THE IRON DIVISION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 76, 29 March 1916, Page 6

THE IRON DIVISION.

GERMANS WHO VANISHED. MYSTERY OF A BATTLE DRAMA IN POLESIE. (By (Lieut.-Ccl. Roustam Bek.) The enormous Russian front, extending from the Gulf of Riga to the Carpathian Mountains, presented at the end of 1915 the aspect of a stone wall against the German effort to break through the line on the north. At the same time, the Russians were pressing the enemy in the south toAvards Calicia. In the centre, which is situated in the famous Polesie region, in spite of the supposed calm a certain tension could be noticed. In this district of primordial forests and marshes a "small war" was in progress, in which an important part was played by the Russians. Their activity confused the German General Staff exceedingly, and at the same time letters found on prisoners and on the dead opened the eyes of the Russians to the priceless value of the activities of the Russians of Polesie. SWALLOWED UP. The battle of Czartorysk, which began about October 18 and lasted for more than two weeks, resulted in the capture of 20,000 Austro-German prisoners, many guns and machine-guns. The enemy had been surprised. Something mysterious had occurred in regard to the advance posts and their small reconnoitring patrols, which often disappeared without leaving a trace of their fate. The alarm thus ■occasioned attained a most acute point when even the orderlies of the officers also began to disappear on their way from the kitchen to the officers' mess. In one of the letters which fell into the hands of the Russians, a German lieutenant described several cases in which such a servant had suddenly vanished from the earth. It was supposed at first that the men. who disappeared had fal'.en victhe wolves, and, after several men had been lost in this mysterious fashion officers' servants were protected by a special guard. The bewilderment of the Germans was complete when servants and guards also failed to return. v

A little later sentries, advance posts and messengers disappeared in the same astonishing fashion without giving a shot or any other signal in the moment of danger. It was then discovered that in this part of Polesie the marshes presented a very pecuiar character, and very often the ground which seemed to be quite solid suddenly subsided and swallowed men, and even horses. There is, of course, no doubt that through this cause many thousands of the enemy have perished, but the disappearances which wrought so much amazement among the enemy had quite another origin. COLD STEEL. The Germans only began to understand the mystery at the beginning of November, when the first important attack was launched by the Russians in Polesie. Several detachments of these forces, armed with handgrenades and cold-steel arms, suddenly attacked the enemy from different sides, killing more than 700, destroying or capturing their transports, motor cars, lorries, and machine-guns, and blowing op ammunition wagons. All this was accomplished so unexpectedly and with such speed just before sunrise that the Austro-Ger-mans were unable to make any resistance. The whole incident was over in

a few minutes and, leaving the village in flames, the force disappeared in the forest.

A squadron of German cuirassiers which came to the rescue of the at-'; tacked forces rushed in pursuit of the , Russians, hut not a single man ciame I back to their camp. All perished in the marshes ,with the exception of ; a few men who were taken prisoners j by the patrol of the Cossacks. I Since this attack such operations I have become frequent, absolutely terrorising tbe enemy. The most brilliant raid of this kind took place at the beginning of December. Supported by a regiment of Russian Dragoons, a force noiselessly approached the headquarters of the 82nd German division. All the officers of the staff, with their general, together with the men, were taken prisoners. The officers were in their night clothes, and, as there was no time to allow them to dress, they were brought to the Russian camp as they were. If we look backward we Can realise that the Russians, after their terrific retreat, were ab'e in the first place definitely to stop the further offensive cf the enemy, and then suddenly to resume a vigorous activity, counter-at-tacking the enemy in the north and pressing him by means of the most determined offensive in the south —a

matter which the Germans considered impossible. TURNING THE TABLES. It is an extraordinary thing that, while the enemy had prepared the future attack by means of his artillery, the Russians, instead of merely meeting him by means of a strong defence, actually attacked him, 2000 men, 49 officers, and six machineguns being taken, and large numbers killed and wounded, while the Russians lost only 40 men and three officers. Two days later 3000 AustroGermans wer e captured, together with nine heavy howitzers and 20 machineguns. Henceforward the initiative was held by the Russians. The "Iron Division" of the sharpshooters brought the first Russian success, which was the prelude to the further progressive advance of the Russians in the southern section of their gigantic front. Highly dramatic was the way in which this division succeeded in breaking through the Austro-German front and unexpectedly appearing in their rear, where during three days it continuously fought the enemy—one division, be it remembered, against an enormous opposing force. Being masters of the teleuhone and of other means' of communication, the general commanding the "Iron Division" was enabled to demolish the transports and stores of ammunition of the enemy, and to produce a real panic among the already engaged front of the Aus-trc-Germans. Their task suecessful'y accomplished, the "Iron Division" safelv reached its base. If such an operation in tho rear of the enemy has thus been achieved bv jnfantrv. what can the enemy expect in the future?