Evening star., 1914-11-08
ON THE 0POSTAN INCIDENT OF ElR0PES

then flung themselves on the ground
as the welcoming rifles scored, and
then reopened fire. few yards closer.
Again and again the short rushes
were made, and each time the attack
ing line found itself little nearer the
blazing ridge. Supporting lines of hu-
man dots came up to the firing line.
merged with it. and the coming of each
reinforcement sent the attackers stag
gering and. darting a little farthur on
their way.
The roar Of the action was incessant
The musketry had grown to An uu-
broken sound. with only the individual
reports of rifles near at hand standinE
out to the hearing. Crash OF shrapncl
and the thunder OF artillery's discharge
punctuated the monotone of the battle,
while men. more men. and yet more
men. fell to rest under the requiem %
the guns.
For sn hour the attacking line was
held at hay. yet gaining a little dis
tance with each moment OF passinr.
until the. firing line fronted the trenches
at not over two or three hundred yards
The field telegraph gave as well as
took, and over the copper came the
order to the outpost to fall back as the
main body was in position at last
From various parts of the trenches on
backward. in thin skirmish lines. whil,.
their fellows. remaining to cover the re-
tiremcnt. maintained a resolute tire The
batteries increased the rate of their fir.
as the infantry retired by sections. un-
til. one by one, the guns themselves
withdrew at a gallop down the hill 10
take position with the main body or be
halted in rear in reserve.
AS the infantry line thinned. the
enemy. as though understanding fully.
became more bold. The magazines We're
emptfed in rapid fire, and the firing
line. closely supported by other lines
leaped straight for the crest Of the
ridge.
Without waiting to receive til.
charge, the remaining infantry of the
outpost scurried to the rear, while the
batteries withdrew on the run. the
pieces swayinE from side to side as
they bumped over the inequalities OF
the ground. and the line of the outpost
resistance was vacated, except for two
guns whose horses had been shot down
by the searching blast OF some shrap-
mel. The gunners stuck grimIy TO Their
posts and poured zero shrapneI into the
advance. tearing great gaps in the line
until the gunners were cut down by
spatter of rifles from the side, and the
guns were finally stilled as the attack
swept to the crest.
But the outpost line had not been
carried yet; the infantry which had
withdrawn had stopped in a position
few hundred yards away. and the mo-
Inent the enemy appeared on the hill
tops storm of rifle fire and shrapnei
greeted him. The line of men on the
crest dropped prone. and, reinforced by
their supports and advancing batteries.
replied; and again the outpost infantry
and guns disentangled themselves and
fell back, for there was no need to de-
lay the foe longer.
Over the heads of the retiring out :
post tthe guns of the main defense.
greedy to inflict hurt. hurled their
greetings. rafaie after rafale of shrap-
mel, which burst low along the recently
held ridge and crowned II with dia-
dem of dirty smoke and blazing death
The outpost cavalry, which had been
kept concealed with the reserve, not
being needed to deliver any delaying
charge, wound about under cover or
the trees, retiring, too. upon the main
position, and as the blood-red orb OF
the sun leaped above the ridge and tree
tops, with proclamation of yet another
day, the battle-royal commenced.
The outpost had accomplished its pur-
pose.
Copyright. 1914 by the Wheeler syndicate. Iucl.