The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-21
HOW. GERMAN GUNS WERE CAPTURED

LONDON, October IA wounded
suardsman. now in the London Hos
rital. to-day gave this graphic account
Of fierce fighting at Compiegnc:
I'm that part of the field where we
were posted. the Germans dropped OH
us all of a sudden. ms though from the
sky.
We frs, learned Of their presence
when battery OF guns OH the right
sang out. dropping shells into Il mob or
us who were waiting 70: our turn at
the washtub. that is. the river There
was no panic so far. as l saw. only some
OF our fellows who hadn't hau a wash
for days cursed and sworc lot at
the Germans for spelling the best
chance they had had.
I'VE all ran to our posts in response
TO the call OF the bugles which rang
cut all along the line. and by tho time
We all stood to arms, the German cav
airy came into view In great strength
al, along the left front sAs soon us
they came within range VIC poured a
deadly vollcy into them. emptying sad
dies right and left. and they scattered
!, all directions.
RIFE FIRE SUPPORTED WELL.
DI GUNS OF TIE AitrIELERy
Meanwhile their artillery kept work
ing up closer on tho front and the
right and dark cloud of infantry
showed up against the skyline OH our
front, advancing in q formation rather
loose for the Germans. We opened on
them. and they made n fine target for
our rifle fire, which was very we'll sup
ported by our artillery fire. The fire
from our guns was very effective. the
range being found with case and we
could see the shells dropping right into
the encmy's ranks. Here and there
their lines oegan TO waver and give
way. and hhally they disappeared. Half
an hour later more infantry appeared
on our right front. but we could not
say whether il was the same or another
body. This time they were well sup
ported by artillery, machine guns, and
strong forces of cavalry OH both TANKS.
"All came on at u smart pace with the
apparent plan of Selling hill on our
right AT the same moment our cav
airy came into view, and then the
whole guards brigade advanced 1t
WAS really "A race between the two par
ties who should reach tho hill first. but
the Germans won easily, owing TO their
being nearer by half a mile, AS soon
as their guns and infantry had taken
NJ position, the cavalry came along
liz n huge mass with the intention of
riding down the Irish Guards who were
nearest to them.
when the shock came 1t seemed
terrific to us In the distance. for the
flung themselves right across the paI.,
OF the German horsemcn. We could
hear the crack of the rifles and see
the German horses impalcd on the bay
cnets of the front ranks of the guards
men, and then, the whole force of in
fantry and cavalry were mixed up in
one confused heap like so many pieces
from jigsaw puzzle
SHELLS DROP CLOSE TO MASS
OF FIERCELY FIGHTING MEN
shells from the British and German
batteries kept dropping close to the
tangled mass Of fighting men, and then
we saw the German horsemen set clear
horses would carry them. Some had
no horses, and they were bayoneted
where they stood. While this was
going on there was confused move
ment among the German infantry, as
though they were going to the as
sistance of the cavalry. but evidently
they didn't like the look Of things, for
they stayed where they were.
after this little interruption the
whole Of the guards continued their
advance. the Coldstreamers leading this
time. with the Scots I'm reserve and tho
the fight between the cavalry and In
fantry, the German artillery had adj
vanced to new position, from which
they kept UP a deadly fire from twelve
SuHs our infantry ana cavalry a0-
vanced simultaneously against this
now position, which they carried to-
gether in the face Of a CALLING fire.
in the excitement the enemy man
aged TO get away two of theft guns
but the remainder fell into our hands
The infantry and cavalry supporting
the guns didn't walt for the Onslaught
Of our men, but ran like mad, pursued
by our cavalry and CALLED by heavy
fire from our infantry and artillery,
which quickly found the range.
I'VE hearu later that. the Germans
were III very great force, and had at
tackled in the hope of driving us back
and SO uncovering the French left, butt
they got moro than they, bargained for.
Their losses were terrible In what little
of the fight we saw, and when our
men captured the guns there was hard
ly German left alive or unwounded
Altogether the fight lasted about seven
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