Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-29
GERMAN SOLDIERS
FIRED ON COMRADES
IN NIGHT ASSAULTS
Infantry Made Fatal Mistake
During Advance, Says Re-
port From English Head
quarters at the Front.

LONDON, Sept. %.
The British Official Press Bureau has
Issued description of the operations OF
the British force in France and the
French armies in immediate touch with
It, communicated by an eyewitness at
the headquarters of Field Marshal Sir
John French. This account supplements
that Issued September a. 1t says.
september 25, 19l4.-For four days
there has been a comparative lull all
along our front. This has been accom-
panied by spell of fine weather, though
the nights are now much colder. One
cannot have everything. however and
one evil result of the sunshine has been
the release Of flies, which were torpid
during the wet days.
"A Advantage has been taken of the ar
rival Of reinforcements to relieve by
fresh troops the men who have been in
the firing line for some time. Several
units, therefore, have received their
baptism of fire during the week.
ATTACK IN DARK.
Since the last letter left general
headquarters, evidence has been re-
ceived which points to the fact that
during counter attacks on the night %
Sunday. the Goth. the German infantry
fired into each other as the result of an
attempt to carry out the dangerous ex-
pedient of a converging advance in the
dark.
Opposite one portion OF our position
considerable massng OF hostile forces
was observed before dark, and some hours
later furious fusillade was heard in
front of our line, though no bullets came
over our trenches.
This narrative begins with September
Fl and covers only two days. On Monday,
the 2lst, there was but little rain, and
the weather took turn for the better,
VI 40 INT ttonI ntt
was practically confined to the artillery.
our guns at one point shellng and driv-
Ing away the enemy, who were endeav-
oring to construct redoubt The Ger
mans, for their part, expended a large
number of heavy shells in a long range
bombardment Of village.
FOUND TRENCHES DESERTED.
Recommending parties sent out during
the night of the 2lst-22d discovered some
deserted trenches. and in them, or near
them in the woods, over 100 dead ond
wounded were picked up. number
OF rifles, ammunition and equipment weB
also found. There were other signs that
portions of the enemy's forces had with
drawn for some distance.
Tuesday, the 22d, was also fine, with
less wind, and was one of the most un-
eventful days that has passed since we
reached the Aisne-uneventful that is
work on either side, the Germans never
theless giving another village taste of
the Jack Johnsons.'
THE spot thus honored was not far
from the ridge where some of the most
severe close lighting in which we have
taken part has occurred. All over this
No Mans Land, between the lines, the
bodies of German infantry are still lying
in heaps. where they have fallen at diff
ferent times.
Events have moved so quickly during
the last two months that anything con-
nected with the mobilization OF the
British eXpedltionary force Is now an
cient history. Nevertheless, the follow
ing extract Of a German order Is evil
dence OF the mystihcation of the enemy
and is tribute to the value of secrecy,
well and Loyalty maintained at the time
in England:
Tenth Reserve Army HEADQUARTERS,
Mont st. Guibert, August 20, 1914.
THE French troops in front of the
Tenth army corps have retreated south
across the Sambre. part Of the Belgian
army has withdrawn to Antwerp. It is
that an English army has dis
embarked at Calais and Boulogne, en-
route for Rrussels.'" "