New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-02

al cannot talk Of the war" she said.
at is such a vast question. | can say,
it became necessary for Brigadier Cen
eral Turner, commanding the Third
Brigade, to throw back his left flank
southwark to protect his rear. In the
course of the confusion which fol-
lowed upon the readjustment Of posi-,
ton. the enemy, which had advanced
rapidly after his initial successes, took
four British Al guns in a small wood
10 the west of the village of st. Julien,
two miles in the rear of the original
French trenches.
Apex of Line Harassed.
"The enemy's attack developed with
particular intensity upon the apex OF
the newly formed line running In the
direction of St. Julien.
"In the course of the night of the
22d. and under the heaviest machine
gun fire, this wood. where the four
guns had earlier been captured by the
enemy. was assaulted by the Canadian
Scottish l60th Battalion of the Third
Brigade and the Tenth Battalion Of the
Second Brigade. The battalions were
respectively commanded by Lieutenant
Colonel Leckie and Lieutenant Colonel
BOYLE, and after a most fierce struggle
they took the position at the point OF
the bayonet. At midnight the Second
Battalion, under Lieutenant Colonel
Watson, and the Toronto Regiment,
Queens Own Third Battalion), under
Lieutenant Colonel Rennie, both Of the
First Brigade, brought up much need
cd raipforcpmpnfS
"All through the following daX and
night these battalions shared the
fortunes and the misfortunes of the
Third Brigade. An officer who took
part in the attack describes how the
men about him fell under the fire OF
the machine guns. which, he SAID,
PLAYED upon them like a watering pot
"The fighting continued without IN
PERMISSION all through the night. AT
6 a. m. on Friday, the 23d, il became
apparent that the left was becoming
more and more involved and power
full German attempt to outfiank 1t de-
veloped rapidly.
at was therefore decided to try to
give relief by a counter attack upon
the first line Of German trenches, now
far advanced from those originally oc-
cupied by the French. This was car
ried out by the Ontario First and
Fourth battalions of the First Brigade
under Brigadier General Morcer, act
ing in combination with a British bril-
gade.
Gallant Officer Avenged.
at did not seem that any human be-
ing could live IN the shower OF shot
and shell which began to play on the
advancing troops They suffered ter
rible casualties. For q time every
other man seemed to fall, but the at
tack was pressed even closer and
closer. Then, for a moment. not more,
it wavered. It's most gallant COM
handing officer, Lieutenant Colone!
Birchall, carrying, after an old fashion,
a light cane, coolly and cheerfully raj
lied his men, and at the very moment
when his example had infected them
fell dead at the head of his battalion.
with a hoarse cry of anger, for
indeed they loved him, they sprang
forward as if to avenge his death. Inc
astonishing attack which followed
pushed home in the face of direct
frontal fire made in broad daylight by
bottalions whose names should live
forever in the memories of soldiers,
was carried TO the first line of German
q
Gle. the last German who resisted was
bavoneted and the trench was won.
6This trench represented in the Ger
man advance the apex in the breach
which the enemy had made in the
original line of the Allies, and it was
two and one-half miles south of that
line. This charge, made by men who
looked death indigere-:ly in the face,
saved the Canadian left. II also Sc
cured and maintained during the most
critical moment of all the integrity
of the Allied line"
Fight in the Face of Fumes.
Returning to the fortunes of the
Third Brigade, commanded by Brlga-
der General Turner, which was hold
ing the Canadian left, and after the
first attack assumed the defence OF
the new Canadian salient, the account
SAYS il was made the object of an
attack by the discharge of the poison
Gus gases. although the fumes were
extremely poisonous" the account de-
clares, "they were not, perhaps, so as
abling as on the French lines, and the
brigade, though affected by the fumes
stoutly beat back the German assaults
at was clear that several German
DIVISIONS were attempting w SiNS
drive back the Third Brigade, and IN
any event 10 use their enormous nu-
merical superiority TO sweep "ound
and overwhelm the left me
last attempt partially succc, Ter
man troops swung past 'ha port
ed left OF the brigade al ?ping IN
between the wood and Julien,
s6ded TO the an1ieties OF ne long
drawn out struggle by the appearance
and indeed, for the moment, the real
INV of isolation from the brigade base.
Forced TO Leave Comrades.
The account by Sir Max Aitken. con-
tanned in to-day's instslment' follows:
aTbe FIRE of the artillery Of the enemy
CONTINUALLY grew in intensity" the ae-
.omnt saws. 1T became evident that
the Canadian salient could no longer be
attained against the overwhelming
"mneriority OF numbers by which It was
ssss;led Slowly, stubbornly and con-
testing every yard, the defenders ,,Ii,, gave I'VE
ground until the salient gradually re,
80 A. naint where III mao