The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-30

tacking force, waited until the French reached the top of the ridge, fired. and then charged. driving them back cut to pieces and in disorder. Picton fell, but his men went on. and supported by cav airy, fell upon the enemy, capturing 20O0 infantry. cutting down artillerymen and killing the horses, thus rendering the guns useless. Indeed they went so far that a force had to be sent to their relief At the same time the French cavalry which had come to Ney's aid. were met and completely beaten by the English horsemen along the Charleroi wood.
 To offset thls the French put up a strong artillery fire across the valley. which was kept up half the afternoon while new attacks weer made on Hou- goumont and La Havre Sante, and large bodies Of cavalry assailed the gunners on Wellington's right. The latter by sheer bravery gained the heights and took the cannon only to be routed by the British infantry squares through which the horsemen coud not penetrate and which shot them doyn or chased them from their pusliion. practically putting that arm of the French service oflt of comm ssion for the day
 Napoleon's infantry fared better captur- ing La Have Sainte. But his right wing now began to retire before the forces of Butcher and Bulow. and Lobau. who was
 
 turned b ythe Germans
 The struggle now centered on the pos session of PAauchenoit behind the French right. This was defended with the same heroism which the British displayed at Hougoumont The British right center was now desperately resisting the repeat ed blows of great part of the French army and only the stubbornness for which they were noted enabled them to stand the terrible punishment inflicted. bod, of Belgian cavalry ran away from the field in terror without making charge. the angry English shooting them down as they lied. It Is evident that Belgian courage has gone up considerably since Waterloo.
 But while his troops had gained some temporary success. Napoleon's losses had been terrific and Grouchy. whom ne mad early sent to engage the Prus- sian advance from Wayre. had not come to support him as he had been ordered to- He must have felt that ene ioV days had been mistake and that 1t would have been wiser to have remained in Elba He determined however, on a forlorn hope. Putting Ney at the lead of the old guard he sent them down against the British center between Hougoumont and La Have Sainte, while the left was as- sailed by another force. Desperate as Mds the nope, IL nearly was realized. The attack on the left center was sue ceeding when Wellington came up, and with the guards under Maitland en- gagged the French in hand hand struggle which drove the attacking party in confusion down the slope
 The French Old Guard now attacked the British almost on the same spot but met in its center by artillery fire and attacked on it's left by a solid force of infantry. 1t was pressed back and finally gave up the struggle, flee ing down hill and leaving its dead ana wounded everywhere in its flight.
 The English now assumed the of fensive and attacked the remainione French force, the remnants of the Olt Guard. and body of troops Napoleon had brought up from La Belle Alliance