The story of the strategy of a Russian aviator which got him out of a tight corner, is cabled from Petrograd:
A Russian airman accompanied by an observation officer was flying over the enemy's territory when he was obliged to descend owing to engine trouble. The pilot and the officer were wearing leather clothes without any distinctive mark.
They were working on the motor when suddenly seven Austrian soldiers in charge of an under officer appeared over the crest of a little hill and approached them.
Resistance was impossible, for the Russians had no weapons but revolvers. Fortunately the officer knew German. Calling loudly to the Austrian officer he ordered him in a peremptory manner to come and help him mend the motor. The Austrian, believing he was in the presence of a superior officer, hastened with his men to obey, and soon the engine had been put right.
The aeroplane started off, and as it ascended in spirals to the clouds a paper fell at the feet of the gaping Austrians. It contained a short message of thanks to the officer and his men for giving such timely aid to Russian aviators.
["IT IS LOVELY HERE!"]
The Earl of Kingston, who is an officer in the Irish Guards, in a letter to his wife at Kildonin Castle, County Roscommon, from France, says:
"We had a bad night last night in the trenches, as we are only 800 yards from the Germans, and both sides are as jumpy as fleas, loosing off at any moment, and the guns are keeping up a terrific fire on us, but doing little damage. We had two killed and two wounded yesterday.
"They have a large gun here that was meant for the siege of Paris. It throws a shell thirty-two inches long and makes a hole big enough to bury eighteen men in. This battle has been on for ten days and we hope for the best.