Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-08-31
SHOW FIGHTING QUALITIES.
Force Of 700 Hold. 5000 Germans Il
Check Four Days.

WV VI wv VVOt0S SeVoV SGVUVoUo W.
Check Four Days.
London, Aug 31.-A British corre-
spondent from Boulogne writes:
1t has taken the British expedition
AIRY force Just four days to shatter the
illusion which has been drummed into
every German that the fighting quallt-
les of British troops are negligible be-
side the mighty race whose business is
war.
The uhlan is at laest wiser man to-
day. He has found that breaking a
British line of steel Is not such easy
work as harassing countryside shorn
by murder of it's men folk.
German cavalry. estimated to number
5000 men. may have overwhelmed a
little British force of 700 which was
hourly awaiting relief. but not before
its own ranks had been sadly thinned,
nor yet without having recourse to the
base expedient of mounting quick firers
in red cross wagons
Supporting Force Fails.
1t was rot for the 200 to reason why.
The supporting force never appeared
They just stood their ground to man.
and it seems that only 800 remain.
When all was lost there ensued no
suave qui peut Calmly harassing their
pjursuers with murderous f1re, all
that was left of them retreated with the
wounded of their convoy intact.
1t is a simple story, last stand, one
that should thrill every British heart.
On Wednesday morning British troops
had taken up position slightly In the
rear of the town( censor forbids name
of town. upon high ground. On the ex-
IRENE right of semi position
were two high guns of garrison artil-
lery.
AT first these found an excellent
range, dealing death by wholesale to
the invaders. who We're some miles
away. Then with the steady German
advance the range was lost toward
p. m.
Position Become. Critical
The fight had begun at 1880 A. m.
The position became critical for the
heroic British defenders, AS every
vital minute slipped by anxious eyes
looked hack for the promised help than
was never to come.
Even at a terrible disadyantaSe-at
least ten to one Infantry and artillery
the artillery was holding its own,
when hordes of uhlans seemed suddenly
to sweep down thru the town. The.
galloped, with amazing disregard Tor
on to the very muzzles OF
the enemys field guns
There must have been 5000 of them
here alone. a survivor tells me CHE
The last saw was one of our Off
GERS holding a revolver in either hand.
firing away screened bs the guns. He
alone must have accounted for a dozen
u hlsns. They were falling on all sides
Of him.
Fought Under Red Gross?
There can be no DOUBT in regard to
the charge preferred by the British
soldiers in re gard to the machine guns
on Red Cross wagons. No fewer than
five survivors have been emphatic in
their indictment. The infantry suf-
rered heavily from this new exclusive
German weapon of war.
1t was indeed the appearance of al
third ambulance gun that necessitated
the retirement OF few scattered
scores of infantrymen who remained II
the convoy and the wounded were to
be saved.
Towards . y. m. the 900 gallant sur
vivors. the majority of them wounded.
began to fall back. They reached sale
position by nightfall.
Keep Up Continuous Attack.
The uhIans kept up continuous at
tack. and at midnight two hostile air.
men began dropping bombs on the
British camp. but fortunately without
it's destruction. Perhaps
nay be permitted to give yerbatum the
following eloquent suming up from a
gunner who was shot in both legs:
They won't be so cocksure the next
time we give them hell
/ have been able to gather details Of
severe engagements in which British
II oops were concerned. On Wednesday
at s O'Clock detachments 1000
strong bivouacked after q forced march
Of seventeen miles. Thru lack of air
scouts Il am asked to emphasize this
point) the exact position in the neigh
borhood of hostile troops in superior
numbers WAS misjudsed.
Leave Wall Of Dead.
Within an hour, with the uhlans lead
ing the way. the Germans sWarmed
down on our fatigued men. approach
ing within fifty Yards. With the quick
frers the British position. however,
was strong. and the Germans were re-
pulsed, leaving wall of dead
BY al accounts the German plan Of
is being carried out regard
less of human life. The German artil-
lery fire is spoken of as deadly. but
the infantry is beneath contempt.
After repulsing attack after attack
and not suffering considerably. the
British force was able to select and
save base five miles distant. That
the attacking force vas more of less
crippled. is clear for they made no eff
fort to follow up their opponents.