The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-11-06
LIKE AN ANGRY SEA
German Onslaught in France De-
SCTibed by Briton.
NaIser's Infantry, a Great Mass Of Hu,
man Machine Guns, Sweeps on
With Overwhelming, lire.
slstible Force.
BY WILLIAM maxwell.

International News Service Correspondent
In France am permitted 10 give
some interesting extracts from q
story OF the war, so far as It has gone
culled from the diary OF a British in
fantry officer who received his bap
tism Of fire at Mons.
u have often been told" writes the
officer, that shell fire is not so
dangerous as IL sounds. but axioms OF
this kind do not console one under q
hail Of shrapnel bullets and steel
shards. ! had a sickening sensation
in the stomach. We hung on until
/ the enemys infantry came in sight
gray masses OF men advancing rap
idly and firing rifles from their hips
like so many machine guns pumping
out lead.
I'VE let them enter one Of the main
avenues, and then opened fire with
what effect We were too busy TO no
tice.
This is my first time under fire,
and any one who tells me he has no
strange emotions al such "A moment
must be a liar.
Thrice the German masses flung
themselves against us. Thrice we
hurled them back with heavy losses.
we held on for an hour, till they
got their guns on our flank, and then
we were obliged TO retire, but they
had got such a shock that they let us
get clear"
Later the officer writing Of opera
tions around Maubeuge states:
The Germans were making desper-
ate effort to work around and drive
us into Maubeuge, but after Namur
we were shy of any fortified towns,
and determined that Maubeuge should
not be our Sedan. To avoid this turn
ing movement and escape being bot
tied up within useless stone walls, we
retreated-always on the right flank.
Between Daudry and lie Cateau we
had a hell Of time. The enemy
swept down on us like a tempestuous
sea, wave after wave. They were at
least ten to one, and the more we
killed the more they seemed to grow.
Our artillery did splendid work. |
Never shall l admire men more than |
those silent gunners who kept .
pounding away under a murderous |
hail of shell and bullets, often with
out infantry in front of them Their
calm valor was a revelation and an
example.
THAT whole day was one long night
mare. The terrible storm broke over
rs, and the roar Of thunder and fash
Of lightning added to the horrors Of
4 retreat along road where lead
spattered the earth like raindrops.
Infantry and transport were mixed
lp in wild confusion. How any one
,ame through it alive is a miracle.
General Smith-Dorrien and his !
-rmy corps saved US, Throwing them
elVes across the path Of the Ger
mans, they pinned them to the
ground. We could not see, but we
ould hear and feel the bloody bar
ier they raised between us and death,
nd thrill ran through our ragged
ines.
1T last we got to cover and made
stand. We caught some of the en-
my coming out Of wood. We piled
p their dead with enfilading fire,
nd we stopped to take some pris-
ners.
Then we drove on again, always to
he rear How different were our
ceilings a few days before, when we I
ad marched singing over those {
Dads, welcomed by smiling, hospita- '
lie peasants and townfolk, who now i
atched us with blanched faces and t
.ith fear in their eyes.
During the night some French +