A SURPRISE ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1916, Page 2

A SURPRISE ATTACK.

RUSSIANS' 'GREAT VALOR. ' GERMAN STAFF WIPED OUT. The following incident is a story appearing in the Russian press of an attack by a handful of Russian troops upon the quarters of the commander and staff of the Eighty-second German Division, which were located far within supposedly impassable swamps, several miles behind the German lines, in .the little town of Novel. Forty men under a young officer, aided by a few native guides, undertook the expedition. Witli infinite difficulty they made their way in, surprising and putting out of thf way the German sentinels as they came to tliem. At length they reached the sleeping village, occupied solely by German soldiers. They were forty against hundreds. They must work fast, and without mercy, as we read:—

A SHATTERED HUT. Our task was made easier by the fact that the village stretched out in a long line. . . . The work consisted in approaching a window of a hut, breaking the glass with the elbow, and then throwing the grenade inside. Ton seconds later, which is sufficient time for the man throwing the grenade to run to a safe distance, the grenade would explode with a terrific force, shattering everything inside and setting the building on fire. There was no escape for those caught inside the huts. The work began. From every direction came the sounds of explosions, and hut after hut flared up. Most of the Germans were asleep, and they passed to the next world, never knowing what sent them there. . . . There was a light in one hut, and through the window we could see a group of five or six officers playing cards around a table. Kvidently they had had their supper only a short while before, and were now passing a pleasant hour before retiring. They had come to Nevel the day before, together with the staff of the Eighty-second Division, whose presence in the village ,'as a welcome surprise to us. The officer* evidently thought themselves in perfect safety and were in fine spirits. Suddenly the glass of the window-pane jingled to the floor, and, several seconds later, a terrible explosion shook the' place. Of the peaceful card-table scene nothing remained but the naming hut.

FEW PRISONERS. Tbe Germans elsewhere, who rushed out alarmed by the din, were black targets against the flames and easily despatched. So the whole battalion died, at small cost to the Russians. General von Tabernis, commander of tbe division, escaped the destruction that met his brother-officers, and was taken prisoner. Then the retreat began. We set out on our homeward march in the sight of Cerman troops already closing in upon us. Luck was with us to the end. Constantly firing back upon our pursuers, we succeeded in preventing them from encircling us. Besides, the general commotion robbed the Germans of their usual alertness and quickness of action. Towards morning we were already approaching our own positions. We did not bring back many prisoners; the risks were too great. But we did have the general and the commander of the battery with us. General von Tabernis was very gloomy. He did not have :his casque on; there was no time for it. When we offered him a cap he sullenly refused it, tying a handkerchief about bis head. Wo tried to put some questions to him, but he answered abruptly: "Why do you ask me? You know that I am a 'Prussian general, and won't say anything.'' He walked along, silent and dignified. Only once did he break his silence, to ask about tbe fate of his chief of staff. "I cut him down," said one of my soldiers, and bared his bloody sabre. General von Tabernis looked at the soldier and at his sabre, and' then lowered his eyes, Everyone was silent. 'What w« to be done J War ta was.