The story of the strategy of a Russian aviator which got him out of
a tight corner, is cabled from Petrograd:
A Russian airman accompanied by an observation officer was flying
over the enemy's territory when he was obliged to descend owing
to engine trouble. The pilot and the officer were wearing leather
clothes without any distinctive mark.
They were working on the motor when suddenly seven Austrian soldiers
in charge of an under officer appeared over the crest of a little
hill and approached them.
Resistance was impossible, for the Russians had no weapons but
revolvers. Fortunately the officer knew German. Calling loudly to
the Austrian officer he ordered him in a peremptory manner to come
and help him mend the motor. The Austrian, believing he was in the
presence of a superior officer, hastened with his men to obey, and
soon the engine had been put right.
The aeroplane started off, and as it ascended in spirals to the
clouds a paper fell at the feet of the gaping Austrians. It
contained a short message of thanks to the officer and his men for
giving such timely aid to Russian aviators.
"IT IS LOVELY HERE!"
The Earl of Kingston, who is an officer in the Irish Guards, in
a letter to his wife at Kildonin Castle, County Roscommon, from
France, says:
"We had a bad night last night in the trenches, as we are only
800 yards from the Germans, and both sides are as jumpy as fleas,
loosing off at any moment, and the guns are keeping up a terrific
fire on us, but doing little damage. We had two killed and two
wounded yesterday.
"They have a large gun here that was meant for the siege of Paris.
It throws a shell thirty-two inches long and makes a hole big enough
to bury eighteen men in. This battle has been on for ten days and we
hope for the best.
"We have a farm here that has been taken and retaken, but we have
it again at present. It is lovely at night, with hundreds of shells
bursting all around, and if it were not for the death they bring
they might be fireworks on a large scale.
"I have lost my servant and all my kit. Please send me out some
cigarettes, tobacco and matches."