Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-22
GUNS, NOT PADDED
GLOVES, WEAPONS
OF FRENCH BOXER
Pugilist, in Midst of Fighting
of Steiner Kind, Tells
How Captive British Es-
caped Near Amiens.
Bq A. j. RoRKE
AM1ENs, France. Sept. %.

rven the grim tragedy of war has It's
o,her side. Listen to the story which I
hoard here today while waiting for news
from the front Toward me down one
~ the streets came a figure wearing a
vriforu of the 5th French Dragons. AS
II drew nearer I thought his face familiar
and then recognized him as none other
than Champbrun, the welterweight French
boxer whom I last saw in a ring in
liverpool hghting Young Josephs.
"since that time Champbrun has fought
Summers In London and made something
M n name for himself in the Partisan
nrize ring, but lately has been doing some
lighting of a sterner kind. He was with
his command at Charleroi, Dinant and
Namur After he had shaken hands he
remarked. I've a story for you. I have
frst left two of your Highlanders. who.
with 16 other British soldiers, were made
nrIsoners of war by the Germans. They
were not prisoners long. They were cap
tured about ten days ago In the morning,
but before midnight they escaped and
each had possessed himself of horse
and lance This is how it happened.
HOW BR1ToNs ESCAPED.
Naturally the Germans disarmed the
prisoners, who, besides the Hlghlanders,
consisted of some cavalrymen and,
think, Grenadier Guards The Germans
made them walk several miles along y
road, but the Kalser's men tired first and,
after locking the Britishers in a barn, fell
asleep. 1t was not long before the London
soldiers who knew something about locks
had unfastened the door and IS men stole
out into the darkness, going past the
sleeping guards and making their way to
the place where the horses we're picketed.
Quickly but silently taking hold Of
an animal, the escaping prisoners each
grabbed one and mounted, but not be-
fore they had helped themselves to
lance from a stack nearby. The noise
made by removing the spears from the
case awoke the Germans, who immed-
ately jumped out and grasped their ri
hes. The Britishers barely had time to
dash away. when n score of bullets whiz-
ged past their heads, but the men man
aged to escape. They met Uhlan patrols,
but defeated them each time"
How did the Highlanders with kits
manage their horses" I asked
ooh, they rode side saddle like the
picture of two Highlanders errant rid
ing ladyike," replied the pugiist.
The German horses and the armed Uhl-
ans lances are worthy of place in his
tory.
On Friday evening last in the shadow Of
The ancient and picturesque Amiens Ca
definite news from the terrible struggle
which ls destined to rank as one of the
decisive battles of the whole world. The
fighting is raging only 35 miles away.
FIGHTING NEAR AMIENs.
Stories of the deadly effect of the heavy
German shells hurled through the French
lines have reached me from soldiers ar
rving from the scene of the conflict 1t
Is evidently the work of the Franco-Brit- |
ish troops to silence them by return ar
tlery fire. but 1t has been exceedingly |
difficult to put them out of action.
Valiant French infantry lancers have |
crept up the hills repeatedly in gallant |
attempts to do what their artillery SEEM |
ed unable to accomplish, despite a with |
ering fire from rifles and machine guns |
causing sad devastation. However, under |
cover of darkness the infantry, together |
with the engineers. managed to advance |
up the sloping ground and cntrench large |
bodies of French troops.
For hours Thursday, September II, the |
French forces moved along the roads near
Amiens. where they sighted columns of |
infantry and artillery moving in the di-
rection where the enemy was believed
to be putting fresh hope and courage |
into the hearts of the anxious women |
and children and aged mon living in tn,
Immediate fear of the enemy.
As the sun sets tonight, crowds are
gathered around the beautiful Cathedral
In increasing numbers. Reports after re-
ports arrive to the effect that the enc
mics ammunition has given out, neces-
stating n retreat and resulting in the
French breaking through the German
lines in three places, followed by the
Britishers advancing.
These reports certainly are not imagina-
tion, II true in substance, then once
again the historic old Cathedral is des-
tined to echo solemn and inspiring TIE
Deum.