| Show I r GenTIans Germans Sag Say R Russian s id N Nun NunI u i A. A 1 7 I r Aided ln in Th Their I iri t Escape s a 2 l e t. t B Berlinger e lInge T T narrates b i I ventures of a German airman r w s shot down by the Russians an nade e prisoner and who subsequently qU Li Lieutenant tenant R. R is is 25 old was born boni in Dresden Dreden 1 and wears the Iron cross cross cross' of the I first class T Tt t On February 16 16 no ut says after days das of h heavy avy snowstorms il I prepared pret pre pre- prepared t pared for a flight Cur Our headquarters J ter tern were Ina a pretty Hungarian I town at the font foot of tho r f In We I had uCb been en subjected ct df for or r I several days to a hellish artillery I l fir fire and my orders were to locate 1 I I th the position thO-position position of the Russian batteries We started in the afternoon and rose I io meters over th the i a height to which even the eagle do does does' s' s snot not Venture We Ve made excellent observations of the Russian lines and were on our return trip when we e ran Into a thick bank of snow clouds We c could uld se see andY and r rather ther than take i the chance of of running blindly into rue me Carpathian n mountains my my pilot dr dropped dripped to a height of meters The Russians were dire directly below us usi Immediately shells shells' burst all around around us One bullet hit the motor and in two minutes w we landed in the midst of the Russians There was vas no escape for us as the Russian Rus- Rus sian soldiers rs came running to the sp spot t where we fell fOlL However before before be be- fore they reached us my toy pilot and I I had applied matches the aeroplane aeroplane aero aero- plane and it was quickly ablaze A Russian officer shouted to us in German German Ger Ger- man Throw row down your guns Plane Is Fired Cossacks i came galloping on their little horses Infantry also arrived I warned them to keep a away way as I knew w the machine would explode when the fire reached the gasoline They threw snow on the flames and the fire wa was wad soon extinguished The cossacks cossack's then searched us They were not so particular about taking taking- our revolvers but they m made de sure to get our valuables and from my pilot they took 1200 kroner which he carried in an inside pocket We were taken to the Russian commander com corn mander of ot the infantry division and were very well received Tea was br brought with and all the cigarettes and cigars we wished The colonel was vas most and had tea with us Gentlemen will you now how be escorted escorted es- es to your quarters If you have any an wish wish wish- My Iy pilot answered him fIt It is bad enough to be made Wade i prisoners but worse t to be without J money I had a little but your cossacks cossacks cos- cos sacks took It from me The colonel was in a rage U The devils he cried But I will make them pay for this Yet h how liOsi can we ve find them How much money was it Twelve hundred kronen r The colonel said something In Russian to ills ilis adjutant who at once left the room You shall shah have your money sir I will pay it to you from the treasury treas treas- ury of our regiment You will be kind enough to give me a receipt My pilot pilots however thanked him and nd said he gould not accept it He I told the colonel that if the money J i I was recovered he lie would give it to I 1 I the Russian Red Cross The officer made madeno no reply but he lie was was visibly moved and shook b both th our hands warmly We We were also warmlY welcomed i bythe tho officers of the tho whole division di- di vision and that evening had dinner with villi them after which we retired for the night We we were o housed in i I a small room Wi with sentries e s posted sted outside The Russian artillery was in a action Uon all night scarcely a hundred hundred hundred hun hun- dred feet removed from us so there was little chance to sleep Nun Gives Aid Ald The morning I r was was again escorted to Lo the rooms of the colonel but a great change had come over mer him I noticed my weapons weapons ons ens lying on his table The colonel stared angrily at me and pointed to my roy side arm which looked lik like i a bayonet i It is infamous he lie said to carry a bayonet with teeth like a saw I told him it was a saw that it was not exactly intended as a weapon but of course might be used as such Jf if absolutely sary However the colonel only regarded regarded re reo re- re me with fiery eyes and left I the room I never saw him after that My pilot and I were then taken on army wagons to a fortress fortresS' where we met a General R R- R who was hv by a Ja nan I evidently a i coi colonel j judging ai g fr from i hi Ills his uniform They conversed in English English Eng Eng- I lish and from what I could hear it was in relation to a artillery fire lire A Russian officer subsequently told me nie that every Russian army corps had hada a Japanese staff officer who acted in an advisory capacity In the fortress we were placed in ina ina I a dreary cell Sad and nd we were very much depressed by our surroundings We wondered what was going to hap pen to us Presently a nun appeared and brought us clean underwear Before Be Be- fore leaving she whispered to me If If you are brave we we C can help you to mal make e your escape From Fron under her cloak she took a package and handed it to me At 7 o'clock sharp I will return Do not utter a sound but simply follow me If circumstance circumstances are not auspicious I will motion to you to remain in fn your cell After she left I opened the pack pack- age It contained two fur caps such as the Russians wear and two Red Cross arm bands As the time approached for the sisters sister's return we put the arm bands on our sleeves sleeves' I and the caps on our heads |
