The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-27

HOLD BACK BIG
FORCE ATYPRES
An Officer of Royal Horse
Guards Describes Stub
born Fighting.
COL. GORDON WILSON
KILLED BY SHIPPERS
n, MoNcuRE ROBINSON.

Special Correspondence 10 TIN Sun
IoNpoS. Dec. 15.---Arriving from New
York on Saturday last at $3.50 In the
afternoon / found London as black as
the darkest tales had pictured t-dim
LIGHTS twinkling through heavy yellow
fog and increasing rather fhau relieving
the gloom OF typical London winters
day Except for the darkness, however
I found everything apparently normal
the usual traffic. many taxicabs all the
hotels and most OF the theatres open and
the restaurants as full as they ever are
at this season.
Among the people have seen there
IL of course intense sadness at the loss
Of relatives and friends-the casualty
rst IL far larger than is generally sup
poeed, only about one-half having been
putlished---but throughout all classes,
from the highest to tho lowest firm
belief and determination that the allied
armies shall win and great cheerfulness
over the recent naval victory OF the
Pacific feet and the advance beyond
Ypres
From a friend who is here on a few
days leave and who has been serving
with his regiment since october, an OFF,
car In the Royal Horse Guards. known 1s
The Blues" have heard an account OF
his experiences since his regiment went
into action on October 16. lie said in
substance as follows, although his de-
scription was far moro vivid and thrill
ing than I can make II:
On or about October IL when the
Belgians were retiring from ostend and
tho French we're bringing up four dlvi-
sions OF Territorials and three divisions
of cavalry TO their assistance these forces
we're Joined by the ENGLISH First and
Second Life Guards and the Royal Horse
Guards (three regimerts OF 500 men each,
constituting the Seventh Household
Cavalry. 1900 strong) f: second brigade.
the Sixth Cavalry, consisting Of the
Tenth Royal Hussars known as the
Fighting Tenth" (the regiment OF which
the late King Edward was Colonel In
Chief), and Of the First ROYAL Dragons
only 1000 strong, as the Third Dragon
Guards. who usually form part OF this
third cavalry brigade, had not then ar
rived from Egypt, and by The Seventh
Infantry Division--the English force con-
sisting In all OF only $500 cavalry and
about $1,000 infantry.
OF the First Royal Dragons tho
Kaiser was formerly Colonel In Chief and
his portrait hung in the officers mess.
was returned to him, and soon after tho
regiment received from the Kaiser his
uniform and orders.
Famed Bavsrian Corps Advances.
Al tho time of the function OF these
Belgian, French and British troons tho
enemy was advancing in great numbers
toward Ypres-a force consisting, 40 far
as the English could later ascertain, OF
80 a. Il
tho Wurttemberg Corps and theTweny-
seventh Bavarian Corps. 1t was OF this
Bavar1an Army Corps than the Kaiser i-
supposed 20 have remarked: when nv
Bavarians get into action they will wipe
the English out to n man"
An amusing Incident OF me French
and English advance was when the Ger
man positions were first ascerTsined.
Lieut.. - of the Blues was sent at full
gailop TO ask Gen OF the French
cavalry what action he proposed taking.
The French General, giving him the
necessary instructions and exclaiming
Mon brave gacon" embraced him on
both cheeks, and Lieut.. - protesting
"Doucement. mon General" ealloped back
n his regiment, more overcome by French
cxuberance than by his urgent mission or
mis- approaching iirst fight.
Tho battle came soon in earnest The
English, marching from Ypres held the
advance line until the cavalry reached a
point about eighteen miles from Ypres.
when the Twenty-seventh Reserve Prus-
aan Corps advanced IN fun strength. two
columns Of 10000 men each, and took UP
Its position on a high ridge
The English cavalry was ordered TO
advance. The Germans waited until the
English were within thirty yards and then
opened a decimating fire, which within
Ave minutes knocked out one-half the men
and horses of tie leading squadron.
The remainder OF The squadron then fell
hack and the remainder OF the cavalry
brigade maintained their positions and
held the Germans in check for tho rest
of the day Al dark the English returned
% billet within the lines Of the French
territorial infantry and advanced again
tuxt before dawn with the French tn'
tantIy. taking up positions slightly IN the
rear OF those from which they had re-
tired the night before. The French in,
tantry, being attacked. retreated, and the
unfortunate English cavalry was left II
the same position III had been IN Inc
day before, that OF trying 20 stem The
advance OF the German masses. which out
numbered them 90 TO l.
A, the enemy advanced straight across
the open country with 1900 yard field
Of Are the English Maxims and rifle:
swept their ranks and did enormous dam
age Owing however. to the French re
t1eat the Germans were able to rhreater
yhe English TANKS and during the after
noon and evening the English wer
Obliged TO retreat about four miles, wheI
they began 20 got in touch with the ad
vance troops Of tho main English army
counterlna rching from tho battle OF Tn
Aisne. The following morning the TIVE
English cavalry hTgades and tho Cold
stream Guards began an attack, which
VA. the first real participation OF I'M
main English army IN the battle aroun'
Ypres.
Fight Against Heavy Odds.
As another instance OF the way il
which the English fought against Nastl!
superior numbers with SURPRISING braV
.ry. the following account may be Of in