The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-29
Learn a Sad Lesson When
5000 Tackle 700 of
the Foe.
BRITISH LOST 400. BUT
GERMANS MANY MORE
KaiSer's Troops Accused of
Mounting Guns on Red
Cross Wagons.
n, FERDINAND TUoHY.
st,rirf correspondent Of THE SuS and the
london "DGiiy Nat"

Ersrfri correspondent Of The sun ana the
london "DdNy Nat"
so,rta1 Cas'e Despatch 10 THE srS.
BorLoGSE. August IS.
I, has taken the British expeditionory
orce mst four days to shatter the IL
uson which has been drummed into
every German that the fighting quail
ties Of British troops are negligible he
side the mighty race whose business is
war
The THAN Is at least wiser man to-
day lie has found that breaking a
British line Of steel Is not such easy
work as harassing a countryside shorn
by murder Of its menfolk.
German cavalry. estimated to number
5000 men. may have overwhelmed a lit
lie British force OF 700, which was
hourly awaiting relief. but not before
IS own ranks had been sadly thinned
nor yet without having recourse to the
base expodient of mounting quick firers
IN Red Cross wagons
I, was not for the 700 to reason why.
Tne supporting force never appeared
They Just stood their ground to man
and Il seems that but 300 remain. When
all was lost there ensued no sauve qui
peut Calmly harasslng their pursuers
with a murderous fire all that was left
o, them retreated with the wounded Of
their convoy intact.
Position in Rear Of Town.
II is simple story. last stand one.
that should thrill every British heart
from New Zealand to Alaska. on
Wednesday morning British troops had
taken up a position slightly in the
rear Of the town. upon high ground.
on the extreme right of a semi-circular
position were two big guns OF garrison
artillery. At first these found splendid
range. dealing death by wholesale to the
invaders. who were some miles away.
Then with the steady German advance
the range was lost toward l 7. NJ.
The tight had begun at 1880 \. VI.
Tie position became critical for the
heroic British defenders. As every vital
minute slipped by anxious eyes looked
back for the promised help that was
never 10 come.
Even at terrible disadvantage, at
last ten to one In infantry and artil-
lery. the artillery was holding its own
whom hordes OF Chlans seemed 10 sud
denly sweep down through the town.
They salloped with amazing disregard
for themselves on to the very muzzle
Of the oncmy's field guns.
There must have been 5000 Of them
here alone. \ survivor tells me:
The asst saw was one of our officers
holding a revolver in either hand hrine
away screcncd by the guns. He alone
must have accounted for a dozen thlans
They were falling on all sides of him
Nspy Prefer Change.
rhe-, can he no doubt in regard n
N. charge preferred by the British
.odiers In regard to the machine gun:
m E,d Cross wagons, No fewer thar
i've SURVIVORS have been emphatic ir
their Indictment The infantry sut-
fcrcl heavily from this new exclusively
German weapon of war. 1t was indee'
The appearance OF a third ambulance
suu that ncccssitatcd the retirement
~ a fcw scattered scores OF Infantry
men ina remained II the convoy and the
wounded were to 10 saved
Towards T. NJ some 800 gallant sur
Nvors tho majority Of them wounded
began 20 tan back. They reached a SAT-
position by nightfall.
The hlans kept M continuous at
''rh and 81 midnight two hostile air
men began dropping bombs on the Brit
ish camp, but fortunately without caus
lnS It's destruction. Perhaps ! may b.
permitted To give verbatim the followin.
eloquent summing up from a gunne
Who Was shot in both legs
They won't bc SO cocksure the mex
time We give them hell"
have been able to gather dctail
Of severe engagements In which British
troops were concerned, on Wedncsda!
morning At & o'clock dPtachments 800
truu- biyouaCked after forced marcl
Of seventeen miles Through lack o
air scouts q am asked to emphasize
ms poinO tho exact position in tn
hfghborhood of hostile troops in su
n'r'r numbers was misjudgcd.
within an hour with the uhiqu
tou- hlans leading the way, the Ger
mans warmed down on our fatigue
mon approaching within fifty yards
WIN the quick hrcrs the British posi-
ton however was strong and the Ger
man were rcpulsed, leaving "A wall G
do.d
IS. 'Il accounts the German plan {
'1'nnaicu is being carried ont regard
toss n human life The German arti
As4I .4.c is spoken Of as deadly, but IN
"I'n'tN b. hCucdth contempt.
After REFUSING attack after attac
ana NOT suffering considerably. IN
'''.h fore, wds ahlc Ia select an
'''' % base i've miles distant Tia
mo attacking force was more or los
&. ln'd us clear, for they made n
o"''' " follow up their opponents