Evening star., 1914-12-01
Official Observer Gives Init
mate View of British Soldiers
/ in Trenches.
PRAISE FOR STEADFAST
COURAGE OF GERMANS
Go Unfinchingly to Death at Word
of Command From Their
Officers.

LONDON December "Details of the
operations of the British troops at the
front from November % to 25 are given
in a report issued under date of Novem-
Der 26 from a military observer attached
to the British headquarters. The report.
in part, is as follows:
since the enemy desisted from his at
tacks in force the fighting has been re-
. solved into competition In sniping and
small affairs on the outposts all along
the line, where positions are contested
with rifles, hand grenades, bombs, NOR
tars and mines.
Our aeroplanes have been especially
active in the last two days, having drop
ped 120 bombs
Gurkhas Invaded Trenches.
The account refers to several instances
in which German attacks were repulsed,
particularly November %. to the south
of the river Lys. There, it is said, the
Gurkhas did excellent execution at close
quarters. They even penetrated some of
the German trenches. where they welded
their peculiar curved swords with great
effect.
The report again refers to the efica-
cy of German discipline. 1t says that
the British soldiers could hear the
command ''vorwaerts" coming from
the woods. 1t was followed imme-
diately by rush of Germans. Once,
twice and thrice this was done. Each
time the Germans were moved down.
Then the order was given again. This
time, however. there were loud excla-
nations of "nein, nein,' and no ad-
vance was made.
Repulse of Prussian Guard.
The repulse of the famous Prussian
guard is again dwelt upon.
after the enemy had broken
through our front line the situation
became most serious" the report con-
tinues, for there were only two field
companies of the royal engineers
available at the moment as a reserve
in this quarter of the field. On the
right front of the German attack, firing
through open spaces in the woods.
were heavy batteries and field bat
teries which dealt havoc among the
attackers. both before and after they
reached our line But the Germans
continued to come on almost up to our
guns Some bodies were picked up
only seventy yards from the guns.
Realizing that all might be lost un-
less firing line of some kind could
be esta ablished, battery officers man
aged to form a line of gunners, regi-
mental cooks. and details of various
descriptions. These men stood firm
ana kept up steady rifle hre. They
checked the assault at the most crit
ical moment, thus enabling other
troops to come up to repel it more
Completely"
Cavalrymen in Motor Cars.
Other incidents taken up in the re-
port are the movement of British cav
airy by motor cars, thus adding one
more novelty to the roles which the
cavalry have played during the war;
the blowing up of a farmhouse con-
tanning German snipers; the heating of
trenches with brassiers and stoves and
transport service whose work in sup
plying food is commended.
NO little part of our success" says
the report in this connection, sis due
to the ample quantity and excellent
quality of the food.
1T is probably not saying too much
to assert that no other soldiers in the
deId had ever been so well fed"