Imperial Valley press., 1914-11-04
SOME STORIES OF
INDIVIDUAL HER0ISM
(By Lawrence Elston.)
(Staff Correspondent of the lntcrna-
tional News Scrvice.l


London, Oct. 30.-A guardsman,
now ct Woolwich, who was wounded
near Compeigne, has given vivid ac-
eoun- of the fighting there and of the
capttae of ten German guns by the
British troops.
we were in a field" he said, when
the Germans dropped on US all OF a
sudden as though from the sky. The
first hint we had of their presence
was when battery of guns on the
right sang out, dropping shells into
mob of us who were waiting for our
turn at the wash tub-the river.
There was no panic as far as ] saw,
only some of our fellows who hadn't
had & wash for a long time said
strong things about the Germans for
spelling the best chance we had had
for four days. We all ran to our posts
in response to bugles which rang out
all along the lire, and by the time
we al stood to arms the German
cavalry came into view in great
strength all along the left front.
"As soon as they came within range
we poured deadly volley into them,
erap4ying saddles right and left, and
they scattered in all directions.
Meanwhile their artillery kept work
ing Up closer on the front and the
right. and a dark cloud of infantry
showed out against the skyline on our
front, advancing in formation rather
close fer the Germans. We opened on
them, and they made fine target for
cur rife fire, which was very well sup
ported by our artillery. The fire from
cur guns was very effective, the range
being found with ease, and we coul1
see the shells dropping right into the
onemy's ranks.
Here and there their lines began
to waver and give way, and finally
they disappeared. Half an hour later
more infantry appeared on cur right
hut we could not say whether it was
the same or another body. This time
they 1.ere well supported by artillery.
machine guns, and strong forces of
Avalry on both flanks. All came on
Fl a smart pace with the apparent
tian of seizing the hill on our right.
At The same moment our cavalry
came into view, and then the whole
guards brigade advanced. 1t was real
ly race between the two parties to
reach the hill first, but the Germans
won easily owing to their being
learer by half mile.
AS soon as their guns and infantry
lad taken up a position, the cavalry
came along in huge mass with the
intention of riding down the Irish
guards, who were nearest them.
When the shock came it seemed ter
rife to US in the distance, for the
Irishmen did not recoil in the least,
bit flung themselves right across the
path of the German hOrsemen.
"We could hear the crack of the
litttH anu ScN Ltt AIti man iiti oSs lil4
raled on the bayoBets of the front
ranks of the guardsmen. Then the
whole force of infantry and cavalry
were mixed up in one confused heap,
like so many pieces from jig-saw
puzzle Shells from the British and
German batteries kept dropping close
TO the tangled mass Of fighting men,
and then we saw the German horse
men get clear and take to flight as
fast IS their horses would carry them
Some had no horses and they were
bayoaetted where they stood
"Nhie this was going on there was
q confused movement among the Ger p
man infantry, as though they were go
ing to the assistance of the cavalry,
but evidently they did not like the
look Of things. for they stayed where
they were. After this little Interrupt
ton The whole Of the guards continued
their advance, the Coldstreamers lead
ing this time with the Scots in re-
serve and the Irish in support.
Taking advantage of the fight be-
tween the cavalry and infantry, the
GT THOMAS HOSPITAL