Imperial Valley press., 1914-10-29

Corporal G. Peacock (Grenadier
Guards, writes:
81 have arrived back in England
after getting a souvenir in the leg
from the Germans. We had rough
time during the last five weeks, not
having any rain, but being wet
through with perspiration ever since
we started, and breaking record by
marching 100 miles in eight days.
owe were acting as rearguard, and
took up position in front of a woods.
When we sighted the Germans we
thought they were a small party like
ourselves, but soon we found them too
grea-, and had to retire through the
woods, as they were about 100 to
/. Then we We're caught like rats
in trap, but our fellows fought
well, and l believe killed twice as
many Germans as they killed English.
at was five hours before 1 was
picked up by German ambulance and
taken to church, where they had
about 40 of our men whom they had
captured, and SO, of course, we were
prisoners, including four R. A. M. C.
officers. We didn't get dressed until
next evening, and then the wounded
were placed in house by themselves.
Next day the R. A. M. C. managed
to get us some food.
"We could hear the guns day and
night, and alas, the sausages came
retiring through the village, taking
all tnat could walk with them and
leaving their wounded for us to look
after. There were thousands of the
Germans. They took all day ana
night and part of the next day before
the end came.
"No sooner had the German patrol
gone out of the village than the
French came through, and soon gave
news to our people as to where we
were. Next day we were shifted on
our way home, after twelve days in
the hands of the Germans"
Instructor T. A. Anderson of the
Rurham County Constabulary, who is
serving as a sergeant in the Scots
Guards, writes:
81 witnessed a most exciting in
cident. A French staff officer went
up in an aeroplane and the Germans
opened fire on him. Shots went wide
at first and then all around. He
didn't mind that, but turned around
again and ran the gauntlet.
"Then they started again, but that
didn't stop him. He turned once more
and came before making off to head
quarters with information as to where
the Germans were."
Lance Corporal Rignell of the Royal
Berks Regiment, who was wounded,
relates how two artillery drivers
brought gun out of action under
heavy fire:
| "Secing that the gunners had been
killed." he states, "these brave men
lead their horses calmly towards the
gun, distance of a quarter of a
mile. When they arrived at the spot
where the gun stood, one driver held
the horses amid terrific firing
while the other limbered up. The
horses having been attached to the
gun, it was brought safely back, and
neither men nor horses were hit.
"From the trenches it was thought
impossible for these men to escape
death. 1t was a magnificent piece of
bravery"
Colonel Sir Arthur Boscawen, M. P,
who is in command of the Third West
Kent Regiment, stationed near Chat
ham, writing to his political agent of
Dudley, says that the First Battalion
of the regiment lost heavily.
Major Pack -Beresford died leading
his men. Lieutenant Anderson was
killed at the same time. He was
special reserve officer, who left in the
middle of the training to complete the
list Of submarines in the First Bat
talon.
He was first-class cricketer, and
would have been selected to play for
almost any county but Kent.
Another Third Battalion subaltern,
Lieutenant Sewell, also a cricketer,
is wounded and prisoner.
The Lord Mayor asks the Daily
Express to state that the assertion
of the Cologne Gazette of Saturday
last that "he has declared himself
against the war" is an absolute in
vention and fabrication, without
particle of truth of any kind or sort.
Considerable discussion has arisen
regarding the manner in which the
cruiser Birmingham sank the German
submarine U-15. The facts are stated
in letter from an officer of the ship
who writes: