New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-06
TOMMY ATKINS TELLS
REAL STORIES or WAX
etters Not Written for Publication Nela'e ''''"e
dents of the Great Conflict and the DomsS OF the
British Soldiers at the Front

cir was thick with bodies blown SKY
high.
"Our own men seemed TO get very
little damage. though many OF them
were stunned for the time beng D!
the awful explosion.
after time they were reformed
and swept across the intervening space
with a ringing cheer that told IT'S own
story. The Germans were ready Tor
them. and they had a hard tussle TO
clear the trenches, but they aucce'd ed
in the end.
THAT was only the beginning OF
their troubles. for they were now
posted in position that II would nave
taken q whole brigade at least 10 hold
They did their best. and they
weren't left in peace long. Tor the Ter
mans were strongly reinforced and re-
turned later TO c... the trenches
again.
Taste Their Own Cruel,
"They were not made for firing from
more than ono side, and were little use
to our chaps when attacked M the
rear. and as the Germans were well
suprorted By their machine guns IT
would have gone hard with our men
had IL not been for the fact that their
plight became known 20 headquarters
and the Fusilier Brigade moved ont IN
support.
"By this time the Germans had "A
battery Of guns playing on the
trenches and cavalry we're beng
masscd for an attack on the right As
the Fusilcrs moved across the open
they were sholled hcrcoly. but they
managed TO get across i'm rushcs.
Just as they were within quarter
Of mile Of the trenches tho German
horscmcn swoopcd down on them. and
there was an awful mlN-up TOR about
an hour a least
"Our chaps stood mp to the horse
mon with he hayonct or dubbed rllc
where there was no time to fix bdyo-
nets. and TO us oulooker5 II seemed at
first that our gallant lads were gong
TO hc forced back. They got through
II all right and drove the Germans Oft.
"All that night they were engaged
with the enemy around the position
they had been sent 10 hold, but I'M the
morning the enemy cleared of, lcaVu"
our lads IN possession.
"Anothor day the Germans were
lust q hit too smart with thor MINES.
fov when our men were approaching "a
strong force Of cavalry came out 70
Intercept them. forgetting about the
mines. with the result that they were
blown to smitherCcus in sight of their
own lines
Give Them "Bir, Bin"
Private Hartman Of the Kings Royal
Rifles. wounded at Mons, gives a
graphic description Of his experiences,
one Of which was to see fight be
tween two aeroplancs.
1--WE did not like the order to re
tire at Mons. We knew we were do
ing better than the Germans and IN
hictinC heavy losses on them.
"Thc officers knew VIC were djsap-
pointed. because on the fifth day OF re-
tlring We had had three days at Mons
before We began 60 retreat our com
officer came round and spoke
stick it. boys, stick it. Tomorrow
We shall go the other way, and adj
vance. Riff. Bit,
"Tbc way he said BiF. biT' de-
lighted the men and after that you
could frequently hear the men shout
ing 'Bif, bif!
1--WE went on retrcatlnC. with occa-
sional stops just to give the Germans
n taste Of what we could do. On one
occasion ! and six others were left 10
cover a Maxim gun whilst IL was be
inc Gmbcred up 10 be taken back &c
some other position.
"Thc Germans were shel,inR us all
this. I'D II was nrclL :. no.