The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-11-25
sargt E tsailaeher of the srd Bat

falion Rifle Brigade, writing rom Ihe front on the 2sth October to MT. S. Clifton of eChi1cot," East Hill, Win chester, says: We had a very decent time up on the Aisne, and it was cl1ildss play in comparison with this; on Tuesday the 18th we opened an att tack on the enemy, and that was what I may say was my real baptism of fire, although we had seen a bit before, but nothing to compare with thls day.
 Well, we started to advance about 12 noon, and, after going across open country for about two miles, we came to some woods, and a few Germans were in them, and they, started sn1p1ng at us, and a man next to me got nle in the cfest We cleared the wood. without further loss, but our sausage friends were not back later for it. We had a slight rest behind hedge be- fore we pushed on again as It was open ground in front with the excep- ton of some hop vines, which the en- erny had taken jolly good care to de- stroy so as. to prevent us getting any cover
 We again started to advance by short rushes Of about Is yards. and as soon as we started they commenced a pretty warm fire on us. EsYentual- 3ly we got to the end of the hop vines. and laid down, and during this time we weren't able to fire shot, as we could not see anything to aim at; so r the open to a trench on our left about a. hundred yards from where we were lying, and when we got up and started Ito run why, Sir, talk about hell, if 1t is worse than what it was then, we'll lthen it must be pretty warm place, aa tnev simply rained bullets at us from machine guns and rifles, but it is hardly credible to you, perhaps, that not one of my platoon got as much as a scratch, but the other poor chaps who laid down from where we had left did not get off so lightly. We. lost in my company, killed and twounded, 38, and another Company l46; in fact, there were over 100 casual l ties in that affair." aud the worst Of | 1t was that practically the whole of ! the time we had no target to fire at I However, to continue my story we Igot to the trench, but when we went Ito go in to it we found we were up to our waists in water. We had to grin. and bear it, so we started working round the trench, I suppose for about Ia quarter of a mile, when our road was blocked. so we had to remain in the 4 water from about half-past or 3 un- til about 5:30 or 6 p. m., before we fgot out again, and we were only able io'c1ock, when they started to retire back.
 We just managed to get high Eenough from the water to get a good
 
 .lwen. [ think we accounted for, F l'shouId say, about 100 or more killed I or wounded, as when We Advanced over their position on the following morning we counted 48 dead lying out land what was more, only about 80 yards ffom the position we were in the I night before It only goes to show they have no heart for anything, as all the men had with me were 37, i, and one officer and myself, and if they
 had only decided to have made any
 move against us we would not have
 been able to have offered the slightest
 resistance, so you can tell we were sl lvery thankful for what we call 8 very fortunate escape.
 I The following day we retired from lthere, and rejoined up with our Bri- I gade again, and we were on the move
 then for a few days and one night. I
 was on an advanced post, and in the morning was sent for by the Com lpany Officer, and he was with the
 Commandinga0 Officer and General
 Staff Officer. When arrived they el elgave me a map, and told me to select
 any men and go to a place called
 =-station, about three miles from
 the town of -, on reconnaissance
 patrol, and no one knew what was
 in front or our right flank. so that
 I had to take precautions to ensure
 the safety of the Brigade, who were going on to -, on receipt of my re- ? port All W0I1I well TOT etDOQE d COu-
 pie of miles, when my two scouts
 called me up and pointed out bar
 ricade across a road. I decided to ) leave the track I was on and. make a, small detour to get behind the ob-
 stacle, as was not to know wheth- , CT it was a trap or not. so we worked round, and, with plenty of caution l (you may rest assured of that), and when we got round we noticed noth- ing behind the barricade, but saw six
 horses staked near some houses, but
 not a soul was to be seen, so I went up with one man to reconnoitre, Ieav-
 ing orders with a corporal to cover the , road with rifles in case anyone, should
 attack us.
 When I got to- the horses I could
 tell at once they were German horses so I decided to go back, and myself
 and six men to go towards the houses and the other three to remain where they were under cover, so as to cover
 our advance, but at the same time giving them the range of the horses who were only 15O yards away, ir
 case the "Germans' should make ar
 attempt to get away. We'll, T got t1 . about 50 yards from the houses, WheT
 all of a sudden about half a, dozer 1 bullets came at us, but fortunateE