BELGRALE'S HERO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 284, 10 May 1915, Page 2

BELGRALE'S HERO.

CHIEF OF THE DARE-DEVILS. , The best-loved and most-talked-of man in Belgrade and the north of Servia is the famous Major Djoukitch, the dare-devil of the Dare-devils or Comitadges (says a correspondent of an English exchange). The Comitndges are irregulars in the Servian Army, who receive orders to go to a particular 'place and do particular work. How they go or how they perform their task 110 one asks. They almost ahvavs.succeed, or they do not return. Many of .them are under the command of the little, alert, humorous Major Djoukitch. He sets tile task. Often ho has led his irregulars, and the people tell with joy of his exploits. He is credited with having killed 40.000 to 50,000 Anstrians, and his name is known and feared on the opposite bank of the River Save.

Tt was he and his men who took possession of the island of Tsinganlia which lies in the river midway betweim Belgrade and Semlin. It' was he who repulsed thq» Austrian assaults and piled up thousands of dead men on the banks, while hundreds of drowning and dead Austrians floated down the river.

He is a man who always likes to be busy. It is his nature to be acting and joking, and if fighting on his side of the river is slack, -and if oxen and cows are scarce, he occasionally crosses with a chosen band of irregulars to the Austrian shore, takes what cattle ho wants, and returns.

One night the Austrians planned an attack in boats and barges. The major expected the enemy, and ordered his men not to shoot till he gave the word. So great is his control that many Austrians actually landed on . the island where, his men were hiding. It w*s impossible for them to go back. 'And then, when they were within yards of the hiding Servians, he gave the order to fire. The Austrians knew that the major had trapped them, and they cried, ••Please stop, Major. You are killing us all. We will surrender." Those Who were not killed are now in Servia as prisoners.A few weeks ago there flew proudly from the opposite bank of the Save an Austrian flag. This flic major did not like to see. So it was decided to take it down. One dark night two boats set out from Tsiganlia carrying some Servian irregulars, One boat made an attack and engaged the attention of the Austrians while the occupants of the other boat landed, took down the flag, and brought it safely home.