El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-10-17
.DH5HE5T HR0JGE.
GERNiHLINEST0.
BELGIAN SAFETY
British Corporal Tells of
English Retreat and of
His Own Escape.
AIDED BY BELGIAN
ONE LEGGED SOLDIER

Z ONDON, Eng oct 17.-Here is
lance corporal Alex Foyster's story
of how he and private Collins were
engulfed by the German lines at the
battle of Mons but managed TO make
their way through:
we were being moved from place to
place. finally settling against a coal
mine. 1 was standing by the timber
when signals were sent by the machine
gun officer for action, and soon 1 was
unpacked and the gun laid on the Ger
man infantry, who were scrapping our
cavalry for all they were worth. They
were then 1000 yards to my front Soon
our cavalry were forced TO retire, but
not before they had given the enemy
a hot 20 minutes Their retirement
was to a clump Of houses 500 yards to
my front and as soon as these were
reached the German artillery opened a
deadly Shrapnel fire Our men did not
get excited, but simply retired in small
patches, only the riderless horses stray
ing out Of the line or retreat. They
collected in the same pit where I and
one fellow of the 18th Lancers were
having a shot for dear old Norwich,
with shrapnel shells bursting just above
usi
Run Through German Fire.
Soon orders were given for Us to
advance through a hail of shrapnel and
rifle fire. Boys says the officer, we
must get TO that house or our battalion
is lost God alone knows how we got
there, but I soon found myself in the
center Of the German rifle fire 1
hadn't been firing more than a minute
when over went my officer, wounded in
the thigh. During this time the Ger
mans had worked round our left flank
but the orders for retirement to the
battalion were not received by ne
smashed my gun as best 1 could taking
the lock with me
Sergeant Heyhoc. lance corporal Bull
lock, and myself decided to go through
the German rifle fire, but being flanked
both left and right we did not enter
tain much hope Of getting through.
From now EDWARDS I cannot say what
really happened. All I know is that
got away alone TO a village not yet
occupied by Germans. The peasants
soon made me comfortable. coffee and
food being brought, but I had to leave
these hurriedly because Of the Uhlaus
knocking around Whilst getting
through the village I met three Nor
folks and a Dorset and together we hid
in a mine The German soldiers. sing
ing, marched by 20 yards from US from
p. m that night and were still go
ing past next morning when we crept
out TO a more safe place through
wood.
Hide Out For Days.
IN this shelter We remained two Z
days, when the two Norfolks and the ]
Dorset man went in different directions.
Collins and I decided 10 see IL out to-
gether. We spent two days under q /
hedge beside the railway. until we 2
were rescued by an old Belgian one |
legged soldier Cat great risk &C losing !
his own lfe) who put US in an out !
house attic. Here We remained seven |
days, and were then taken to more ]
comfortable quarters quite under the /
nose Of the Germans
AT last a favorable opportunity /
arrived and, dressed like Belgian 1
peasants, We were ready to start at 1 4
D. m. on Sept. 16, no books or papers !
being carried which could lead to our 4
Our guides walked 200 \
yards in front. We meanwhile assuming 4
our best Belgian appearance in the rear. /
The fact that We walked safely through
villages where the Germans were bill 4
Ietted made US very daring when on
the clear road"