, published in Berlin. Here is
his letter of the war in Poland, not long ago received by relatives. So
much as is not private is given as he wrote it:--

"The inhabitants go out of our way like frightened dogs, with childish
fear. When they wish to ask a question, they kneel down and kiss the
border of our coats, as in the days of the serf system. We are
stationed here in Poland, about eight kilometers from the so-called
road, in a so-called village far from all civilization. The village
consists of a number of tumble-down cottages, with rooms which we should
not consider fit for stables for our horses. The rain is streaming down
unceasingly, as if Heaven wished to wash away all the sins of the world.
Our horses sink into the mud up to their knees.

"We took up our quarters in this village after fifty-four hours'
marching, and came just in time to witness the end of a strange and
tragic romance. When I was about to open the door of a farm, it was
opened from the inside, and a subaltern came out, with a face beaming
with satisfaction. He reported that a little while ago he, with a few
of his men, partly captured and partly shot down half a company of
Russians.

"'We were concealed' he told me. 'We let them come quite near, and then
we started firing.'

"We entered a low-ceilinged room, or pen, sparsely lighted by wax
candles. The first object which caught my attention was a youthful
Russian soldier, almost a child, lying on a straw mattress, smiling as
if asleep. I approached; I put my hand on his forehead ... ice-cold--
dead. Some of the men approached to take off the clothing; others stood
around in a half-circle, silently looking on. Suddenly there was a
murmur... They seemed awe-stricken, these brave fellows, who are not
daunted even by overwhelming odds. They hesitated, and one of them,
advancing a few paces to me, reports: 'This Russian soldier is a girl.'

"This happened in the year 1914.

"We found out that the girl was the betrothed of a Russian officer, and
fought side by side with him throughout the campaign, until killed by a
shot in the breast. The officer was taken prisoner. I buried her
myself that same day..."

In order to make clear what happened when I crossed the German border
for the last time, I should explain that I now had with me several
trophies which I had obtained with great difficulty and was
correspondingly anxious to bring home. Among them was a German
private's he