Grand Forks daily herald. (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1914-1916, 1914-11-26
ENGLISH FIGHT
With VENGEANCE
German Declares They
Should not be Underesti-
mates-Bares field Work

Berlin. Nov. 26.-An earnest warm
ing against Understanding of the
British troops such as has been Gus
tomary with a certain section of the
German press is sent home by a well
known Berlin newspaper mar who ia
serving as first lieutenant with a regi-
ment facing the British forces nea
Ypres.
His regiment, he writes, marched
out with the idea that the British had
legs only to run with and that real
fighting spirit or skill at arms was
lacking in them. A few hours con.
tact with the British. however. showed
that they were no easy enemy.
The English infantry who opposed
us there in the vicinity of Ypres must
be characterized as troops of the first
quality" he writes. From the start
it was noteworthy with that high en-
ergy the British troops defended their
being driven out they kept trying
again n again. particularly by night
attacks, to regain the lost ground.
They were supported most effectively
by their field artillery. which like the
French. is at least as good as ours.
The British had also Drought up heavy
naval guns in the vicinity of Ypres
oiiu Nv LllS SllCllS anu SIldEpNGl
caused us considerable loss.
LAS the British commenced to feel
more and more our enveloping move
ments they made desperate efforts to
break through our lines. particularly
In h neighborhood of Becelaere, but
vainly. In one Of these energetic at
tempts we captured about 500 English,
including twenty officers
Strength of English.
The chief strength Of the English
lies beyond doubt in the defense and
In the proper use of cover. The ma
tural hunting instincts Of the sport
loving Briton come out more strongly
IN these specialties than in the case
with our average infantry. The min
1mum of hunting instincts that we of
the present g Inherit is brought to
a higher degree Of development in
Englishman by regular participation
In sport than in men of other nations.
The Englishman as a sportsman
undoubtedly has quicker nervous re-
actions than the average German. It
Is unquestionably easier, therefore, t.
instruct the British recruit than the
German in shooting, in the use Of ter
rain and in patrol duty.
l.. ... Skill Is Evident,
The skill Of the British soldier i
utilizing every advantage of the coun-
try was very noticeable in the numer-
Gus engagements in the vicinity g.
Ypres. The British trenches were
usually so skillfully constructed that
they could. not be made out with the
naked eye. When we had stormed the
nrst trenches we were astonished t.
fnd.Aow well laid out they were, par
ticular]y in depth. side protection
against shell fragments. splinter
proofs, and above all, in regard to the
way in which plates of steel and iron
were built into the breaetworks.
THE shelter pits evidently had been
arranged with all possible comfort for
an extended stay and our men re-
ioiced at the wonderful canned goods,
corn beef. ham and other supplies they
found in them.
Only Shamming Death.
W were often struck with the
great number Of dead inc the few
living defenders we found In trenches
we had stormed. but We soon found
that a considerable proportion of tn
dead were only shamming and could