The Ely miner., 1914-09-11

ber 5000 men, may have overwhelmed
a little British force of 700 which was
hourly awaiting relief, but not before
its own ranks had been sadly thinned
nor yet without having recourse to
the base expedient of mounting quick
firers in Red Cross wagons.
Supporting Force Falls.
1t was not for the 700 to reason
why. The supporting force never ap.
peared. They just stood their ground
to man, and 1t seems that only 500
remain. When all was lost there en-.
sued no sauve qui peut. Calmly har.
assing their pursuers with a murder
GUS fire, all that was left Of them re-
treated with the wounded of the con-
voy intact.
1t is simple story, a last stand enc,
that should thrill every British heart.
On Wednesday morning British troops
had taken up position slightly in the
rear of the town Censor forbids name
Of town. upon high ground. On the
extreme right of semi-circular posi-
tion were two high guns of garrison
artillery.
At first these found an excellent
range, dealing death by wholesale to
the invaders, who were some miles
away. Then with the steady German
advance the range was lost toward
l p. m.
Position Becomes Critical
The fight had begun at 1880 a. m.
The position became critical for the
heroic British defenders. AS every
vital minute slipped by anxious eyes
looked back for the promised help
that was never to come.
Even at terrible disadvantage-at
least ten to one infantry and artillery
the artillery was holding it's own.
when hordes of uhlans seemed sudden
ly to sweep down through the town.
They galloped, with amazing disre-
gard for themselves, on to the very
muzzles of the enemys field guns.
There must have been 5000 Of them
here alone. A survivor tells me (the
correspondent
''The last / saw was one of our off,
GERS holding a revolver in either hand,
firing away, screened by the guns. He
alone must have accounted for dozen
uhlans. They were falling on all sides
of him."
Towards p m. the 800 gallant sur
vivors, the majority of them wounded,
began to fall back. They reached a
safe position by nightfall.
Keep Up Continuous Attack.
The uhlans kept up a continuous at.
tack. and at midnight two hostile air.
men began dropping bombs on the
British camp, but fortunately without
causing it's destruction. Perhaps
may be permitted to give verbatim the
following eloquent summing up from
a gunner who was shot in both legs:
"They won't be so cocksure the next
time we give them hell"
have been able to gather details of
severe engagements in which British
troops were concerned. On Wednes-
day morning at o'clock detachments
5000 strong bivouacked after forced
march of II miles. Through lack of
air scouts q am asked to emphasize
this point the exact position in the
Of hostile troops in su-
perior numbers was misjudged.
Leave Wall of Dead.
Within an hour with the uhlans
leading the way, the Germans swarmed
down on our fatigued men, approach
ing within so yards. With the quick
firers the British position, however
was strong, and the Germans were re-
pulsed, leaving a wall of dead.
By all accounts the German plan of
campaign is being carried out regard
less of human life The German artil-
lery fire is spoken of as deadly, but
the infantry is beneath contempt.
After repulsing attack after attack
and not suffering considerably, the
British force was able to select and
save a base five miles distant That
the attacking force was more or less
crippled is clear, for they made no ef-
fort to follow up their opponents.
lauds Conduct OF french.
An Amiens dispatch to the Daily
Chronicle says:
"The French retirement before the
German horde advancing from Namur
down the valley of the Meuse was
mastery. The Germans won their way
at a cost in human life as great as in
defeat; yet they won their way.
For France that retirement is as
glorious story as anything in her
annals.
1T was nearly fortnight ago that
the Germans began concentrating
their heaviest forces on Namur, press
ing southwards over the Meuse valley.
After the battle of Dinant the French
army was heavily outnumbered and
fell back gradually in order to gain
time for reinforcement to come to
its support.
1.-The French artillery was posted on
the heights above the river and swept
the advancing Germans with storm
of fire. On the right bank the French
infantry was intrenched, supported by
field guns and mitrailleuses. The in
fantry did deadly work, holding the po-
sitions with great tenacity and drop
ping back only to occupy new posi-
tions just as doggedly.
''The fighting extended for a consid-
erable distance on both sides of the
Meuse, and many side line engage
ments were fought by the cavalry
There was memorable encounter
near Mezieres which was evacuated
last Monday the French taking VI
magnificent positions commanding the
town and bridges"