Omaha daily bee., 1914-08-30
BATTLE OF JOURNAL
WON AT A Big COST
English Now Down Germans While
Waiting ReinfOrcements that
Fail to Appear.
STRUGGLE LASTS FIVE DAYS
Germans Accused of Mounting Ma
chine Guns on Red Gross wagons
and Sending Them Against
the British Ranks.

LONDON. Aug. 2e.-(s5o a. m)-The
Daily Mails Bologne correspondent. writ
ing Of the battle OF Journal, says:
The battle OF Journal should 20 down
in British history beside Rorkes drift
and Magersfontein as revelation OF
the prowess OF the British army.
AT Journal a German cavalry force
Of 5000 men overwhelmed a British force
Of 100 who hourly expected relief. which
never appeared.
The Germans were victors at a terrible
price and only after their own ranks had
been sadly thinned. The British stood
their ground until all hope was lost and
only 800 remained. Then they retired.
calmly and cody. carrying their wounded
and harrassing their pursuers all the
way"
The story Of this last stand is some
what beclouded by the British charge
that the Germans finally turned the tide
of battle by mounting quick firers In
Red Cross wagons. The British sur
yivors fell back on Wednesday after
noon, the fight having lasted from li:sO
in the morning. Here Il the story Of
Journal in brief;
Mount Guns ON AmbulanceN
'on Wednesday morning our troops
had taken position slightly 10 the rear OF
the town OF Journal. on high ground.
our artillery fired effectively at first on
the German advance, but later lost the
range Towards ] o'clock our position
became critical.
"As every Vital moment slipped, anxious
eyes looked back for the promised help
that was never to come. Even at the
terrible DISADVANTAGE Of more than ten
to one the infantry and artillery were
holding fheir own when hordes OF Uhlans
seemed suddenly TO swoop down from
nowhere.
Through the town they gaiioped with
an amazing disregard for themselves and
I'D 10 the very muzzles OF our field guns.
Their losses were appalling, but survivors
insist that the British stood their ground
until ambuiances, at least three in num-
her made their appearance with rapid
fire guns mounted on them. Towards
o'clock the 800 survivors began to retire"
Wounded soldier Tells of Fight.
LONDON, Aug. 2s.-(s:0 a. m)-The
Chronicles Bouionge correspondent sends
the personal story OF a wounded soldier,
who has arrived there and who declared
he was ona OF the thirty survivors OF
British company OF 1000 troops who were
practically wiped out by the German ar
tlilery. His story follows;
we were five solid days in the trenches
and moved backward and forward ali that
time with the varying tide OF battle.
1T was about o'clock in the morning
when the end came. Things had got
auieter and our officers came along the |
line and told us 10 get some sleep. We
were preparing TO obey when light or !
something else gave us away and We
found ourselves in an inferno OF bullets
I'VE could do nothing. Down on us the
phrapnel hailed and we fell by the score.
Al the same time the enemy's maxims
opened fire. We were almost without
shelter when We were caught and we
crawled along In front 70 find cover.
Leave everything and retire" was the
order and we did what we could to obey. |
] don't know how long Il lasted. but
when dawn came I could see not more
than thirty men in the various sections
OF the field. Thirty at the most were left
out OF about 1000.
Il wandered away from the others and
eventually found myself at ------- with
4 single companion. That was the first
time the German artillery really got at
us. As a rule their gun fire was mighty
poor"
In the above story the censor has de-
lated the name OF the town near which
this fighting occurred.
Germans Well Equipped.
LONDON. Aug. 2s-C2;te a. m.)-The
correspondent OF the Telegraph at Arras,
capital OF the department OF the Pas De
Calais. sends an account OF the fighting
in the vicinity of Cambria. under Thurs
days date. He says.
Cambria was occupied by the Ger.
mans despite the efforts of the English.
The defense OF tho frontier from Lille to
Naieneiennes wss until two hours ago.
entrusted TO the British. who did all in
their power 20 halt the advance OF the
enemy, but conditions were unfavorable
THE fpTce opposed was one OF the most
highly trained snd>sest equipped I'm the
world. consisting Of a cavalry division,
supported by battalion OF infantry with
artillery and machine guns so rapid
and audacious are It's movements that IN
-FOUR days cavalry had appeared at almost
every point along the road from IAlle 10
Cambria.
"The British were without artillery or
machine guns. but they had orders 20
held Cambria at all costs. Heavens
knows they tried. They fought for three
hours desperately and were then COM
PEELED to fall back on Arras
7 met them retreating slowly before a
body Of cavalry with machine guns. which
deeiTnated their ranks.
The retirement was conducted skilIfuliy
and coolly and with the assistance OF Bel.
slan troops, who came up In the nick OF
time.
There Is now sufficient force TO OPP
pose any attack on Arras and Bethune.
twenty miles 10 the northwest. but il is
not unlikely that for strategic purposes
some further portions OF this northwest
territory must be abandoned.
The people OF the entire vicinity are
much alarmed and many are fleeing at
every rumor OF the enemys approach.
The panic and stampede OF the civilians
the cause OF much confusion which
campers the military operations"
Department Otd-rs.
WARRINGTON. Avg. 2.-CSpecial Tele-