The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-21
Daring Feat of Irish Infan-
try Crushes Stubborn
Prussian Opposition
GERMANS SAW TRICK
OF BRITISH GENERAL
Changed Movement and Threatened
Allies Lines. But Charge of the
Irish Infantry Changes
Defeat to Victory
By Hop

Paris, December 19.-(Speeial. AT
the battle of Zonnebeke, almost half
way to Roulers. one of the humorous
engagements for the control of Ypres.
an Irish regiment In a sanguinary bay
onet fight distinguished itself.
The Germans, who had been driven
back after days of fighting from other
positions, had massed their forces at
certain point and were returning to the
| attack. They set out from Vest
| Roosebeke and had with them 10 bat
teries of field guns. that is to say, so
quickfiers and two heavy mortars. The
Infantry regiments were supported by
numerous cavalry
It was already late in the evening
when the British general In command
learned of the enemy's move. aud or
ders were given at once to forestall
the Germans by a hastY march OF the
irish regiment and other troops to a
point where the railway line crosses
the road to Roulers aud to take up po-
sitions beyond. The enemy would MOI
expect n British force there, and would
be taken by surprise.
The British troops reached their po-
sitions as had been anticipated before
the Germans. The allies artillery
opened fire but the Germans did not
| reply There was some doubt for awhile
as to what was the new move of the
enemy when suddenly the Germans
We're discovered soma. 200 yards to the
south of the allied lines. They had per-
| ceived the move of the British troops
and instead of approaching from the
north had moved round almost south
| In another instant the prussian Guard
was within only 100 yards of the allies
and a hand-to- hand engagement was
| bound to follow
Flashlights of Assistance
| The flashlights used by the allies rem
| dered great assistance in locating the
enemy The aeroplanes also played an i'm
| portant part by dropping rockets on the
scene. The British troops rapidly changed
| positions and faced the enemy. They
opened fire on the Germans I'm volleys, and
the enemy replied firing only at the conn
| mand OF their officers The first row
of the Prussian guard fired as they lay
on the ground. the second was on itsaknees
| and the third row fired standing. As soon
| as one man fell the one Immediately be-
| hind took his place
| One of the officers who was giving the
command to fire was shot just as he was
about to repeat it, and as he fell his
company hesitatcd. Those who were
near him. however. fired, and the rest Inn
| tated their example. The result seemed
| to be that the other companies either
didn't hear the command any more on
Igot out of control, and the firing became
| general and very violent
Suddenly the machine gun sections got
| into position and were about to open
| fire on the British troops No time was to
| be lost. The order to rush forward was
| given at once. and the Irish regiment
| charged with the bayonet
The hottest fighting for awhile was
| at a point some 200 yards from the
| railway embankment. Here there was
a flat field without the slightest pro-
lection to either side, and the british
| troops practically met the Germans
| halfway. Those who saw 1t say it was
| one of the siercest bayonet charges yet
| made. There was no quarter given or
asked on either side. In many cases
both combatants fell pierced by each
| others weapons. one of our men was
fighting with remarkable dash and
| skill and had accounted for number
| of the enemy when he slipped and was
wounded by falling on a German bay
onet
| Company after company moved for
| ward, all in close formation, and rifle
| and revolver shots here and there were
| heard above the cries of the wounded
| and the dying. The violence OF the
| charge was exhausting both sides. The
wounded and dead were scattered an
over the ground and the men ofteiiA
rushed over the corpse of comradc.
| At last the Prussian Guard yielded
| ground. The order was given them to
| fall back and the British troops took
the opportunity to make last charge
and what remained of the guard that
had been fighting at this point retired
| In great disorder. The road to Roulers
| was held and the enemy had been
| driven beyond Zonnebeke and lost one
| more point of vantage