with them, holding hands. The
boys, with miniature flower-gardens in their hats, tinselled grass and
red-white-and-green rosettes, could sit with their arms round their
sweethearts as much as they wanted to, for everybody knew that they had
just been called to the colors and this was their farewell.

I looked over more of the histories--not in the ward, where one was, of
course, more or less a nuisance, but in the room where they were filed
in hundred lots. Some of the men were still in the hospital, some had
died, most of them gone back to the front. There were many of these
foot cases: "While on outpost duty in the Carpathians during a
snow-storm I felt the lower part of my body becoming powerless. Not
being able to walk, was carried back and put on train. Next day we were
stopped, because Russians were ahead of us, and obliged to leave train.
Waited two days without food or medical attention; then put on train for
Budapest."

"My regiment was in the Carpathians, and on or about January 20 my feet
refused to obey. I held out for four days and then reported ill. Toes
amputated, right foot."

"I belong to German Grenadier Regiment No. ----. On February 6, while
sleeping in open snow, I felt numbed in feet. Put on light duty, but on
8th reported ill and doctor declared feet frozen."

"March 12, during heavy snowstorm, Russians attacked us. One of my
comrades was shot in stomach, and I took off my gloves to bandage him.
All at once our regiment sounded 'Storm!' and I had to rush off to
attack, forgetting my gloves. I had both my hands frozen."

"I am field-cornet of the---German Grenadiers. I was, since the
beginning of the war, in Belgium and France, and at end of November sent
to Russian Poland and January 1 to Carpathians. On February 6, while
retiring to prevent the Russians surrounding us, I was shot In thigh at
1,500 yards distance and fell. Within a few minutes I got two more
shots."

"That's just like a German," commented the nurse. "They always begin by
telling just who they are and what they were doing. A Hungarian would
probably just say that he was up in the mountains and it was cold. These
soldiers are like big children, some of them, and they tell us things
sometimes."

"While in Carpathians on January 20 I reported to my lieutenant, feet
frozen. He said dig a hole and when you are quite frozen we will put
you in. I stood it another seven days, then we had to retreat. I went
myse