The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-25
Valiant Stand of Princess Pats, " in Which Regiment
Was Nearly Wiped Out Described by Frederick Palmer
Survivors; at End Of Fighting, Marched Away,
Unbeaten, Leaving Position to Bat
TALON of Kings Rifle Corps

Writing in the midst of ruined
trenches rocked by the conclusion OF
shells every message he sent that day
every report he made by orderly aftel
the wires were down was written GU,
very explicitly-which Farquhar hac
taught him was the army way. The
record is there of his GOODNESS wher
the lid was off Of hell. For all YOU
can tell by the firm chirography hi
might have been sending a note te
ranch foreman.
Green Figures start Down Hill.
After his communications were cut
he was not certain how much support
he had on his tanks. 1t looked for a
time as II he had none. After the first
charge was repulsed he made contact
with the Kings Royal Rifle Corps on
his right He knew from the nature
of the first German charge that the
second would be worse than the first
The Germans had advanced some ma
chine guns. they would be able te
place their increased artillery hre more
accurately. Again green figures start
ed down that hill and again they were
put back. Then Nivens was able tc
esta blish contact with the Shropshire
light infantry, another regiment or
left he was supported-and by sea
soned British regulars. This was very
very id comforting-especially sc
when the German machine gun fire
was not only coming from the front
but in enfilade-which Is SO trying Il
a soldiers steadiness. The p. P.s were
shooting at Germans in front while
bullets were whipping crosswise OF
their trenches. and of the regulars or
Go 81 hn 20 a n
infantrymen who had not been hit oil
had not fallen back had dug them
selves cover and were firing at a
closer range.
The Germans had located the points
in the p. P.'s trenches occupied by the
machine guns. At least. they could put
these hornets nests out Of business
II not all the individual rifemen. Sc
they concentrated high explosive shells
on them. They did the trick, II buried
them But a buried machine may be
dug out and fired again 1t may be
dug out two or three times and keer
on firing as long as it will work and
there is any one to man it.
Every Man in Sector Killed.
While the machine suns were being ex
humed every man in one sector of the
trench-for by dividing a trench into sec
lied in their efects-was killed. Their
the left haR of the right fire trench got
three or four Shells one after another
bang into il. There was no trench left
only macerated earth and mangled men
Those emerging alive were told to TAI
back TO the communicating trench. Mex,
the right end of the left fire trench was
blown in. When the survivors fell back
to the communication trench that wal
also blown in their face.
oh. but We were having a merry
party" as Lieut.. Vandenberg said.
Niven and his lieutenants were moving
here and there to the point of each new
explosion to ascertain the amount of the
damage and to decide what was to be
done as the result. One soldier describ-
ed Niven's eyes as sparks emitted from
two holes in his dust-caked face.
Papineau tells how a tree outside the
trench was cut in two by shell and
its trunk laid across the breach of the
trench caused by another shell: and lying
over the trunk limp and lifeless, where
he had fallen, was a man killed by still
another shell. the wound in his head
dripping.
Il remember how he looked because
had to step around him and over the
trunk" said Papineau.
Unless you did have to step around a
dead or wounded man there was no time
to observe his appearance; for by noon
there We're as many dead and wounded
in the P, P's trench as there were men
fit for action. Those unhurt did not have
to be steadied by their superiors. Knock
ed down by a conclusion they sprang UP
with the promptness of disgust Of one
thrown off a horse or tripped by a wire.
When told to move from one part OF
the trench to another where there was
desperate need a word was sufficient
direction. They understood what was
wanted of them these veterans. They
went They seized every lull to drop the
rife for the spade and repair the
breaches. When they were not shooting
they were digging. The officers had only
to keep reminding them not to expose
themselves in the breaches. For in the
thick of it-and the thicker the more So
they must try to keep some dirt between
all of their bodies except the head and
arm, which must be up In order to fire.
At $50 a cheer rose from that trench,
II was for the platoon OF the King's
Royal Rifles which had come as re-en-
forcement Oh. but that band OF Tom
mics did look good to the P. P.'s! And
the little prize packet that the very re-
liable Mr.. Atkins had with him-the ma
chine gun, You can always count on
Mr.. Atkins to remain among those
present to the last on such occasion.
Now Niven got word by messenger to
90 to the nearest point where the tele-
phone was working and tell the brigade
commander the complete details of the
situation. The brigade commander asked
him IL he could stick and he said Yes,
sir" which Is what Col. Fanny" Far
quhar would have said. That trip was
hardly what would be called peaceful.
The orderly whom Niven had with him
explosive shells. Niven is so small 1t is
very dificult to hit him. He is about to
Maj. Gault's shoulder.
Rife Cartridges Needed.
He had been worrying about his sup
ply OF rife cartridges. There were not
enough to take another German infantry
charge. which was surely coming. After
repelling two charges. think Of railing
to repel the third for want of ammuni-
ton, Think of Corp. Christy unable to
repel the third for want of ammunition!
Think of Corp. Christy. the bear hunter.
with the Germans thick In front Of him
and no bullets for his rife, But appear
ed again Mr.. Thomas Atlxins-another
platoon of him with twenty boxes OF
cartridges. which were rather q risky
burden to bring through a shell fire. The
relief as these were distributed was that
OF having something at your throat
which threatens to strangle you removed
Making another tour Of his trenches
about 4 In the afternoon, Niven found
that there was gap Of fifty yards be-