Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-10-27
Turn Own Guns on Them.

urn O"I SuHS
A story of how three French SOL
diers captured two German quick
frers and put to flight two companies
of German infantry is told in letter
sent home by the captain of a COM
pany of French infantry fighting on
the Aisne.
Two corporals and a private while
reconnoitering, crawled within ten
yards of the German trenches. Most
of the German soldiers were away for
the purpose of fetching dinner, and
the officers were some distance back
of the guns.
The three Frenchmen sprang into
the trenches and turned the guns on
the unsuspecting Germans, who fled,
communicating the panic to two COM
panies French artillerymen who had
been waiting the proceedings then
opened fire and exterminated the
Germans.
That same night the corporals were
promoted to be second lieutenants
major as a reward for their daring
work.
Draw Lots For Death.
Lots were drawn by four officers to
decide who should remain in command
of Fort st. Marie, northwest of Ant
werp. The officer chosen was sworn
to fight to the death. The lot fell to
a married man with a family. Another
officer instantly volunteered to take
his place. and the offer was reluct-
antly accepted. The three others re-
tired to Antwerp after bidding
touching farewell to their heroic COM
rade.
Army Tradition Upset.
The British army. it seems sure,
says a London correspondent, will
come out of the present war largely
if not completely democratized. Ira
ditionally the officers have come from
the upper class and the ranks from
the lower. But war conditions have
made it necessary that competent
men be advanced on purely military
merits. The situation is particularly
serious at the front. The pick of the
sergeants are being given shoulder
straps.
Where the men are to come from to
officer the new volunteer army of
!. 900, 600 is a matter of concern to
the war office. officers retired by
age or disability are acting as drill
masters, but fit and active men must
be found to take charge when the new
force goes to the front. This means
rapid promotion for those of military
talent Further promotions and
shakeups will follow under the test of
fire.
Sportsman Soldiers.
Recruiting for the famous English
sportsman battalion is proceeding
apace. The enrolment to date totals
about 1000.
It is raised and financed by Mrs.
Cunliffe Owen and is in all probabili-
ty the only battalion of any of the
great armies to be created as such by
women 1t is certainly the only bat
talon in the British forces in which
the age limit has been especially eX-
tended by the authorities. The re-
cruiting posters read:
THE sportsman battalion is a corps
for gentlemen up to forty-five years
of age"
Men Killed, Cow Unframed.
La Liberte of Paris, quotes
wounded artillery lieutenant as fol-
lows:
1--WE were sitting in our subter-
ranean abode when a German shell
fell right in the opening. 1t killed
two and wounded siXteen-that is. al
most everybody in the grotto. The
COW which we kept in the grotto to
supply milk escaped"
After the battles of the 18th and
10Th of September" said this officer,
IAN infantry regiment was defend
ing the village of p, which German
guns posted at a higher point were
covering. We were compelled to leave
large farmhouse, which we called
Cholera Farm being an advanced
post of our position which the enemy
continued to lombard. The French
wounded. however remained there.
Private Proves Hero.
THE lieutenant colonel asked: Who
will volunteer to rescue the wounded?
A horse and a cart are ready This
meant crossing 800 yards of absolute
ly open ground under u heavy fire.