Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-09-10

today. He has found that breaking a
British line of steel is not such easy
work as harassing a.countryside shorn
by murder of its men folk.
German scavalry, estimated to num-
Der 5000 men, may have overwhelmed
a little British force of 700 which was
hourly awaiting relief, but not before
its own ranks had been sadly thinned,
nor yet without having recourse to
the base expedient of mounting quick
firers in Red Cross wagons.
Supporting Force Fails.
1t was not for the 700 to reason
why. The supporting force never ap-
peared. They just stood their ground
to a man, and 1t seems that only 800
remain. When all was lost there en-
sued no sauve qui peut. Calmly har-
assing their pursuers with a murder
GUS fire, all that was left of them re-
treated with the wounded OF the con-
voy intact
1t is a simple story, last stand one,
that should thrill every British heart.
On Wednesday morning British troops
had taken up position slightly in the
rear Of the town censor forbids name
of town. upon high ground. On the
extreme right OF semi-circular posi-
ton were two high guns of garrison
artillery.
At first these found an excellent
range, dealing death by wholesale to
the invaders, who were some miles
away. Then with the steady German
advance the range was lost toward
p. m.
Position Becomes Critical.
The fight had begun at 1880 a m.
The position became critical for the
heroic British defenders. AS every
vital minute slipped by anxious eyes
looked back for the promised help
that was never to come.
Even at a terrible disadvantage-at
least ten to one infantry and artillery
tho artillery was holding its own,
when hordes of uhlans seemed sudden
ly to sweep down through the town.
They galloped, with amazing disre-
gard for themselves. on to the very
muzzles of the enemy's field guns.
There must have been 1900 OF them
here alone. A survivor tells me 1.-THE
correspondent:
The last / saw was one OF our off,
GERS holding revolver in either hand.
firing away, screened by the guns. He
alone must have accounted for a dozen
uhlans. They were falling on all sides
of him"
Towards 2 D. m. the 300 gallant sur
vivors, the majority OF them wounded.
began to fall back. They reached a
safe position by nightfali
Keep Up Continuous Attack.
The uhlans kept up a continuous at.
tack, and at midnight two hostile air
men began dropping bombs on the
British camp, but fortunately without
causing its destruction. Perhaps
may be permitted to give verbatim the
following eloquent summing up from
a gunner who was shot in both legs:
They won't be 80 cocksure the next
time we give them hell
Ihave been able to gather details Of
severe engagements in which British
troops were concerned. On Wednes-
day morning at 6 o'clock detachments
5000 strong bivouacked after a forced
march of II miles. Through lack of
air scouts Il am asked to emphasize
this point the exact position in the
neighborhood OF hostile troops In su-
perior numbers was misjudged.
Leave Wall of Dead.
Within an hour with the uhlans
leading the way, the Germans swarmed
down on our fatigued men, approach
ing within so yards. With the quick
firers the British position, however
was strong, and the Germans were TO
pulsed, leaving a wall of dead.
BY all accounts the German plan Of
campaign is being carried out regard
less Of human life. The German artil-
lery fire is spoken Of as deadly, but
the infantry is beneath contempt.
After repulsing attack after attack
and not suffering considerably. the
British force was able to select and
save a base FIVE miles distant That
the attacking force was more or less
crippled is clear. for they made no eff
fort to follow up their opponents.
Lauds Conduct Of French.
An Amiens dispatch to the Daily
Chronicle says:
"The French retirement before the
German horde advancing from Namur
down the valley Of the Mouse was
mastery. The Germans won their way
at cost in human life as great as in
defeat; yet they won their way.
For France that retirement 10 as
glorious a story as anything in her
annals.
1T was nearly q fortnight ago that
the Germans began concentrating
their heaviest forces on Namur, press
ing southwards over the Mouse valley.
After the battle Of Dinant the French
army was heavily outnumbered and
fell back gradually in order to gain
time for reinforcement to come 10
Its support.
The French artillery vas posted on
the heights above the river and swept
the adyspcing Germans with . storm
Of ere. On the right bank the French
infantry was intrenched. supported by
field guns and mitraillsuses. The in
fantry did deadly work. holding the 20
sitions with great tenacity and drop
ping bach only to occupy new posi-
lions tust ~ doggedly.
Tho fighting extended for consid-