South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-10-17
Officers Diary Tells SiCkening
Sensation Caused by Terrific
Assault of TeutOnS at Mons
Men Made ManiaCS.
BY MIILIANL MAXWELL.

IN FRANCE, Oct. III am per-
mitted to give some interesting ex-
tracts from story of the war, 50 far
as it has gone, culled from the diary
of British infantry officer who re-
ceived his baptism of fire at Mons.
Il have often been told" writes the
officer, that shell fire is not so dan
gerous as it sounds, but axiOms of this
kind do not console one under a hail
of shrapnel bullets and steel shards.
stomach. We hung on until the en-
emy'S infantry came in Sight-gray
masses of men advancing rapidly and
firing rifles from their hips like so
many machine guns pumping out lead.
we let them enter one of the main
avenues and then opened. fire. With
what effect we were too busy to no.
tice. This was my first time under
fire and anyone who tells me he has
no strange emotions at such a moment
must be a liar. My heart beat fast
and my sensations were those of in
tense alarm mingled with intense
curiosity. I had to resist a strong i'm
pulse to drop my field glass, seize a
rifle and kill-kill-kill!
RepuIse Triple Attack.
Thrice the German masses flung
hurled them back with heavy losses.
We held on for an hour till they got
their guns on our flank and were
ordered 10 retire, but they had got
such a shock that they let US get
clear"
Later the officer, writing Of opera
tions around MaubeUge states:
"The Germans were making desper-
ate efforts to work around and drive
US into Maubeuge, but after Namur
we were shy of fortified towns and
determined that Maubeuge should not
be our Sedan. To avoid this turning
movement and escape being bottled
IN within useless stone walls, we re-
treated-always on the right flank.
Between Caudry and Lecateau we
had a hell of a time. The enemy
swept down on us like a tempestuOus
sea. wave and wave. They were at
least 10 to 1 and the more we killed
the more they seemed 10 grow. Oh,
for the machine guns and entrenching
tools abandoned at Mons.
Artillery Does Splendidly.
"Our artillery did splendid work.
Never shall 1 admire men more than
those silent gunners who kept pound
ing away under a murderous hail OF
shell and bullets. often without in
fantry in front OF them. Their calm
valOr was a revelation and an ex-
ample.
THAT whole day was one long
nightmare. The terrible storm broke
over US and the roar Of thunder and
flash Of lightning added TO the hor-
rors OF a retreat alOn9 a road where
lead splattered the earth like rain
drops
infantry and transport We're mixed
I'D in wild confusion. How anyone
can live through il alive is a miracle.
Gen. Smith-DOrrien and his army
CORPS saved us. Throwing themselves
across the path OF the Germans they
pinned them 10 the ground. We could
not see. but we could hear and feel
the bloody barrier they raised between
us and death and a thrill ran through
our ragged lines.
at last we got 10 cover and made
a stand. We caught some OF the en-
emy coming out OF a wood. We piled
up their dead with enfilading fire and
we stopped 10 take some prisoners.
Peasants Prove Heroes.
Then we moved on again, always TO
the rear. How different were our
feelings a few days before when we
had marched singing over these roads,