Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-09-04
BY FRANKLIN p. MERRlck.
international News Service.

the allied French and British troops
opposed the wave of German troops
that rolled them over and drove them
back to France.
For ten hours the tide of battle
ebbed and flowed at Charleroi, the
town being taken and retaken five
times before the allies withdrew.
Part of the city was wrecked, &C
ccrding to reports received by the war
office The villages of Marchiennes,
Monceau, Chatelet and Landelies were
burned.
Citizens Killed.
Though the inhabitants of the peace
full little villages had been warned
that the conflict was coming, scores
remained in their homes and perlshed
in the flames or we're killed under the
rain of shot and shell that swept the
streets when they were driven from
the shattered structures.
Fierce hand to hand fighting took
place in Chartered The French were
the first to occupy the town, but they
were driven out by a bombardment
from the German artillery. The Ger
mans then entered by the left bank
OF the river Sambre, but within a
short time more Of the allies troops
arrived and the conflict was renewed.
The Germans sought cover In the
houses in the lower part of the town
and to dislodge them the French
were forced to sweep that section with
their artillery.
Wounded Fill Town.
The lower part Of the town was soon
in flames and the Germans were
forced into thesstreets. Back and forth
through these surged the contesting
soldiers, fighting desperately for vic
tory. The dead lay thick when the
French were finally forced to with
draw.
For three days wounded soldiers
have been pouring into Maubeuge.
The monastery and nunnery there are
filed The inhabitants have given
up their homes to the wars victims.
On Sunday the Germans drove the
French troops through the town OF
CharIeroi, back to the second de-
fensive position on the line defined by
the towns Of Avesnes, Rocroi and Me-
Eieres.
Recaptured by French.
The French artillery from the
heights now turned furious cannon
aiding on Charleroi, which had been
bombarded previously by the Germans
from the other side. The German po-
sition was so weakened by the deadly
accuracy Of the French gunnery that a
counter attack by the allies was or
dered and at daylight on Monday the
entire line advanced. charged the Ger
man position and recaptured Charleroi.
The conflict probably was unequaled
in history in severity and casualties.
The Germans must have succeeded In
bringing up reserves, for early on
Tuesday they made a successful coun-
ter attack along the whole battle line
and retook Chartered. driving the
French back TO an intrenched position,
which they held until the morning of
the second day.
Retreat In Good Order.
The retreat was made in good or.
der. the main forces of the French re
naming intact
Both armies suffered terrific losses
The battle has not yet finished.
The German catapult is hammering
at the French and British allies again
trying to batter its relentless way tt
Paris. There is desperate fighting
along the Belgian frontier at severa
points, and French victories are re
ported at two places, Charleroi AMI
Courtrai. though nothing official hai
been given out
Turcos Charge Battery.
At the beginning of the combat. tn,
French made a sortie in a medieva
manner. with the object of surprising
the enemy. The latter were found il
number far exceeding the French e.
pectatfons, and the attempt to reu
them failed.
Then the Turcos, in the face of
whitening fire, charged German baf
terry at the point of the bayonet Fiv
hundred Of these brave French SO
diers from North Africa left on tn
charge. Only 100 returned.
Their sortie had no effect agains
the steady German advance. whic
continued to creep step by ste
through the outskirts of Charleroi.
Before the railway station the 0e
mans fought for two hours in an effol
to capture the bridge Their losst
were enormous. but the bridge WI
captured.
French Beaten Rapidly.
After the Teutonic advance owe
whelmed the bridge. the German
gained ground rapidly, taking in su
cession the villages of Marchienne
Bandelis and Montignies and the cou
try IS far as Walcourt
Later the French artillery open,
Ore ON Charleroi and the French |
fantry advanced under this cover. II
tide Of battle appeared to favor L
tri-color. but not for long.
French infantrymen declared I
roofs became SO jammed with de
that the victims OF battle remain
standing where they we're shot, a
we're used by the living as brea
works from behind which to fire
the enemy
The last stand OF the French "
along the line batween Thuin and NJ
tet.
At nightfall the lighting ended. be
sides tired beyond endurance. BIZ
day morning the French returned