The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-09-29
HOW THE GUNS
WERE SAVED. BY
HARD FIGHTING
Vivid Description of a Battle
Given by Wounded Corporal
of British Infantry.
WHAT ONE MAN SEES OF WAR
English Gunners Slaughtered by
shrapneI-Bayonet Charge Routs
the Enemy and Prevents Their
Capture of the Threatened
Field Pieces.
BY HERBERT TEMPLE.
European Manager of the Internation-
81

BY HERBERT TEMPLE.
European Manager of the information
al News Service.
London.-A British infantry corpor-
al, wounded in battle and invaded
home, gave graphic description of
the fighting he saw in France,
Early in the morning" he said, I'VE
were informed of the approach of the
enemy, and were ordered to deploy
and take cover over a wide front,
which included woods and open coun-
try with villages in the valleys.
Towards ten o'clock we could hear
the booming of guns-a sound we be-
came used to on Salisbury Plains
and then the rattle of Maxims and
rifles.
"a party of uhlans dashed along
the road through our firing line, and
we emptied more than one saddle, but
more came, and then we were sudden
ly enfiladed by machine guns, which
were mounted on motor-cars.
There was no help but for US to
leave the trenches and rush to the
woods. Then as we ran for shelter a
terrible roar of guns broke on our ears,
and shell after shell struck the ground
in front of us, and others burst over
our heads. Men fell and groaned with
terrible wounds
Our field batteries went into action
and answered the German guns, but
the enemy had somehow got to know
that we were in the woods, for they
fired necessarily on u.s.
Advance of the Infantry.
I'VE left the frs at the other side
and opened out, supported by the
South Lancashires, for our colonel had
been warned that the infantry were
advancing. We had hardly extended
and lain down, when patches of blue
green were seen on the sky line-bat-
talions of the enemy following each
other at regular intervals.
The batteries of Bulford brigade
let rip and gouged holes through them
'Bravo!' shouted my platoon command
er as he watched the carnage through
his field glasses.
Now the order was given to fix
bayonets. Mind, men, you look to
your magazines shouted the colonel.
Before the enemy arrived, however,
the artillery fire had increased until it
was a perfect inferno German avia-
tors were directing the guns. At
times we were told to fire on the aero
planes, and did SO, but as they were
armored the shots did not tell.
Slaughter of the Gunners.
Our poor gunners had a terrible
inauling, and what was worse strong
force of cavalry got around behind US
and charged right up to the guns.
Very few of them escaped, however,
for whole platoons rushed to the res
sue and emptied their magazines into
them, and not few were bayoneted.
1T was here that saw whole gun
detachment laid out. The breech of
the gun was open, and a she'll was
lying on the ground. Nobly they fought
and fell.
1.-The uhlans had the audacity to
think that they could take the guns
away, and were actually preparing to
timber up when our rifles were turned
against them.
'As our guns retired-all that could,
for sons had no teams and others no
men-the German infantry were on
us. Fortunately fold in the ground
hid us for a time, but we let them
come on until their breasts rose above
the neighboring mounds, and then we
decimated them.
They fell back in confusion and
dropped to the ground. On came an
other batch few minutes later, and
we treated them in the same way.
THE artillery fire slackened, but
scores of machine guns were turned
on us, and it was not safe to move.
We kept on firing until the dead were
piled several feet high.
1.-TWO companies of another bat
talon came up to help US in the firing
line, and after a short wait we were
told to prepare to charge. The South
Lancashires were at work with the
bayonet on our right front. and it was
now our turn On the word of COM
mand we sprang from the ground as
one man, and with yell we charged
the advancing Prussians.
Bayonet Charge Irresistible.
"As we neared the ranks we fred
independently at them and dropped
many a man before the bayonet
reached them. Only few tried to
cross bayonets with us. The remain
der pushed off and were shot in the
back as they went Those who stood
their ground were surrounded or tax
en- prisoners. Not one of that long
massive line seemed to want the cold
steel
Our pack animals had in the mean
time arrived with ammunition We
were served with another 60 rounds
each. and none too soon, for a uhlan
regiment lad spotted us and was seen
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