Evening star., 1914-12-13
FRENCH BRAVERY
SHOWN IN REPORT
Infantry Distinguishes Itself in
Terrific Battle for Ferry
mans House.

PARIS. December 12-An official re-
port of the principal happenings on the
battle front from November q to De-
cember has been given out in Paris.
1t Is, in part, as follows:
THE period between November 81 and
December was not marked by opera
tions of any great extent, but observa-
tons made during these days showed
that along the entire front we had taken
the ascendant over the enemy, with our
artillery as well as with our infantry.
The French artillery. without suffering
severely from the fire Of the German
cannon, was successful at a number of
points in slencing batteries of the en-
emy, and even in demolishing several of
them. Our infantry. showing sustained
spirit of offense, made progress every
where, and at no point was this in
fartry progress followed by retirement
Several infantry engagements are
worthy of special mention The en-
gagement which resulted in giving US
the house of the ferryman, the posi-
tion of which has been indicated in
previous official communications. was
particularly brilliant. Several German
trenches were occupied, one after the
other. The operation of which this
brilliant feat of arms was an episode
was one of the most laborious accom-
plished by our troops. 1t was a ques-
ton, in short of driving away from
the left bank of the User the Germans
who had succeeded in installing them
selves for a distance of 1,SOo yards.
The main difficulty arose from the fact
that the User canal is fianked at this
point by an impossible swamp: As a
result the attack could be made only
by following along the bank Of the
canal and against very narrow front.
Furthermore, the right bank of the
canal. where the enemy was Installed
dominates the left bank, which is un-
der the fire of machine guns.
Germans Courageous.
THE assault on the house of the fer
ryman was undertaken by detach-
ment of 100 volunteers from the Afri-
can battalions. Our soldiers fought in
the water up to their waists. and in
violent rainstorm. The Germans gave
evidence of the greatest courage. Our
men found it necessary to XIII an OF
flcer and fifteen soldiers who refused
to surrender. In the house of the fer
ryman, now effectively arranged as a
field fort, we found thirty-fve dead
men. including two officers, who had
been killed by our howitzer shells. In
addition we counted 200 German dead
bris of their machine guns.
THE French attack on the park and
the chateau of Vermelles was no less
remarkable. Two detachments of Al
armed with rifles and bayonets. to-
gether with three companies of infan-
try. were assigned to this operation.
The morning of December l the
German forces, assailed from all sides,
fed from the park. endeavoring yainly
to screen themselves in the rooms of
the chateau. The next day, and the
day following. every counter attack of
the enemy was repulsed. One of our
pieces of artillery, audaciously rushed
to the front, demolished several groups
of houses which were serving as
shelter for the Germans. Our infantry
captured during these days several
machine gun carriages, a quantity of
rifles and war material of all kinds.
Further to the south another attack
on the town of Fay also served to give
proof of the spirit with which our men
undertook offensive operations Novem-
barbed wire entanglements of the
enemy. and cut them with wire shears.
They at once intrenched themselves
in ground thus gained. All that night
the enemy did not cease constant
fusillade in our direction
Continue Destruction.
Our sharpshooters and our pioneers
nevertheless continued the destruction
Of the wire entanglements of the
enemy. making use of shears and
melinite bombs. November 80, after
having been successful in passing the
first set of entanglements, they found
second series of wire defenseS. By
using hand grenades the Germans all
day inflicted heavy losses on our men.
Notwithstanding this We were success
full in protecting and holding the con-
quered ground, which represented an
advance of 400 yards.
Mention should be made also of the
magnificent infantry engagements
which took place between November
% and November 80. to the north of
Ecurie. In the capture and the re-
capture of a very strong system of
trenches our soldiers gave evidence of
a courage and a tenacity that is above
The German general staff has
claimed that on December l it realized
very considerable success at the
forest of La Grurie. AS a matter of
fact, this success consisted in the blow
ing up of a French trench. which had
been mined by the Germans. The
company of soldiers which occupied
this trench at the time of the explosion
was almost annihilated, but the compa-
MES nearby retained their position in
their trenches, thanks to the successful
outcome OF a hand-to-hand fight, and
line in new trench. exactly twenty
six yards back from the trench de-
stroyed by the enemy.
French Take Crest.
"On December we took possession
at a point to the south of the Col du
Bonhomme of Mount Tete de vaux, on
the crest of which the enemy had es-
tablished an artillery observation point
from which he dominated the upper
valley of the Muerthe. Our cavalry
men were successful in taking posses
sion of the crest in two hours, but
they suffered very serious losses The
spirit with which they entered this
fight was magnificent. The trumpets
sounded the charge, and our men went
forward singing the Marseillaise
..One of them carried flag, and he
planted 1t on the summit of the noun
tain.
ITO the northwest of Senones near
La Mere Henri, all the counter attacks |
of the Germans were repulsed. 1t is at
this point that we retained possession |
of a blockhouse less than thirty feet
enemy. The French sergeant and the |
four men who have taken up their |
positions in this blockhouse are kept
supplied with food by their comrades |
in the following manner:
"Loaves of bread are followed out |
and inside is placed meat or cans of
water. Then at certain times of the
day these food projectiles are thrown
over the walls into the blockhouse."