South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-25
RELATES TALES OF
TERRIBLE FIGHTING
IN FRENCH SIEGE
British Corporal Tells of the
Horrible Slaughter FROM the
German Machine and Field
Guns.

LONDON. Sept. 25.-A British in
fantry corporal. wounded in battle
and invalided home, today gave "A
graphic description of the lighting ne
saw in France.
Early in the morning" ne said,
1--WE were informed of the approach
of the enemy. and were ordered to
deploy and take cover over a wide
front, which includs woods and open
country with villages in the valleys.
Toward 10 o'clock we could hear
the booming of gums sound we be-
came used TO on Salisbury Plains
and then the rattle of maXims and
rifles.
a party of uhlans dashed along
the road through our firing line. and
we emptied more than one saddle.
but more came, and then we were
suddenly enfladed by machine guns,
which were mounted on motor cars.
Men Terribly Wounded.
There was no help for us but To
leave the trenches and rush TO the
woods Then as we ran for shelter
terrible roar OF guns broke on our
ears and shell after shell struck the
ground in front OF US, and others
burst over our heads Men fell and
groaned with horrible wounds.
"Our field batteries went into action
and answered the German guns, but
the enemy had somehow got to know
that we were in the woods, for they
hred necessarily on US.
I'VE left the frs at the other side
and opened out. supported by the
South Lancashires, for our colonel
had been warned that the infantry
were advancing. We had hardly eX-
tended and lay prone, when patches
OF blue green were seen on the SKY
line-battaliOns Of the enemy follow
ing each other at regular Intervals.
Encouraged by Commander.
The batteries of Bulford brigade
let rip and gOuged holes through
them 'Bravov shouted my platoon
commander as he watched the car
mage through his field glasses.
Now the order was given to fix
bayonets Mind men, you look TO
your magazines, shouted the colonel.
Before the enemy arrived, how
ever, the artillery fire had increased
until it was perfect inferno. German
aviators were directing the guns. At
times we were told TO fire on the aero
planes. and did so, but as they were
armored the shots did not tell.
our poor gunners had a terrible
mauling. and what was worse a strong
force OF cavalry got round behind us
and charged right up 10 the guns.
Very few OF them escaped, however
for whole platOOnS ruShed To the res
cue and eInptied their magazine into
them, and not "a few were bayoneted.
1T was here that ] saw a whole
gun detachment laid out The breech
OF the gun was open and shell was
lying on the ground. Nobly they
fought and fell.
The uhlans had the audacity TO
think that they could take the guns
away, and were actually preparing to
timber up when our rifles were turned
against them.
Germans Force Retreat.
"As our guns retired-all that could
for some had no teams and others no
men-the German infantry were on
rs Fortunately a fold in the ground
come on until their breasts rose above
the neighboring mounds and then we
decimsted them.
They fell back in confusion and
dropped 20 the ground. on came an
other batch a few minutes later, and
We treated them in the same way.
The artillery fire slackened, but
scores of machine guns were turned
on Us and il was not safe TO move.
We kept on firing until the dead were
piled several feet high.
Two companies OF another bat
TALON came up TO help us in the firing
line. and after a short wait we were
told 10 prepare 90 charge. The South
Tancashfres were at work with the
bayonet on our right front, and il was
now our turn. On the word of COM
mand we sprang from the ground as
one man. and with a yell We charged
the advancing Prussians."