“KAMERAD” CRY NOT OF GERMAN ORIGIN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1974, 8 May 1919, Page 4

“KAMERAD” CRY NOT OF GERMAN ORIGIN.

The German is not the originator :if■ (he “Kcuierad” ruse, according lo Ed. ILausion, a farmer living north of Junction City, Kansas. Mr Houston says the Indian was .an adept at crying “Kamerad," in ids own tongue, of course, long liefore the German Empire was formmi, and cites an experience of his own to prove it. Mr Houston was a member of Troop G., Seventh Cavalry, the regiment commandede by the gallant Colonel George Custer, for eight years. Under Captain Edgerly he went to the scene of the Line Ridge-tro-ubles. The troops lined up to disarm a band of Indians that had given themselves up. They included the chief, Big Fool, and a large number of braves, as well as women and children.

The captives Avere herded together, and soldiers formed a hollow square around them. Each Indian wore his blanket draped over his shoulders, and, with anus folded across the chest in the customary Indian position, maintained a stoical silence. It was known that a number of the Indians carried guns, hut no treachery was suspected. Suddenly, apparently without a given signal, the Indian opened lire on the surprised troopers. Instantly all of the other braves followed suit, and even the squaws and older children joined in the attack upon the soldiers. Little Indian boys with sawed-olt shotguns fought until killed, and the battle Avas a bloody affair. It ended when there were no more Indians, because the soldiers, angered at the trickery that had been shoAvn, gave no quarter, and the Indians asked for none.