El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-12-29
84MEN
BUT WINS FIGHT
Half of German Cavalry
Squadron is Wiped Out
in Lagarde Battle.
By FRITZ JACOBSON.

Berlin, Germany, Dec. 25-I have
just come into possession of a stirring
| letter written by a wounded cavalry
| officer, now convalescent at Dienzef
August his squadron lost "a out Of
142 men and he was the only officer
not put hors de combat. He writes:
August IL was a great day for our
| regiment, and in due time will be re-
corded in history, as was Gravelotte
and Mars-la-TOur. It was a death
ride in the fullest meaning of thar
word; against automatic guns and in
fantry, in which the first third and
fourth sQuadrOns of my regiment, and
the second squadron Of another regi-
ment took part The fifth squadron
men are very disappointed, for they
were commanded to occupy bridge
and the opposite bank. One thousand
prisoners. including II or is COM
manders, cannon and automatic guns
were captured.
Commander Is Shot.
''Our brigade suffered bitterly; Of
the 142 men in my squadron only So
replied when the roll was called; and
I was the only officer. ALI the rest
are dead or wounded. The commander
of the brigade was shot through his
breast and hand. His condition, how.
ever, is said to be satisfactory.
Ny squadron suffered most, for it
took part in the worst attack. Our
regiment ought to be spared little
nOw;at all events, we have the hardest
day OF the whole campaign behind US.
The success, particularly from the
moral point of view is splendid.
August II Will for all time be a
day of honor for our regiment and this
attack of Lagarde will stand forth
as one of the bravest achievements
of the whole champaign.
Guardian Angel Near.
Never before was as conscious Of
the proximity of my guardian angel
as on that day. I cannot quite explain
it, but all the while I was not bit ex-
cited, and had a feeling Of absolute
safety. Now when I look back and call
to mind the situation of my poor squad.
ron of the IS surviving, quite lew
were on parole, and did not take part
in the attack. On the evening of that
day 1 proceeded with p men and three
non cOmmissioned officers In view Of
that fact one must really feel that God
took me in special guard. 1 feel that
when I return to the front my lucky
star will again guard me from danger.
Now more than ever have feeling of
absolute confidence.
Bright and early on the 18th. as al
ways in good humOr, we started out
realizing less than ever before all that
the day might bring. AT 2:30 the
fighting between artillery and infan-
try broke out, in which we took a
hand at II o'clock.
AS we advanced, 7 felt thoroughly
Indifferent; the only thought that pos
sessed me was to whack away. With
remarkable rapidity one accustoms
oneself to the sight of the dead and
wounded One becomes so hardened
that the most awful sight seems alb
solutely natural Wherever we rode
there were the French in their red
trousers. Many batteries were de-
stroyed, and the shells burst and the
shots sang constantly about one.
Calls "PardOn," Struck Down..
"A French infantry officer who
called pardon I hit on the head. What
were about TO enter Lagarde, my horse
was shot in the chest and fell under
me. I did not see it again.
With two. Of the riders of my di-
vision, 1 took shelter. in a ditch over
which countless shots were wEiZZing.
till at last it quoted down. In the
distance discerned my regiment gath
erlnS together, then. to my delight, I
close by I found my own infantry.
With my riders who now numbered
Of that captain, and with this COM
pany, with revolver and carbine, 1 !
weEt through the rest of the battle.
French Surrender.
"The first surrendering Frenchmen
drew up in herds One had to be very /
cautious, for the fellows still shot out |
of the ambush, even when they were /
lying wounded. A soldier passed me /
his canteen, and as / was about to |
grasp it, a shot went right through his |
hand
we made the prisoners discard ev-
erything except their red trousers and |
shirt. Our company had captured $50. /
They had to march by with raised arms. |
I felt sorry for the poor fellows, sew !
eral Of whom were badly wounded; /
chaps not older than Is or II years |
were among them. I gave them of .
what I had left of chocolate and ban
daging, and had water brought for /
them.
sixty steps away the rest OF the |
French were thrown back across the !
sluee bridge at the Rhein- Marine canal /
We shot right into that heap: it was
horrible. At the other side was the /
fountain at which, after our victorious
battle, we refreshed ourselves. To
reach it we had to step over heaps of 1
dead and wounded. On the other bank
about 100 steps away, there was a de-
troyed battery of the enemy. The
shots in the powder cart exploded
every few moments"