its moments Of bliss
that compensated for years of torment
and misery.
f'rn RIr tn\TJNI"Enl