THE HEROIC PRINCE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 4, 15 January 1915, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE HEROIC PRINCE.

SAVING A LACHENIS

j lie whole of Servia is proud of us Ciown Prince, who l- now recovering lroni a severe wound which ho r-ceiwu under romantic circumstances, uccoiduig to a correspondent of th 0 "Rus,,koye Tsteiiteme." of Petrograd. His Royal Highness had left Belgrade by motor tor tins tkrviau position at Kroupnva. From MaU-liKova Gtuva he rode on horseback. On arliving at the iiring line, a sorry picture presented itself, 'ilireo battalions of tho sth Regiment were subjected to it terrific artillery and intaiuiry fire, and Ui. y were leaving their position undei tho overwhelming pressure of tho enemy. The Austriaiis. overjoyed at the prospect of victory, were merciless, ly pounding the unsupported regiment. Already tiiev were Hearing tho one battery which formed their last defence, and it was running short of ammunition. The position was desperate. A\ith bated breath the Crown l'rinco was witnessing the disappearance of tho last chaiUK's of victory, when, Kudd".nl'y, at a di-tanco of half a mile, lie espied a Servian infantry battalion standing idle and making no attempt to take any part in the fighting. "Why ar 0 they standing there Jiko that?" lie shouted, and without waiting for a reply he spurred his horse in their direction. " God'?; help to you, heroes/' lie greeted tliem. "God's help to you. major," they replied, that being the customary greeting. They failed to recognise the heir to tlie Servian throne. "What are you doing here?" the Prince inquired. They were held in reserve, they said. '"Don't yen see," ha cried, " that th<> enemy threatens to capture that regiment? Where is your commanding officer?" "We have not got one. H 0 is killeel. wag melancholy reply. " Where are th« other officers, then?" "They are all killed." It appeared that tho battalion was deprived of .all its officers and non-com-missioned officers, a::d the me n were somewhat demoralised, and had no koenn y.s to do battle without them. It was a moment for heroic action, and the Crown Prince realised it. "Soldiers," he cried again, "I am George, son of your King, Peter. Let every hero anion,<r you follow me." iiio wiholTi battalion followed as one niaii, shouting, "Jirio Korolevitch Georgius!" (Long liv c Prin-oa George!) Hir> lloyal Higline? s went cihoad, a sword in his right hand, a revolver' :'n his left, and dashed to the rescue of the endangered regiment. The remnants < i the sth Regiment, pee.inj; reinforcomeats coming to their aid, ma>ie a supreme effort, and returned tho attack of the Austriaiis in a desperate nanner. A fierce hand-to-hand combat ensued. The Aust.ria.iis wavered, and. within a few minutes thev were in flight.

This engagement cost the Prince a sev re kiyooet wound, but. it decided an important battle.