New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-26

Every Shot Telling One.
In the valley the Germans halt. The
range is only 1000 yards now and
every shot is telling. The effects are
appalling. The gray masses move on
ward once more. seem 70 hesitate, put
sharp bugle blasts launch them Tor
ward again and on the run they come
for the trenches.
At 1000 yards our batteries again
stop them. Firing twenty-four shells
minute at that distance, whole rows
are moved down, vast spaces appearing
between the ranks. The companies IN
termingle. then the regiments them
selves seem TO amalgamate and melt
into one another. Officers are seen
galloping along the sides evidently
trying TO bring order out of chaos. Inc
battery servants, silently, the persplra-
tion streaming down their cheeks, con
tnue automatically sending on their
messengers Of death. The I'd Of the
Guard, alone, off to the right, seems
untouched, and on it comes. Suddenly
the sound of a hornpipe. The Scots
are awake From the trenches an ava
lanche rushes forward toward the dis
ordered Germans. At the double quick,
Scots and English, few feet apart
yelling like demons, pounce on the at
tackers. Rifles are silent, cold steel
alone. Our battery captains cry: stop
firing" There is a risk of shelllng
our own men now, and We become spec
tators.
One Of the battery commanders
shouts: MY God. Look, they're done
for" On the right the guard has
suddenly rushed toward the hill. \
L g an
turns and seems about to be thrown on
the backs of the British, outfanked.
The situation is desperate. Our artll-
lery Is useless.
"The Marseillaise" Is Sung.
Harkl Listen! Over the valley, rls-
ing louder and still louder, q song
which the Germans have heard before.
A crash Of brass, a hoarse roar fills the
air, echoing across the valley, drown
ing the shouts and curses OF the
human wave fighting below.
"The Marseillaise." The English and
Scots have heard it. Hold tight, the
French are coming" we scream. Ihey
cannot hear us, but we must shout, the
strain is too intense.
Past our batteries a company OF
Spahis rushes like cyclone. Two more
follow, then the Zouaves. Rifles close
to their hips, bayonets low, throwing
out over the valley its glorious anthem
the human flood crashes against the
Guard. The lines waver in an indescrlo,,
able tumble of gray, yellow, blue and
red uniforms, then seem TO bounce
back from the very force of the shock.
Men appear. raised from their feet and
raised high in the air.
Anguished. eyes strained. fists
clenched, powerless, we on the hill fol
low the titanic struggle. The Zouaves
band has stopped near the batteries
and the formidable accents OF the
French revolutionary song gather
strength. rising higher and still higher
until the climax seems to lit the
Allies TO the very summit OF heroism,
and the Germans turn. Ninth
Caught in a wise between the British
and the French the Guard alone re-
mains. Ten times the shattered rem
nants Of the Kaiser's proud regiment
charged, and ten times was thrown
back. first against the French then
against the British. Crying, Com
radesl Comrades!" hundreds began
throwing their guns aside.
At 2 o'clock it was over. The Allies
had lost 1900 men. Only 300 prison
ers remained of the I'd Prussian Regi-
ment of the Guard.
Far over the plain, covered with the
dead at the end of the valley a few
struggling bands of Bavarians fed un-
pursued, while gathered around the
batteries on the crest of the hill, under
a fine rain which began falling, the
Zouave band played God Save. the
King" which was also hymn of de-
Gverance.