Evening star., 1914-10-03

BERLIN, October Q, via London, Octo-
Der S.-Maj. Gen. Freiherr Won Der
Horst. the commander of the goth In
fantry Brigade, was killed while lead
ing his troops September 2S, according
to an official announcement made today.
He had previously received the Iron
Cross for his work in the field.
Today's casualty list contains about
$500 names, and includes a mention
of the wounding of Prince Joachim, the
youngest son of the emperor, at Schaet-
zels, East Prussia.
The Associated Press correspondent
learned at Metz from the adjutant Of
Prince Oscar, the fifth son OF the en-
peror. that the prince September "a led
his regiment at Verdun in a most des-
perate battle. The French. including
Turco sharpshooters in trees. picked off
the officers, of whom so many were lost
that the companies were led by SER
geants during the hottest part OF the
fighting. Prince Oscar headed the col
umn, and, shouting at the top of his
voice, led the charge which was final
ly successful. He got so excited that
he collapsed after the victory with
acute heart cramp, brought on partly
by several days exertion prior to this
fighting.
''Cured" by Iron Cross.
The physicisAls ordered him to Metz.
where the news of the bestowal of the
decoration of the Iron Cross of the
first class reached him. He jumped
from his bed when he heard it, Shout
ing. Il am well again." No crosses
were available at the time. so Gen.
Won S.rantZ took his, given him in
1870, and presented it to the prince,
who is now rapidly recovering.
The garrison commanders everywhere
are taking measures for the suppress
sion of stories to the effect that the
Catholic clergy participated in cruel
ties against German soldiers in Bel
GUM, which, it is officially asserted,
are untrue. The higher Catholic Off
cials protested against the assertion
which came in letters from the front.
Persons repeating the stories will be
severely punished.
General meetings have been called for
today to begin campaign against the
consumption in Germany OF Scotch
whisky and French liquors.
Effect of Artillery Fire.
An opportunity to watch closely the
German and Austrian artillery attack on
the line of French forts south Of Verdun
last Saturday was given an Associated
Press correspondent who had been with
the Germans at Metz.
An attack, which Friday led to the
taking of Fort Camp-Des- ROMANS as the
first step in the breaking of the defense
Of the fort lines, resulted Saturday in
the silencing of Fort Lesparoches, says
the correspondent. Toward evening it
was reported that only one armored tur-
ret at Fort Lionville was replying to the
Austrian fire, all the other forts being
silent. After that the Austrians concen-
trated their fire with precision on this
single turret from a distance of six miles,
indicating that it was but a matter of
ready for an infantry attack.
Fort Camp-Des-Ro was valiantly
defended by the French. The attacking
forces came within five yards of the
trench in front OF the fort before the
garrison surrendered. The French artil-
lerymen in the classmates of the fort had
to be dislodged with hand grenades,
smoke bombs and fire tubes which Ger
man volunteers placed against the OPEN
ing Of the classmates. filing the interiors
with fragments of bombs and sense-rob-
bling gases.
Valor Wins Honorable Terms.
Even then the defenders refused to
capitulate. Finally they were given most
honorable conditions of surrender, owing
to the valor they had displayed.
The correspondents trip ovec the bat
tlefield showed nothing of the tradi-
tional battle tumult. such as attacking
infantry, racing cavalry and galloping
artillery. The heavy artillery could
not be seen. There was the tremen-
dous detopation of siege pieces and
large columns of smoke arose from
burning villages. The black surface
thus created was studded everywhere
with the white clouds from explod-
ing projectiles.
On the road a few wounded were
making their way to the base hospitals.
Beyond that the battlefield gave the
impression of tremendous iron plant,
with it's masses of artillery machinery
| and the attending noises, a feature