Page:Albert Beaumont - Heroic Story of the Czecho-Slovak Legions - 1919.djvu/27

 well, and we retreated ultimately about thirty kilometres into Hungarian territory. It rankled in my heart that I had not been able to remain a prisoner the second time, especially as I had 30.000 kronen in my belt that day. It was the regiment’s money which I had just received. I would have been glad to take it with me to the Russian side. I hated the lieutenant for having rescued me. He had killed two Russians with his own hand before I got free. But I did not feel grateful; it only made things worse for him.

The Russian attack continued, and we retreated to a village called Vyrava. The whole of the month of February passed at that place. It was the beginnning of stationary trench warfare. On March 1 the Russians made a surprise attack. A series of fearful battles and engagements ensued. We were badly cut up. Our division lost 1,500 men in a single day. As usual, I had my share fighting in the very worst part, and I lost nearly my whole company. Only four of my men survived. Our battalion was diminished by one-half. One entire company was taken prisoner.

On the following day our positions were occupied by fresh troops I was sent to the village behind to reconstitute my company. The fighting continued till March 7. From March 8 to March 21 there was a complete lull. The moment for my taking “leave“ of the Austrians at last arrived. I did not expect it would be so soon. In a way it came as a surprise. We got a telephone message on the night of March 20 that the Russians were going to make a general attack the following morning. We did not believe it. But we took observations. I noticed that there was great movement on the Russian side. My corporals went scouting and came back saying they had seen many Russians on the march to the trenches. They were concentrating in great numbers. It was true, then, they were preparing a big attack. I did not care. I still pretended not to believe it. I told my men to go and sleep. They were too excited, I said, and took shadows for men. They came back to me and wanted to know what orders I gave them. “Go, lie down and sleep," I said. They went away wondering. They must have thought I was mad. My own orderly came and asked me what to do. “I shall stay up and watch,“ he said “No.“ I told him, “you must not bother. I am going to lie down lie down [sic] and sleep.“

During the night an order came from the colonel to be ready. The Russians were going to attack, and we were to hold our position to the last man. “All right,“ I said to myself: “we shall stay here to the