The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-11-05
STORIES OF HEROISM FROM FRONT
AS TOLD BY SOLDIERS ON FIRING LINE

LONDON. October a0.--A Guardsmnn,
now NJ Wooiwieh, who was wounded
near Conpeisne has given y vivid &c.
count of the lighting there, and OF the
capture of ten German guns By the
British troops.
I'VE wero In IA feld,"' he said, when
the Germans dropped on us' ali of
sudden rs though from tho sky. The
first hint we had of their presence was
when battery of guns on the right
sang out. dropping shells into n mob OF
us who were waiting for our turns at
the washtub--the river. There was no
panic ns far as l saw, only come of
our fellows who hadn't had wash
Tor long timc said strong things about
the Germans for spelling the hest
chance w6 had had for four days. We
all ran 70 our posts I'm response to
bugles which rang out all along the
line, and by the time we ali stood to
arms tho German cavalry came into
view III great strength all along the
loft front.
We poured deadly volley into them
cmptying saddlns right and left. and
they scattered I'm ull directions. Mean
while their artillery kept working up
closer on the front and right, and a
against the skyline on our front, ad-
vancing i'll formation rather close
! for the Germans. We opened or them.
and they mado fine target for our
rihe lire, which was very we'll sup
our guns was very effective, the range
| being found with case, and we could
soc tho shells dropping right into the
enemys ranks.
Hero and there their lines bega,
to waver and give way, and finally
they disappeared. Hail an hour later
moro infantry appeared on our right
front, but we could not say whether it
was tho same or another body. This
time they were well supported by ar
tillery, machine guns ana strong forces
/ of cavalry on both tanks. All camo
on alta smart pace, with the apparent
plan of Selling hill on our right
At the same moment our cavlary came
into view. and then the whole Guards
brigade advanced. II was really a race
between the two parties to reach the
hill fret, but tho Germans won easily
owing to their being nearer by hair
mile
AS soon as their guns and infantry
had taken up position the cavalry
came along In a huge mass, with the
Intention of riding down the Irish
Guards. vino were nearest TO them.
When the shock cnmo it seemed ter
rife to us in the distance, for the
Irishmen did not recoli In the least,
but hung themselves right across the
path OF the German horsemen.
we could hear the crack OF the
rifles and sec tho German horses i'm
pnled on the bayonets OF the front
ranks OF the guardsmen. Then the
whole force of infantry and cavalry
were mixed up in one confused heap.
like 40 many pieces from a Jig saw
puzzle. Shells from the British and
German batteries kept dropping close
to the tangled mass Of fighting mon,
nnd then we saw tho German horse
men get clear and take to flight as
fast as their horses would carry them.
some had no horses, and they were
bayoneted where they stood
while this WAS going on there was
confused movement among the Ger
man infantry, as though they were
going TO the assistance of the cavalry,
but evidently they did not like the
look of things, for they stayed where
they were. After this little interruo-
ton, the whole OF the guards continued
their advance, the Coldstreamers lead
| ing this timo, with the Scots In re-
serve and the Irish In support.
Taking advantage Of the fight bo-
tween the cavalry and infantry, the
German artillery had advanced TO
new position, from which they kept
up deadly fire from twelve guns.
simultaneously against this new posi-
tion, which they carried together in the
face OF CALLING fire. 1n/the excite
ment the enemy managed to get away
two of their guns, but tho remainder
fell into our hands The infantry and
cavalry supporting the guns didn't
walt for tho onslaught of our men. but
boltcd like mad, pursued by our
cavalry and CALLED by a, heavy IRE from
our infantry and artillery. which
quickly found the range.
I'VE heard later that the Germans
were in very great force and had at
tackled In the hope Of driving us back,
and SO unoovcring the French, left hut
they got moro than they bargained for.
Their losses were terrible In what lit
tie of the fight we saw, and when our
men captured the guns there was
hardly a German left alive or un-
wounded. Altogether, tho fight lasted
about seven hours. and when 1t was
over our ca Fry scouts reported that
the enemy We're In retreat"
q private III Highland regiment,
who was wounded at Mons, and is now
in Netley Hospital, in the course OF n
letter, to his parents Ing Musselburgh,
says:
THE poor Argylls got pretty we'll |
hit, but never wayered yard for all
their losses. The Scots Greys arc do |
ing great work at the front In fact, |