Middletown transcript., 1914-10-10

Prussian guards who attacked the
French center September rs is de-
scribed in the Petit Gironde. The bat
tie that brought about this result was
marked with extraordinary heroism
on both sides
The French artillery, threatened at
one time with annihilation by Ger
man charge, killed 1000 horsemen.
On the other hand, German regi-
ment sacrificed all but 100 Of its $500
men later in five charges against the
French to save the remnant Of the
guards and enable it to retreat to
safety.
AS soon as news of the German at
tack was received. French cavalry was
sent to hold the enemy at Auberive.
Department Of Marne, to give the ar
tillery and infantry time to come up
from Souain, near Auberive.
Deaths Head Hussars Charge.
While the French dragons were pre-
pairing for the defense of Auberive,
however, a brigade of Deaths Head
hussars, avoiding the village, came
across vineyards and fields with the
intention Of surprising the French ar
tillery on the march.
1t was a critical moment. The
French dragons were two miles ahead
and the infantry two miles behind the
gunners, who were in danger of being
sabered across their guns. The hus-
sars were only three-quarters Of mile
away, galloping furiously.
In two minutes the French guns
were unlimbered and lined up along
the road. The enemy then was only
500 yards away and the command to
prepare to charge the guns was heard
by the French.
French Slaughter Horsemen.
In the charge the Prussian cavalry
gathered speed with every yard. When
the horsemen were 200 yards away the
French gunners aimed and there was
a flash of fire. Through the blue smoke
the artilIerymen saw the enemy's
horses rearing and officers trying vain
ly to rally the broken lines.
A second time the battery hurled
death into the doomed brigade.
A great silence succeeded the thun-
der of hoofs and the shouting of men.
Two thousand horsemen lay as if
struck by lightning. Here and there
wounded horse struggled to shake
himself clear of the heaped dead.
But the artillerymen did not wait to
gaze on this scene Of carnage. They
limbered up the guns. and ratified off
to aid the dragons, who were hard
pressed and falling back along the
highway. The guns were a welcome
relief. This time the struggle was
more even.
The German quick-frers returned
the shots with interest, but the French
infantry arrived and deployed among
the vines, a bugle rang out and their
bayonets flashed in the sun as they
dashed forward
Without cavalry to aid it the Prus-
sian guard was obliged to fall back. A
battalion Of Zouaves glided behind
and occupied the valley of the Suippes,
threatening to place the guard be-
tween two fires.
German Grenadiers Sacrificed.
A regiment Of grenadiers sacrificed
itself to cover. the retreat Of the Ger
man columns on Reims. Five times
the grenadiers hurled themselves
against the French. They we're re-
pulsed every time, and after the fifth
charge only one section was left,
handful of men surrounding the flag.
Then one, two, and then ten Of the
grenadiers threw down their arms. A
hundred men, mostly wounded, were
all that were left of splendid regi-
ment. But their sacrifice had not
been useless, for it enabled the Ger
man column to get under the guns Of
the forts at Berru and Noget LAB
besse.
DesoIation in Belgium.
London.-A graphic picture of the
desolation Of Belgium was brought to
London by J. H. Whitehouse, member
Of parliament from Lanarkshire, who
has just returned from tour around
Antwerp to assist in relief measures.
Having always regarded war as the
negation Of all that is good" said Mr..
Whitehouse, Il desired to see what its
ravages were in a country exposed to
all its fury and what steps were pos
sible to mitigate them. l do not think
that any one here has realized the
plight Of the civilian population of Bel
gium today. 1 can attempt to give a
picture Of it only by describing some
of my own experiences"
Ruin couniej to Stop Foe.
Mr.. Whitehouse made the journey
outside Antwerp with two military
cars, attended by Belgian officials. In
describing the damage which he says
the Belgians had to infiict upon them
selves to supplement the defenses Of
Antwerp, he said:
Hundreds Of thousands Of trees had
been cut down, so that at some points
Of our journey we had the impression
of passing through wilderness of
roots. The tree trunks had been re-
moved, so as to afford no cover to the