Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-09-10
TITANIC STRUGGLE AROUND CHARLERO|
AND MONS TOLD FROM ALLIES SIDE

Especial cable to "The Chicago
Tribune" from a correspondent whose
information was obtained from Brit
lsh and French sources.)
Boulogne When the history OF the
tremendous struggle in the neighbor-
hood of Mons and Charleroi-a titanic
combat lasting FIVE days--is written
the historian will pen perhaps the
most glorious chapter which has ever
been or ever will be added to the his
tory Of British and French arms.
When in the course of time we are
able to weigh up all the features of
that stupendous combat, In which were
locked the vast stern forces OF Prus-
Alan military autocracy and the pick of
british and French military strength,
the forces of freedom; when we know
the gain and loss the tragedy and hero
ism of 1t all, there will shine resplen-
IDENTIFY forth stirring story OF mar
tial glory which will make 1t matter
but little which way the advantage
went.
Gathers Story, From Soldiers.
From the lips of those who took
part In It, from the wounded out OF
the battle OF giants, from the refugees
who fed from their blurred and black
ened homesteads and their villages de-
voured by fire and shattered by she'll,
have during the last two days heard
enough to be able to piece together
the story of struggle which dwarfs
all the decisive battles of the world.
1t was fight against the finest CO.
horts of the kaiser, endeavoring to
crush their way through the allies
lines by sheer weight Of numbers, aid
ed by all the strength of the artillery
that could be brought into action.
Meets the British Wounded.
(Here the correspondent takes up
his story of meeting with the Brit
ish wounded.)
II was all so quietly said could not
help casting my eyes again over the
trim, khaki-clad figure Of the little
soldier who had come through that
CHASTITY ordeal, come through 1t to tell
me in a few short hours afterward
that he was eager to be with the
forces at the front again. And he
added. II shall have to go to England
without a cap. A shrapnel bullet
Knocked mine OF In the darkness"
turned to his companion. YES"
he said. that's the story. 1t was the
first time the German artillery really
got at US. AS rule. their big gun
fire was mighty poor, though they did
60 in for quantity. In the trenches
we used to watch the German gunners
trying to hit conspicuous parts Of
Mons, and every time they missed We
gave them a cheer which they could
hear.
Work Of the Artillery.
They are not shots, either. 1t was
really astounding what they could
miss. think we can beat everybody
ut Workmanship"
And the British artillery" asked.
why, it was magnificent. If there
had only been more of 1t. But there
the Germans got us. As 1t was, IL
was perhaps good deal more than
they ever expected.
ION one OCCASION think it was
late On Monday-we held a position
about 800 or 600 yards from the Ger
man lines. We could see them quite
clearly. They were mostly standing
up. Fresh troops, think they were.
being brought up for another attack.
The order was given us to fix bay
onets. 1t was evidently to be charge
the thing we especially had been
waiting for. In the sunlight our bay
onets flashed and we waited for or
ders.
Hall of Bullets Comes.
THE Germans must have seen our
bayonets flashing, for they went down
on their faces. II there is ono thing
they fear 1t is bayonet attack. There
developed suddenly hail of bullets
and the order to charge did not come.
I'VE retired little way after that
and before night fell ,dyanced to
much the same position gain. Just as
darkness came we. sould see the
ground we'll In front of US simply lit
tered with German dead. 1t cost US
q lot, too.
AT one tisle early next day we
got within a couple of hundred yards
If their dead. ] am sure We must
have nearly wiped out those in front
OF u.s."
Fight Rsaes Furiousiy.
From others have gathered how fu-
rieusly for days the fight ragged against
the French forces on the right of the
British. The English soldiers speak
in highest praise of the GOODNESS I'M
der fire Of the French infantry.
In the end. however, the fierceness
Of the successive onslaughts was too
much for the exhausted French troops,
against whom the everfresh forces Of
the enemy were hurled. II was here,
indeed that the long encounter was
really decided. Gradually weight told
weight Of regiments and of artillery.
With magnificent heroism the men
held their positions. II they gave q
yard the enemy bought 1t at tremsn-
dous csst. But they were ready and
prepared to pay it. and pay 1t they
did.
The nnal order to retire came. Slow
~ the French positions on the right
Of the British were given up through.
out Tuesday.
TOO Held Sack 5000.
Londen.-A British correspondent
from Boulogns writes:
u has taken the British expedition.