Page:Albert Beaumont - Heroic Story of the Czecho-Slovak Legions - 1919.djvu/24

 100 kilometres (60 miles) till we got into touch with them again. The report then spread that it had only been a lure. The Russians, meanwhile, were victorious in the Carpathians. They threatened to penetrate into Hungarian territory. These were only rumours, but the Austrians felt very uneasy. Our position was on one side of the river Nida. The Russians had taken up good positions on the other side.

We were about to settle down in trenches again when orders came for the 3rd Army Corps to march back. I belonged to the 3rd Army Corps, and therefore moved. The report first spread was that we were going to have a rest. Instead, we were all put aboard a train for the Carpathians. We were landed somewhere on the far outskirts of Przemysl. Marshal Conrad von Hoetzendorf was in command. He was to relieve Przemysl. We marched and skirmished alternately till we got to Lisko, about fifty kilometres south of Przemysl. Here we again got into a furious battle which lasted two days. We broke up repeatedly. We took shelter here and there. The Russians seemed to be in front and behind. I got into a fearful fight with my men in a hollow at a place called Vislok Velky. About 100 of my men were killed in bayonet charges.

This was the first time I was captured. I was taken prisoner with about thirty of my Ruthenians. I felt tremendously relieved, and thought that my troubles were over at last. I had no time to explain to the Russians, and they had no time to attend to us prisoners. We formed a small group waiting to know which way we might have to go. We were prisoners for less than ten minutes, when my silly Ruthenians, who had remained behind, came up with a reserve company and rushed the Russians. They thought they had done a glorious thing. I felt like murdering them. The Russians disappeared, and I thought what fools they were not to have kept us once they had us! I had an idea of running after the Russians. I wanted to beg them to take me along. But then I thought of my wife and child in Prague. If the Austrians saw I deserted, it was my wife that would suffer! There was a standing threat against any Czech who deserted to the enemy; his family would be imprisoned, and his goods confiscated.

The battle continued furiously. The Russians drove us back and we retreated again in disorder. We did not stop till we got to the Hungarian border. For the first time we were able to dig real trenches. The Russians did the same, and for six weeks we remained in those positions. We passed Christmas and New Year there. Every day there was some skirmish or other, but of small importance. For the first time I got into touch with many of my compatriots. The patrols in many of the regiments were composed of Czechs. They were commanded by