Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1914-09-03
BY FRANKLIN P. MERRlck.
international News Service

the allied French and BRUSH uOOP9
opposed the wave OF German troops
that rolled them over and drove them
back to France
For ten hours the tide OF battle
eLbed and flowed at Charleroi. the
town being taken and retaken I'VE
times before the allies withdrew
part OF the city was wrecked. ac-
cording to reports received by the war
office The villages OF Marchiennes'
Monceau, Chatelet and Landelles were
burned.
Citizens Killed.
Though the inhabitants Of the peace,
full little villages had been warheu
that the conflict was coming SCORES
remained In their homes and pensheu
in the flames or were killed under the
rain OF shot and shell that swept inc
streets when they were driven from
the shattered structures.
Fierce hand to hand lighting TOOK
place in Charleroi The French were
the first to occupy the town, but they
were driven out by bombardmeh'
from the German artillery. Inc uei
mans then entered by the left Dahh
of the river Sambre, but within
short time more OF the allies troops
arrived and the conflict was renewed
The Germans sought cover III INC
houses In the lower part of the town
and to dislodge them the french
were forced to sweep that section WIN
their artillery.
Wounded Fill Town.
The lower part of the town was soon
In flames and the Germans were
forced into the streets. Back ana lorIh
through these surged the contestlns
soldiers, fighting desperately for VIC
tory. The dead lay thick When inc
French were finally forced to "'''-
draw
For three days wounded soldiers
have been pouring into Mauoeuee'
The monastery and nunnery there are
filled. The inhabitants have given
ND their homes to the wars victims
On Sunday the Germans drove the
French troops through the town OF
Chartered, back to the second ue'
ferisiye position on the line defined by
th9 towns of Avesnes, Rocroi and Me-
zieIAs.
ys Recaptured by Freaoh-
che French artillery from the
nights now turned furious cannon
aiding on Charleroi, which had been
bombarded previously by the Germans
from the other side The German po-
sition was so weakened by the deadly
accuracy of the French gunnery that
counter attack by the allies was or
dered and at daylight on Monday the
entire line advanced, charged the Ter
man position and recaptured Charerol.
The conflict probably was unequaleu
in history in severity and casualties
The Germans must have succeeded III
bringing up reserves, for early oh
Tuesday they made a successful couh-
ter attack along the whole battle line
and retook Charleroi, driving the
French back to an intrenched position,
which they held until the morning OF
the second day.
Retreat In Good Order.
The retreat was made in good or
dor the main forces Of the French re-
naming intact.
Roth armies suffered terrific losses
The battle has not yet finished.
The German catapult is hammering
at the French and British allies again.
irving to batter it's relentless way 10
Paris, There is desperate lighting
along the Belgian frontier at several
points, and French victories are re.
ported at two places, Charleroi ana
Courtrai, though nothing official mas
been given out.
Turcos Charge Battery.
AT the beginning of the combat, the
French made sortie in a medieval
manner, with the object of surprising
the enemy. The latter were found IN
number far exceeding the French ex-
pectations, and the attempt to rout
them failed.
Then the Turcos, in the face OF
whitening fire, charged German bat
tery at the point of the bayonet Five
hundred of these brave French SOL
diers from North Africa left on the
charge. Only 100 returned.
Their sortie had no effect against
the steady German advance, which
continued to creep step by step
through the outskirts of Chartered
Before the railway station the Ger
mans fought for two hours in an effort
TO capture the bridge. Their losses
were enormous, but the bridge was
captured.
French Beaten Rapidly.
After the Teutonic advance over
whelmed the bridge the Germans
gained ground rapidly taking in sue
cession the villages Of Marchiennes,
Landelis and Montignies and the coun
try as far as Walcourt.
Later the French artillery opened
fire on Charleroi and the French in
fantry advanced under this cover The
tide of battle appeared to favor the
tri-color, but not for long.
French infantrymen declared the
roofs became so jammed with dead
that the victims of battle remained
ohnt and