True Stories of the Great War, Volume 3 (of 6): Tales of Adventure--Heroic Deeds--Exploits Told by the Soldiers, Officers, Nurses, Diplomats, Eye Witnesses
History
True Stories of the Great War, Volume 3 (of 6): Tales of Adventure--Heroic Deeds--Exploits Told by the Soldiers, Officers, Nurses, Diplomats, Eye Witnesses
World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives
It was, however, well after seven o'clock and dark by the time we
had crossed the old frontier and descended upon the broad plain of
Kossovo. Having practically had nothing to eat or drink all day--and
very little the day before--we rejoiced when at last camp was reached
and we found ourselves sitting beside a huge wood fire--it was bitterly
cold--waiting for our supper to be cooked for us and for our tent to be
pitched.
We did not reach camp, by the way, without some excitement. Out of
the darkness there suddenly came the sound of shooting uncomfortably
near. Our friend the commandant was riding by our side at the moment;
he apologized and galloped off sharply. Then came more shooting. We
learnt afterwards that it was a case of Albanian snipers, and that due
punishment had been meted out.
Our supper consisted of "confection," as the tinned meat provided to
the army is called. When cooked it is quite good, as each tin, besides
the meat, contains an ample supply of soup. We had Nestlé's milk, too,
and now for the first time we learnt to appreciate this commodity at
its true value. What we should have done without Nestlé's later on
it would be hard to say. Our friend was very apologetic about the
entertainment he was able to offer us, and kept repeating that it would
have been very different in other circumstances; but we were able, with
absolute truth, to assure him that we had rarely enjoyed a meal so much.
We might have added: "or slept so well." We were accommodated in a
little "dog-kennel" tent, but there was a comfortable mattress and
plenty of wraps, and though the rain fell in torrents during the night,
it did not affect our rest. We only felt a sense of rejoicing that we
were no longer wedged in among the petrol cans, cold and uncomfortable,
and in unavoidable proximity to uncleanly companions--not forgetting
the pig. As a matter of fact, had we remained in the lorry we should
have been another three nights _en route_.
Our kind friend's hospitality did not end with the night. The carriage
was placed at our disposition the next morning, and starting at six
o'clock we reached Prishtina by noon. There was no breakfast in camp
for anybody, but we were provided with _peksimeat_, as the hard army
biscuit is called, water, and cognac as we drove along.
And as we came to Prishtina our spirits revived, and we told each
other that, after all, there was still hope for Serbia. There would
be a concentration of the three armies upon the historic plain of
Kossovo, and perhaps, if things were well in the south, a junction
might yet be established between the Serbs and the Allies. It would be
a grand thing, we argued, if Kossovo should once again be the scene of
a tremendous battle--Kossovo which is already the centre of all that
is best in Serbian legend and story--and if at Kossovo Serbia should
vindicate her honour and re-enter into possession of her own!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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