Page:The Russian Review Volume 1.djvu/134

112 upon which is still wet the blood with which the records are written, we come across numberless dramas of this sort, scattered over the vast battlefield of the Old World. Let us choose one or two.

The Russian press has recently reported the capture of the commander of the 82nd German Division, together with his whole staff, by a handful of Russian troops. The story of this raid is one of grim simplicity, yet behind the uncolored details we feel the gripping romance of hours of racking torture, of fearful strain, of recklessness verging almost on frenzy, of implacable cruelty, of delirious joy at the unexpectedly brilliant success.

But, war is war

The object of the raid was to reach the small village of Nevel, where, according to reports, was stationed the staff of the 271st regiment of German infantry. The village lay far within the German lines, in the very midst of a large territory covered with impassable swamps. The fact of the presence of these swamps led the Germans to weaken their vigilance at some parts of the line, and this made the raid possible.

The attack was undertaken by a small detachment of troops, scarcely numbering forty, led by a young officer. Their guides were several local trappers who knew every road and by-way for miles around. They undertook to lead the raiders by secret paths to the very village of Nevel. The movements of the detachment had to be conducted in absolute silence, and the commanding officer warnerwarned [sic] his soldiers grimly that he would use his sword on any one who talked or coughed louder than was necessary. The commander of the detachment himself gives the following graphic description of the raid.

"The night was clear, the moon was out, and the stars twinkled in the blue November sky, while under our feet the fresh snow was crackling softly. We were going slowly, feeling our way. Despite all care, someone would occasionally fall off the path and into the deceptive layer of snow, but the strong hands of his neighbors would immediately help him out. Our guides showed us the precise spot where we were to meet a German detachment of thirty of forty men. It was necessary to destroy this detachment. This, in itself, was not difficult, of course, but it was essential to do the thing so that there would not be any unnecessary noise. Moreover, it was important not to let any one get away.