Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-05-15
IBy Latest MALL

battle fought by the Canadian division
TO check thz recent German advance
near Ypres, waE told in cable com
munication from Sir Max Aiken. the
Canadian record officer, given out by
the militia department here today
The account describes how the Cana
IiaHs. the ma jority of them raw re-
ruits. met the German rush after the
enemy had released asphyXiating
gases. and how, although greatly out,
numbered, they succeeded, with heavy
esses, in recovering four British guns
md much ground by "a brilliant dash.
"On April %" the account contin-
les. the Canadian division held a
ne nf about 5000 yards. extending
northwest from the YpreS- Roulers rail
way TO the Ypres-PCeIcapelle road, ana
Cnnecting at its terminus with the
'rench troops The division consisted
I three infantry brigades, in addition
the artillery brigades.
.anadians' Position Critical.
After telling OF the release Of the
as forcing the French backward. Sir
lax reported that this left the Cana
ian division with its left in the air,
n extremely grave condition. II be,
anne imperatiyely necessary greatly
o extend the Canadian lines TO the
eft rear. ".#~ .'s'.'.>
I'm the course of the confusion
hitch followed upon the readjustment
position" the account says, the
nemy, which had advanced rapidly
fter his initial successes, took four
riush A. guns in q small wood TO
lic. west OF the village Lf St Julien,
'rench trenches. -
The enemy's attack developed with
,articular Intensity upon the apex of
ne newly formed line running in the
irection of ST. Julien.
Drive Foe With Bayonet.
In the course of the night Of April
: and under the heaviest machine
an fire, this wood. where the four
ans had carrier been captured by the
nemy, was assaulted by the Cana
n.Sccttish 160th battalion OF the Bird
rigade and the 10th battalion of the
nd brigade The battalions, after a
cry fierce struggle, took the position
I the point of the bayonet. At mid
light the End battalion, under Col.
y atson, and the Toronto regiment,
2uoep's Own, (9rd battalion), under
lieut.. col. Rennie, both of the LIST bri-
.8de, brought up much needed rein
"#" .
All through the following day and
light these battalions shared the for
GIies and misfortunes OF the 3rd .bri-
aile. An officer who took part in the
ttack describes how the men about
.im fell under the fire Of the machine
uns, which, he said, played upon
hem like a watering pot =
Take Position With Shout.
But the line never waVered. When
ne man fell another took his place,
nd with final shout the survivors
f the two battalions flung themselves
nto the wood. The German garrison
vas completely demoralized and the
mpetuous advance of the Canadians
lid not cease until they reached the
ar side of the wood and intrenched
themselves in positions so dearly
aimed. They had, however, the dis
of finding that the guns
lad been. blown UP by the enemy and
alter in the same night most for
nidable concentration of artillery fire
weeping the wood made it impossible
or them to hold the position.
The fighting continued without in
omission all through the night. At
a. m. on April 90 it became apparent
bat the left was becoming more and
more involved and a powerful German
lttempt to outflank it developed rap
dly. i'll. -.
I 1T was, therefore, decided to try to
i've relief by counter attack upon
he first line of German trenches, now
ar advanced from those originally &C.
upied by the French. This was car.
led out by the Ontario LIST and 4th
.attalions of the 1st brigade, under
}rig. gen. Mercer, acting in combina.
ion with British brigade.
down Down by Teuton Shells.
1T did not seem that any human be-
ng could live in the shower of shot
md shell which began to play on the
dvancing troops. They suffered ter
ible casualties. For short time
very other man seemed to fall, but
he attack was pressed even closer
nd closer. The 4th Canadian battali-
IN at one moment came under par
icularly whitening fire. For moment
t wavered. Its most gallant command.
ng officer, Lieut-Col. Birchall, carry
ng, after an old fashion, light cane.
oolly and cheerfully rallied his men
nd at the very moment when his
Example had infected them fell ~uead
It the head of his battalion.
Avenge Birchall's Death. ) H..
With cry OF anger they sprang
onward as If to avenge bis death. The
stonishing attack which followed,
,ushed home in the face of direct
rontal fire made in broad daylight by
'attahons whose names should live
orever in the memories OF soldiers
vas carried to the first line Of German
renches. After a hand to hand strug-
,le the last German who resisted was
,ayoneted and the trench was won.
This trench represented in the Ger.
nan advance the apex in the breach
which the enemy had made in the or.