Grand Forks daily herald., 1914-11-07
SHOT # Retreat
IS Their CHARGE
German Soldier is Credited
With, Statements That
Officers Kill Men.

statement issued yesterday Dy lhe o.
hcial press bureau. the penalty Tor
failure to win through the allied lines
on the part of the German troops Is
bullets from the revolvers of tnelr
own officers. Quoting a wounded Ger
man soldier, an eyewitness story sup
plementing that made public last
night Gays:
Warned Not to Retreat.
1.-The prisoner told the British sur
geon who attended him: our oi1'cers
warned us that if we faltered we
would be shot from behind. l know
that this threat was carried out when
our terrible losses compelled us to re-
tire. / myself was wounded by Ger
man bullet"
The account of events on the battle
front as witnessed and written by Col
onel E. d. Swinton Of the intelligence
department of the general staff. is dat
cd November l, follows:
fs Shells Cut Phone Wires.
FRIDAY, Oct. 3O.-I have witnessed
a renewal of the efforts against our
right, which were without success to
the enemy. In the center the bomb
ardment was heavy. Indeed, so many
shells fell around our positions that
telephone wires frequently were cut.
The attack in the direction of Ypres
generally was renewed
Allies Forced BACK.
Southeast of that town it was
pressed in great force and in places
our line was again forced back a short
distance. But on our left the oncom-
ing Germans were stopped by our en-
tanglements, under a close rifle f1re
and after two efforts to advance they
gave way.
Lost Ground Rcgained.
ION Saturday, Oct. 81, a most de-
termined attack was made on our left
and our left center, the pressure being
especially severe against the later
portion of our position. Part Of our
line was driven back temporarily by
the sheer weight Of metal and num-
bere, but it was almost all recovered
again by night. Against our center
the enemy did not advance. while
against our right the Germans were
not nearly so active as they were far
ther north.
British Hold Ypres.
so far. with the assistance Of the
French, who have been cooperating
maintaining our line and in retaining
possession of Ypres. upon the cap
ture Of which by the end Of October
the Germans had set their heart.
Troops Are Praised.
"As may have been gathered, the
fighting Of the last five days has been
Of the most desperate nature. 1t has
been eminently soldiers battle and.
without exaggeration or any undue
self congratulation, it can be said that
our men have behaved splendily in the
face of heavy odds.
Heavy Losses Admitted
Heavy as have been our losses, we
have taken far heavier toll from the
enemy, and we have prevented their
gaining the object upon which all
their energies have been concentrated.
French and Belgians Brave.
"Our French allies have been fight
ing with all the dash for which they
are famous. The Belgian army, like
wise. has resisted the furious on
slaughts Of the enemy with the utmost
gallantry.
Germans a Worthy Foe.
The German troops also have won
they have advanced. wether it be
due to patriotism or to the fear in
duced by iron discipline, the fact re-
mains that they steadily pressed for
ward to what in many cases must OBJ
viously have been certain death.
Prisoner Tells Story.
''That they are forced sometimes to
ewer to an interrogation put to a
wounded German prisoner:
I was enlisted in October of 1913.
On mobilization, the weakly and those
OF about so per cent Of the company
were withdrawn from the active regi-
ment to form the nucleus Of a reserve
regiment, which was completed by
men from Baden and Wuertemburg
belonging to the second section Of the
uniforms. After. 10 weeks of hard
training We travelled for three days
and two nights from Thuringen up to
Aix-la-Chapelle. where we remained
in reserve: We were told that our
nearest enemies were the British.
Tired Men Fall Out.
On Oct II and 1S we performed
many men fell out on the road. On
Oct. 10 we each received 2s5 rounds
Of ammunition had our first taste Of
fre. Although we were told that
there were only sharpsl1ooters in
front of us, I saw French cavalrymen
and no other foes From this day on
ward the fighting was uninterrupted.
"'on Oct. 20 my section received
orders to go forward to attack. and
our officers warned ue II we gave way
flre would be opened upon us from
behind. This threat was carried into
effect when the losses we suffered
compelled US to retire. Indeed, it was
by q German bullet that was wound
ed.
Crawls to Abandoned House.
Having fallen to the ground / re-
mained between the lines without food
or care for two days. at the end Of
=