STORIES OF THE FIGHTING

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 4, 15 January 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

STORIES OF THE FIGHTING

BLACK SHEEP WHO DIED LIKE A HERO.

HACKNEY M.P.'S LETTER. A private of the 3rd Coldstream Guards, who in peace time was often getting into trouble for one thing or another, died a hero. Private R. G. Tipper, a Coldst] earner, relates t-he story in a letter to his brother. He says: "There was a man in the trenches with uts who had no>t got a clean oluot; he always teemed to b© getting into trouble for one thing or another. "He got hit i-n thleft arm. He crawled back out of the trench to the nearest field hospital ambulance and ■had his wound dres.ed. We advised him to go tn the base but he refuse 1 and with difficulty mad e his war bacii to the firing Sine. There. despite his wounded arm, he steadily wont on firing at 'the enemy. " Some time pasred and he was shot again. fin the right arm. Again he niade th e difficult and painful journey to the field hospital, and then, with both arms injured, he stubbornly insised on crawling back to the- trenches. This time it took him. longer, hut, fl t last be got back, 'and with difficulty handling his rifle with his mauled limbs, he grimly went on shooting. "Bv and bye he collapsed, shot- clean through the body. Several comrades ran. to him and raised him. They told him he must fret back, but he srd 'No. let me be. Tho blighters have done me in this time.' "He nodded towards two wounded men a little way off in the trench and said : 'Get these chaps out; they'll be gocd for something again. But I'm done.' His chums were laying him down, when he muttered: 'Hoist me up latere von go. I'll give them another 'round, so help me! Prop me up quick and look to those two chaps.' "Thry propped him up ibesidc his rifle, which rested in the loophole. The •poor fellow with fumbling hands pointed the weapon towards the enemy and let drive two more rounds. Theq he (dipped down —dead." M.P. IN THE TRENCHES. Captain Raymond Greene, the Unionist member for North Hackney, who is at the front- with the 9th Lancers, has sent a 10r.2: and interesting letter to Sir John Run'tz, the president or the local Conservative Association, describing his experiences. He says: "If my friends in North Hackney could seo me then they certainly would not recognise their representative; we get covered 4 "with mud, our clothes coated with clay, and we look rather like a gang of 'miners who have been working all dav at digging iron ore. "The men really are heroes, and stick to it without any grumbling. They could not d° the work if tlity were not well fed. and no army was ever ■better catered for in this respect. II We had to sleep in the garden at heme on -a November might with only a greatcoat oa, we should think it would kill us. but as a matter of fact it doesn't seem to do us any harm." "But, of couireo. the great need is for more men—We have often a long line to hold, and more men would make our task much easier. We hear £ood accounts of the new army at home, and when fit to come it will be very welcome out here. "Having to bury sonr? of our own men after a long day's fighting is always one of the saddrst- tasks that has to be performed." COSSACK SHOT FOR LOOTING. ~ RUSSIAN HUMANITY IN CARPATH lA. A Hungarian prelate who recently arrived in Rome from Buda Pesth says that in their invasion of Carpathia the Russians have (shown the greatest consideration for the Hungarian as well as for the- Slovak population. Strictest orders were issued against looting and violence, and in a few cases where such offences were brought to the notice of the Russian general, the guilty ones were immediately fdioe. As an instance of th e Ru'sian severity the pi'elat© told of the following incident which had come under his own notice. Aft.r the Russians had entered Marmoros Syzgct the -Russian commander had tiie town placarded with notices :!iat the inhabitants would not be molested and their property was safe. The only regulation which he made was that the hou.se doors must remain open day and night. A Jiw had gone to bed one evening and was awakened from his sleep -by a noise in his room. Looking up. he saw an immense Cossack engaged : n appropriating a- gold watch and chain. !.was afraid to rise and defend his property, and allowed the Cossack to s;o off without interference. N. Xt morning he thought things fver and reasoned that as the Russian commander had guaranteed that there ' hoit'd b 0 no looting, he ought to be able to get some recompen.se for his lost valuables. He then fore went off to the beadquarters and obtained an audience with the gomral. When be bad finished explaining the theft, the general said to han : " Would you recognise thi- Cossack ii von saw him again?"' '■Certainly I should."" lvn'ied the Jew. "Then come with ir.e." said the General. Hp took the Jew with him to th > quarters where the C<>s-ack\ were encamped. The r giment war, drawn up. •and the Jew walked down tho line«.

Suddenly the Jew called out "Tha is tli? iiij.n."

Tlie Cossack -was taken out of the lin t . and 'searched. In his Mmm were found th; ■watch and chain, and ho was immediately taken away and shot.