HOW IT FEELS TO BE SHOT AT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 253, 4 December 1914, Page 1 (Supplement)

HOW IT FEELS TO BE SHOT AT.

TOLD TO "PEARSON'S WEEKIA BY GENERAL SIR BINDON BLOOD, G.C.B.

My first experience of active service was in the course of some operations on the North-West Frontier of India » 1877-78; and, so far as I remember, 1 first came under serious lire in a night attack made o n a bivouac of the forcv, 1 was attached to during these ©Delations. The force had established itself for the night in a village deserted by the enemy, and three brother-officers and I were having a quiet rubber ot whist near a camp-fire, when suddenly - smart fire of small-arms was poured into the bivouac from a rising ground some 100 yards off. Wc «hist-players thought we ought not "to show undue haste ill taking cover, and so we finished our rubber without, I fee sure having caused any revokes! Before we had quite finished, however, the enemy had been driven off, without having done u* much damage.

STOOD BETWEEN ME AND THE BULLETS.

I remember how, soon after the firing began on this occasion, I heard someone stining close behind me, and koUnj round saw one if my native'«««"" fine old Pathan and a great »•«»« funding calmly between «> andl where tho bullets were coming from. He uas ! friend, indeed, andll Act many like him among the men of India. ~ t I recollect that it is a special trial to n mS nerves to be alone under fire. It fel-el Kcbir I had to ride alone from onVpart of the field to another and I well remember how uncomfortable the clvvfirewas. though of course i.t was "naimed owing to the darkness The in numerable little sand-splashes made. i.j thebullcts falling all round me.made a great impression on my memory, but it was curious that the artillery fire, o winch there was a good deal, did not nrnrlitco the same effect. 1 Natural v, when a man .first conies nnd in dangerous amusements is little cd a good deal.

I FOUND A "SOLDIER" SCREAM--1 INC.

Tin, ordinary effect I have noticed an our officers is a certain dultogof tho ?■ " m i n ervfs. producing stowne* o» ° f rrcx W instan- of the efftx-l toi;un«n.mN. in night scare in Zululand in 1b,.. I "m„ 'cross .. P'iynt, sold.er r011..j , ,1„. ground and creaming. 1. Zil. thought ue ro«UO.R « foi nri he was nntoucheJ: merely on K^tou«bl TK ,^ul,. S Un : rd hv the tremendous firo wm ™/V, troops had opened in e TiJ-;E<.i.nodouUth.t« ; is particular scarew.s hy the smU !,,„ pnpmifh ol a row oan outpost iitrv who took tlu- co* tor a Zulu ur-

1,1 Vt i- of course, mniweshary tu romark that the tr«,»ps concerns ... HuLimine** were raw and unreliable. . >v' r founded, tjiontth I