New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-16
Soldiers Tell of Fighting
Which Drove Invaders
Back at Marine.
SAY ENEMY ASKED
TRUCE AS TRICK
Attack in Woods Concealing In.
vaderS Marked by Artillery
Duel and Cavalry Charges.
Bv GEORGE DRU.

following account OF the paruclPa'io"
Of the British in the great battle OF
the Marine. Dawn was just breaklngi
men lay curled up in their blankets on
all sides. Suddenly the blast OF bugleS
sounded the rcvcillc, After nasty
meal Of hot coffee and biscuits. the
buplcs sounded the order TO fall m
and long before the sun rose they were
on tho move. Although they had gone
through heavy march on the previous
day no one showed any signs OF
WEAKNESS, for the word had gone out
among the men that before night we
would be testing our skill against the
enemy. This worked up sufficient cN-
citemcnt TO make them cover inc
ground as quickly as possible
Woods Alive with Foe.
DAYLIGHT showed in front an almost
level stretch Of open country, oaGhcu
up by belt OF growing timber "het'
tho Germans had taken up their posi-
ton. Although none of the foe was
visible, the woods were awe WIN
armed men, and behind the woods lay
the artillery in trenches, protected ny
The British troops Wait-
ed, backed up by heavy guns. suddenly
there came a hooting in the distance
followed by q long drawn wall as
shell passed overhead, to explode Win
q deafening roar at a safe distance
from the trenches. The Germans had
opened the duel. There was not long
TO wait before the guns Of the British
hogan 10 answer with greater ehect:
All At once noticeable little spurts OF
dust began rising in front. The men
in the woods were trying to get the
range, but still our men received no
orders TO fire. One Of our men, unaDlc
TO control his anxiety to use his rlnc'
rose from the trenches, fully exposing
himself TO the encmy's fire, only TO tali
back dead. Finding they were unaoiS
TO draw our fire the enemy advanced
into the open, only to be met with
heavy vollcy. They quickly sought
cover. and then the fight became wicked.
After two hours Of continuous fgnt-
ing the foe got the impression that the
spot they occupied was unhealthy ana
retired into the rear of the woods. Our
runs had practically silenced the Ger
nan batteries, thanks to the informa-
tion received from d French aeroplane.
They then turned their attentloJ to the
rifemcu in the woods and, under the
of d grucllng fire, our SOL
dicrs silcnced them. Had they been
on parade they could not have shown
moro GOODNESS or stcadinCss. After
covering most of the intervening space
At march, they broke into double
and soon we're IN the vicinity OF the
thicket Finding that our guns had
located them the enemy had retreated.
Our left and right flank cavalry round
cd the edge of the woods, while the in.
fsntry passed through the centre OF
the timber. On reaching the far side
they fell into close formation and the
British troops charged the foe.
Dead Germans, struggling, wounded
horses and broken guns made thrill
ing but terrible picture. Great gashes
torn into the earth were eloquent signs
Of tho accuracy Of British gunncry.
Calls Armistice Trick.
At another stage of the great battle
the Germans massed near wood. The
British Law we'll away from them on
one side: the French under General
Pan on the other Some desultory fir
ing took place and the Germans tried
10 hide their real strength under cover
of the forest, but the allied command
crs had been we'll supplied with in
formation and were on the alert. The
Germans on the right asked for an
armistice for the purpose OF attending
TO their wounded and burylng their
dead. but while this request was under
English aCroplanes dis
covered that the Germans were set
ting a trap for the Allies. Ncgotla-
lions at once were broken off and the
fighting commenced again.
The airman had seen AN immense
number of guns enter the woods, the
foe evidently having planned to put
up something in the nature OF sham
fight and then retreat so as TO draw
the British pursuing force right on top
of the hidden guns. 1t was well
planned death trap, but the Allies by
this time were aware of the tactics OF
a not too scrupulous foe. The motive
behind the request for an armlSucc
WAS either to lull the Allies into a
sense of security or to enable fresh
German forces to arrive from Com
piegnc.
A terrific cannonade al once was
cpened upon the wood, which took fire
and. as a brisk wind was blowing, the
flames soon turned the forest into an
inferno. The Germans rushed out IN
great disorder and the British, who
were waiting, fell upon them hip and
thigh. The men, remembering all that
had been done TO them, and the peas
antry fought with terrible fury and
wiped out the score. The German
commander concentrated all his ener-
gies upon saving his guns, but, just at
this point. the allied commanders de-
cided TO Illustrate the plan. Much
fierce fighting took place around the
artillery.
Value of Cavalry Proved.
The British cavalry, distinguishing
itself by dash and determination,
sweeping down upon the German horse
that was trying to escort the guns to
places of safety, went through them
like an avalanche, and it will be long
before those Teutons who escaped for
get the headlong, irresistible rushes of
our hard riders. Once again 1t was
clearly demonstrated that the cavalry
arm is still one of the most effective
an army can possess when used at the
proper moment and in the right way.
Cavalry may be useless against in
trenched men, but i'll the open field 1t
is as effective As IN the days OF the
first Napoleon. Not only did the cav
airy prevent the German guns from
escaping. but, by its lightninglike de-
livery Of charges, prevented the gum
ners from taking up positions from
which TO work havoc on our infantry.
Our guns were busy at all times,
and the accuracy Of their firing soon
made every fresh position taken up by
the enemy untensble. The infantry
won't into the fray with terrible relish
- ,.yt Our omen formation is the
hest ON earth for rapid advance and
heavy volleying. On the move the men
got over ground at great swinging