Page:Albert Beaumont - Heroic Story of the Czecho-Slovak Legions - 1919.djvu/9

 first time we got into contact with the Poles, and it gave us a chill. Our men, thinking only of Slav brotherhood imagined that perhaps with the Poles a combined action might be devised. Let us throw down our arms. Why fight for the Austrians? These wore hints thrown out. I think our men would have been ready to go to any lengths that day if the Poles had shown the slightest disposition. On the contrary, the Poles looked at us sternly. They became menacing and threw out the word “Traitor“. We could not understand at first. Later on we understood. The Poles were not affected by the messages of Grand Duke Nicholas as we had been. On the contrary, many of them thoroughly hated the Russians. They were influenced by the Poles of Russia, whose one ideal was to obtain their independence from Russia. For this they were willing to fight in the cause of Austria. And Austria had constantly and cleverly made them believe that she was fighting the cause of their liberty.

About Nov. 15 we were moved out of Cracow. This time we had a presentiment that we should soon be thrown into the fray in earnest. We got to a village called Volki Biotrkov, and were under heavy bombardment for days, although we were in positions at the rear as reserves. One day, about Nov. 20. I was in an infirmary of reserves with another Czech officer and two doctors from Prague and a number of soldiers. A Russian shell burst in the big room in which we were assembled and killed or gravelly wounded all except myself. I was merely stunned and unconscious for a while, but when picked up I came to myself again, and found that I had no injury whatever. But all my dear colleagues were either dead or dying. These were our first casualties.

The Russian artillery during those first months of the war was excellent and far superior to the Austrian artillery. The Russians obtained most of their advantages by their artillery, and there were comparatively few infantry attacks. We often wondered why the Russians did not press on more quickly, as we were continually retreating, and a strong infantry attack would have completely scattered the Austrian forces.

We were again marched back to Cracow, and on Nov. 28 we were embarked on a train, and learned that our next destination was in the Carpathians. The great battle of Limanoff had begun, and we were being hurried out as reserves to make good the advantages which the Austrians had gained at the outset. It was the first success which the Austrians obtained. They had attacked the Russians on the flank, and the latter fell back a short distance to a place called Bochna. It was here that our regiment got for the first time into the actual fighting line, and it was hell for the next ten days. Our opportunity come [sic] at last!