Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1915-01-15
IN DASH|NC CHARGE
chasseurs d'Afrique Like Irresist-
ibIe Torrent.
French coIored Soldiers Win Fame In
Attack by Which Superior Force
of Germans Was DisIodged
at Albert.
BY PATRICK DE BATTLE.

News S0TVlce.t
Northern France have just OBJ
tanned particulars of the magnificent
charge of the chasseurs d'Afrique by
which the allies retained possession
Of Albert. The Germans attacked Al
bert time and again with great fe-
rocity. The busy industrial town was re-
duced to mass OF ruins by the bonn
bardment.
In order to dislodge the enemy It
was found necessary to have recourse
to vigorous counter-attack. At the
same time great masses of German
CO valry were reported to be about
I've miles from Albert.
The French staff sent forward q
regiI int of chasseurs d'Afrique to
meet his cavalry body, which proved
to be the Prussian dragons of the
guard. The Prussians were threaten
ing the French line of communication
with Aveluy.
The gallant chasseurs, mounted
upon their little Arab steeds, adj
vanced along the road to Becordel.
From this point I quote from the
words of a. chasseur of the party, now
In the hospital:
1--WE all felt as calm as possible,
and we're eager to measure our
strength against the dragons of the
imperial guard. at mile or two from
Las Basselie we made halt.
"The colonel turned in his saddle,
hooking at us all, and, rising in his
stirrups, waved his sword as he shout
Cd in voice of thunder:
rFscadrons, garde a vous, pour
charger. sabre main, au trot-au galop
marched!
"The bugles sounded the charge.
and all the officers repeated the words
of command.
"The spirit of all the men was
splendid. We all felt this was SUI
preme moment. Off we went.
Rapidly the distance between us
and the foe was diminished; it was
not long before we came in sight of
the enemy's lines. 1t was a solid, COM
pact line, apparently motionless. but
which, nevertheless, was advancing
towards us at walk, as they felt GER
tain of victory against our onrushing
torrent.
"We got close together and had our
horses well in hand. A great cry
went up: Charge! Charged
From every throat came the word,
from us all frantic hurrahs we're
shouted as we bore down upon the
anemy. Indescribable cries, the clash
ing Of steel upon steel, the squealing
Of horses followed. Then began the
lust of slaughter and the grooming Of
the wounded.
"The dragons of the guard fell
around us, leaving many riderless
horse, which tore here, there and ev-
erywhere, adding to the confusion and
panic among the enemy. Like an ava
fanche we broke through right to the
rear of the German lines, the imperial
dragons crumpled up before us. Most
of them galloped off, the rest lay upon
the ground, dead and wounded.
Suddenly a rattle is heard; 1t Is
The machine guns of the enemy open
ing fire upon us, and the German ar
tfllery is seen coming into action. We
Immediately broke out into open or
Ger, changing our front, and at the
same time we heard the reply from
our own artillery beginning, while to
our left and right our infantry attack
was developing so rapidly that the
German artillery, fearing to be out
fanked, retired upon Guillemont.
Since that day Albert has no long
er been bombarded, and when our
'piou pious' pass by La Basselle they
say with enthusiasm:
"Tt's just here we ate up the
dragons of the imperial guard"
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